How to Make a Recurve Selfbow

Recurve selfbows are recurve bows made from a single piece of wood. They are as powerful as a longbow, but shorter and easier to transport. They also require less physical strength to shoot. You can make your own recurve selfbow with a little patience and some basic supplies.

Things You'll Need

  • Wooden board, 5½ feet by 3 inches
  • Half-round rasp, 8 inches long
  • Hand file, 8 inches long
  • Wooden board, 2 feet by 4 feet
  • Electric saw
  • Large pot filled with water, at least 2½ feet deep
  • Stove
  • Large C-clamps, at least 6 inches wide
  • Sandpaper, any fine grit will do
  • Nylon bow string, 6 feet long
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mark the center of the 5½ feet by 3-inch board with an "X" and mark 3 inches above and below this spot to mark out the grip area.

    • 2

      Shape the bow using the rasp and file. The exact technique you use to shape it is up to you. Shape your bow until it is 5/8-inch thick at the grip and 3/8-inch thick everywhere else. Your bow should be 2½ inches wide at the grip and ½-inch wide at either end. The bow should taper nicely. This taper should be equal both above and below the grip. Shape the grip of your bow to suit your hand.

    • 3

      Cut a curve into the 2-foot by 4-foot board. This curve should stretch the entire length and width of the board. Try to get this curve as even as possible as this curve will create the recurve of your bow.

    • 4

      Place the pot of water on the stove and bring it to a boil. You should submerge one entire limb of the bow from the grip to the tip. Leave the bow in the water for three to four hours. This should make the wood pliable and easy to bend.

    • 5

      Clamp the pliable limb of your bow to the board with the curve cut into it. Make sure the limb of the bow is centered along the curve and that it is clamped tightly so it doesn't move. The finished bow should have two curved limbs, both of which curve from the grip, away from you and back toward you at the tip. Examine your bow to ensure you have it clamped correctly. Once you're happy with its position, leave the bow clamped for four days or until the wood is dry and the curve is set.

    • 6

      Repeat Steps 4 and 5 with the other limb of the bow. You should now have a recurve bow. It should like almost like half the number "8," vertically.

    • 7

      Make two notches, one in either end of the bow. You can do this with the file. These notches should be 1 inch deep and will be the nocks of the bow.

    • 8

      Sand the bow smooth to prevent slivers, paying particular attention to the grip area.

    • 9

      String your recurve selfbow. Tie the bow string to the nock at one end of the bow. Bend the bow just slightly and secure the string to the other nock. Adjust the tension of the bow by tightening or loosening the bow string. The exact tension is up to you, so experiment a little to determine your ideal tension. Once you find the right tension, your bow is ready for use.