How to Make a Composite Mongolian Style Bow

Mongolian bows were designed to be fired from horseback. This meant they needed greater power in a smaller package than a longbow could offer. The combination of wood and horn offered the strength and accuracy of the longbow in a size that could be fired from the back of a moving horse. You can make your own version of the Mongolian composite bow, but you'll need time and patience to complete the task.

Things You'll Need

  • Long strip of horn, 4 inches wide and 4 feet long
  • Electric saw
  • File
  • Metal strips, 2 inches wide
  • Clamps
  • 4-foot piece of maple, 2 inches wide and 1/4-inch thick
  • Fine grit sandpaper
  • Wood glue
  • Small pieces of pine
  • Leather grip
  • Nylon bow string
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use the electric saw to cut the horn in half lengthwise. You should end up with two strips, each 4 feet long and 2 inches wide. File the strips of horn down to 1/4-inch thick. Be careful not to cut yourself on rough or sharp pieces of horn as you work.

    • 2

      Place the strips or horn along the edge of a bench or worktable. Use the metal strips to press the horn into as flat a position as possible. Do not apply too much pressure or you might damage the horn. Secure the metal strips and the horn with clamps and leave them for several hours. You should then be able to tighten the clamps and further flatten the horn strips. Continue to tighten the clamps every few hours until the horn strips are as flat as you can reasonably get them.

    • 3

      Remove the clamps and file the horn strips to 1/8-inch thick. Smooth the rough areas so you don't injure your hands while constructing the bow.

    • 4

      Cut 1 inch off the end of the maple and sand the wood smooth. Place a strip of horn on the worktable in front of you. Coat the exposed side with glue and top with the maple. Center the maple horizontally and vertically over the horn. Coat with glue and top with the second horn strip. When everything is lined up, Clamp the bow and allow the glue to dry according to the manufacturer's directions.

    • 5

      Cut two pieces of pine that will fit on either end of the maple between the strips of horn. These are the ears of the bow, the tiny pieces on either end into which the nocks can be carved. Use the bow itself to trace the shape of the ears. It is important that the ears fit exactly into place, so cut them a little longer than necessary. When you're done shaping the ears, they will be about 1/2-inch high and 1/4-inch thick. Glue the ears in place and allow the glue to dry. When the glue is dry, use the file to perfect the shape of the ears.

    • 6

      Carve two notches into the pine, one at each end of the bow for the nocks of the bow. These notches should be 1/2-inch deep. Lightly sand the entire bow.

    • 7

      Cover the grip of your composite bow with a thin layer of glue. Wrap the leather grip around this spot and press firmly into place. Allow the glue to dry according to the manufacturer's directions.

    • 8

      Secure one end of the nylon bow string to one nock. Thread the other end of the string through the second nock and pull tight. Keep pulling on the string until there is enough tension to bend the bow into a curve. The exact tension is a matter of personal preference, so fiddle with the bow for a while to find the perfect tension for you. Once you find that tension, tie off the bow string. Your Mongolian style composite bow is now ready for use.