How to Make a Wooden Recurve Bow by Hand

Recurve bows have been used for centuries as an alternative to the longbow. The elegant curves of a recurve bow give it just as much power with less wood, making the bow easier to fire and transport. You can make a simple recurve bow at home, but you'll have to put some time into the work and remain patient.

Things You'll Need

  • Wooden board, 5½ feet by 3 inches
  • Pencil
  • Rasp
  • File
  • Wooden board, 2-by-4 feet
  • Manual saw
  • Very large pot
  • Stove
  • Large clamps
  • File
  • Sandpaper
  • Nylon bow string
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mark the exact center of the board that measures 5½ feet by 3 inches with your pencil. Place an "X" in this location on both sides of the board so you don't have to find it again later. Mark 3 inches above and below this location to indicate where the grip of your bow will be. If you have larger than average hands, you may have to adjust this measurement accordingly.

    • 2

      Use the rasp and the file to shape your bow. You want the bow to be 5/8-inch thick at the gripping area and 3/8-inch thick everywhere else. Adjust the width of the bow until it is 2½ inches at the grip and ½ inch at either end. Both the width and thickness of the bow should gradually taper from the grip to the tips, and this taper should be even both above and below the grip. When you look at the profile of your bow and both sides look and feel even, you know you're done shaping.

    • 3

      Use the file to shape the grip of your bow to suit your hand. It should be comfortable to handle.

    • 4

      Use the manual saw to cut a curve into the board that measures 2 feet by 4 feet. This curve should stretch the length and width of the board. Strive to make the curve as even as possible.

    • 5

      Fill the pot with water and place it on the stove. The pot should be large enough to submerge one-half of the bow at a time. Bring the water to a boil and immerse one-half of the bow for three to four hours. This should make that half of the bow pliable.

    • 6

      Remove the bow from the water and center it along the curve you cut. Clamp it to the curve. When you hold the finished bow, the limbs of the bow should curve from the grip, away from you, and curve gently back toward you. Make sure you've clamped the bow in the correct position, as it is very difficult to remove the curve once it's set. Leave the bow clamped for two or three days until the wood is dry and the curve is set.

    • 7

      Repeat Step 5 and Step 6 for the other limb of the bow. You should end up with a bow that looks like half of the number "8" though not quite so extreme in the curves toward the grip.

    • 8

      Use the file to make two notches, one in each end of the bow. These are the nocks that will secure the bow string in place.

    • 9

      Sand the entire bow smooth with the sandpaper.

    • 10

      Tie the bow string to one nock. Take the other end of the string and secure it to the second nock. Tighten the bow string to provide tension, pulling the bow slightly. The exact tension is up to you, but you'll probably have to fiddle with it a few times before you get it just right. When you do, tie off the bow string and your bow is ready for use.