Traditional Archery

Traditional Archery bows encompasses a wide range of styles, from prehistoric times to the invention of the modern compound bow. There exists a variety of opinion as to exactly what is sufficiently “Traditional” to qualify as a “Traditional” Archery bow. The broadest definition is: A Traditional Bow is any bow of a design that follows the form of bows made before the invention of the compound bow in 1966. The National Field Archery Association (NFAA) category “Conventional Bow” encompasses same range of bows as this broad scope of the meaning of “Traditional”. In the context of shooting styles, “Traditional” refers to the NFAA Traditional Class as a distinct style using a Traditional Recurve or Traditional Longbow.

Modern Traditional bows are generally made with arms composed of fiberglass or carbon fiber layers laminated to the outside of a wooden or foam core. The bow may be made with the handle integrated in one piece with the arms, or with a separate handle or riser to which the arms are attached as separate pieces. Modern Traditional bows typically have a string made of polyester, aramid, or other high strength polymer fibers.

Classical Traditional bows are/were made from natural materials such as wood, bamboo, horn, and animal sinews, with strings made of natural fibers such as: linen, hemp, raw hide, or sinew. Another popular term for such all natural material bows is “Primitive”, although the construction of classical composite bows is quite sophisticated, and hardly “primitive”. Many of these different Traditional Bow types have been in existence for thousands of years. Additionally, many hobbyists make bows in the style of classical bows but use modern tools, polymer strings, glues, and finishes. These “neo-primitive” bows may not necessarily be called “primitive,” but are certainly Traditional. (If you would like to try your hand at making a bow, an excellent set of instructions for making a simple wooden self-bow is available in the appendix of the Traditional Bowyers Bible, volume 4, an updated version available here (link to document), used by permission.)

* Regardless of the many interesting variables in arrow and bow construction, designs, materials, classic traditional styles or more modern styles…

the Nampa Bow Chiefs welcomes and embraces all forms of archery and shooting enjoyment!