How to Build Youth Long Bows

Although slightly less powerful than a traditional longbow, a flat bow is smaller and easier to build. The ease with which such a bow can be constructed, in addition to its smaller size, makes a flat bow ideal for younger archers and beginning archers.

Things You'll Need

  • Stave of wood
  • Band saw
  • Plane or wood rasp
  • Round file
  • Twine or heavy string
  • Glue
  • Leather or fabric
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Instructions

  1. Making the Bow Stave

    • 1

      Determine the size of the flat bow you want to make. A 40-pound draw-weight flat bow can be as large as 68 inches tall with a handle that measures approximately one inch wide and 1 1/4 inches deep. The arms of the bow taper gradually, with the tips of the bow measuring approximately 2/3 of an inch wide and only 1/3 of an inch deep.

    • 2

      Use a band saw to shape the original stave of wood into a rough-hewn bow stave with dimensions just slightly larger than the anticipated dimensions of the finished flat bow.

    • 3

      Use a plane or wood rasp to gently round off the back side of the bow stave and to finish shaping the stave to the proper dimensions. Exercise restraint when performing this step. You can always remove more wood, but you cannot add wood back to the bow stave once it has been removed.

    • 4

      Use the round file to create a notch near the tip of each bow arm. These notches provide locations to which the ends of the bowstring can be secured. Again, exercise caution when removing the wood to create these notches.

    • 5

      Apply some glue to the bow's handle and then wrap some fabric or leather around the handle in order to create a more secure grip.

    Making the Bow String and Stringing the Bow

    • 6

      Make the bowstring by tying loops in the end of a piece of heavy twine or other similar material. If you desire a more durable bowstring, you can wrap some light string or thread around the bowstring at the point where it meets the nock of the arrow.

    • 7

      Place a bowstring loop over one end of the bow stave and position that loop in the notch cut into the tip of the bow stave.

    • 8

      Flex the bow stave by placing the bottom end of the stave against your instep and using one hand to press downward on the top end of the bow stave.

    • 9

      While the bow stave is flexed, slip the second loop of the bowstring over the end of the bow stave and position it in the notch you created to hold the bowstring.

    • 10

      Examine the bow to make sure that the bowstring is securely fastened to each tip of the bow stave. At this point the bow is strung and ready for use.