Flatbow

The bow is drawn to 67" length, designed for a 28" draw length. If your draw length is longer or shorter, alter the total length by 2" for every 1" draw length change (e.g. draw length of 26" gives a length of 63"). Handle section (c-c) remains the same, the rest (c-e) should alter in proportion.) Also, the handgrip on the belly side (c-c) can either be all of one part of the main bow, or else can be a second length of wood glued onto the belly to give the necessary depth.

First, draw a line the full length of the back, directly down the middle of the bow, using a straight edge or string line. Mark the middle of the length of the stave 33.5" from each end. (a) The handgrip will be 2" (a-b) either side of this, (giving a 4" long handgrip b-b) and will then widen over the next 3" (b-c) to the widest part of the bow (c). From c-d (12") the stave remains the same width (1 & 3/4" total width or 7/8" either side of the center line).

• From d-e, the bow width tapers as a straight line down to a final width of about 5/8" (5/16" either side of the center line). Once these are marked on the back, they can be cut to shape and smoothed with plane and sandpaper, giving the rough shape.
• From the side, the depth of the handgrip (b-b) should be about 1 & 5/8", tapering off to about 1 & 1/4" at (c) and then a straight taper down to about 3/4" at (e). Once this basic shape is sawed out, the belly can be worked down to meet the required weight using more cautious hand tools. The Belly is kept flat throughout it's length and the taper towards the tips kept constant.

Offered by Brian.