How to Make a Holmegaard Bow

The Holmegaard bow is a flatbow of ancient origins. Some woods, such as elm, are difficult to fashion into an efficient longbow, but can be successfully made into flatbows, which are wide, thin and have shorter limbs than the traditional longbow. A simple Holmegaard bow can be made in the comfort of your home if you have some basic woodworking ability.

Things You'll Need

  • Elm sapling 2 inches in diameter and 4 feet long
  • Sharp knife
  • Band saw
  • String
  • Vice
  • File
  • Sandpaper
  • Nylon bow string
  • Varnish
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a sharp knife to remove the bark from the sapling, but be very careful not to damage the wood beneath. Trim the ends of the bow so that they are level using the band saw. Set the sapling aside to dry for several days.

    • 2

      Draw a center line down the entire sapling along what will be the back of the bow. This line should be completely straight and not twisted. Use a string to ensure the line is straight. The back of the bow is determined more by personal preference than any particular rule.

    • 3

      Secure the bow in a vice with the line facing upward. Using this line to keep the bow centered, carve out the back of your bow with the knife. Though the exact shape is up to you, you want both ends of the bow to taper down to one inch wide. You also want the grip, which should be centered to the full length of the bow, to be approximately one inch wide. You should aim for a gentle curve along the back of the bow between the grip and either end of the bow. The front of the bow should remain straight.

    • 4

      File down the edges of the sapling to create a nicely rounded bow. Go over the entire bow with sandpaper to remove any tool marks and to prevent splinters.

    • 5

      Cut nocks one inch deep into both ends of the bow using the sharp knife. Thread the bow string through one nock and tie securely. Pull the string taught and secure it to the second nock. You should pull the string taught enough to create a nice bend to your bow.

    • 6

      Examine the curves of your bow. Both ends should curve equally. If they do not, secure the bow in the vice as you did before, leaving the string in place. Remove small amounts of wood from the curves of the bow until both sides appear to curve equally. You want to remove wood from stiff areas and leave it in the weaker areas to equalize the pressure exerted on the wood when drawing the bow.

    • 7

      Tighten the bow string, causing the bow to bend a few more inches. This represents a partial draw of the bow. Take another look at the curves of the bow and remove more wood until the curves are once again equal.

    • 8

      Tighten the bow string once more and repeat the process, removing wood from stiff areas and leaving wood in the weaker spots. Tightening the string and removing small bits of wood to equalize the pressure of the bow will help prevent a weaker wood, such as elm, from splitting or becoming damaged during use.

    • 9

      Remove the bow string and sand the entire bow smooth. Apply the varnish of your choice according to the manufacturer's directions. The varnish must be completely dry before proceeding, so let the bow sit for two or three days.

    • 10

      Restring the bow so that it has enough tension to maintain a gentle curve and still allow for a full draw. You may have to experiment a little with the tension to get it just right. Once you find the right tension, you can use your bow.