Looking for a Drawknife for bowmaking...

[Guest HillyKarma]

 Well, as the title suggests, I'm looking for a drawknife, but I'm not sure if what to look for in it.

I've been doing a lot of camping lately and I wanted to try making a "Primitive" bow for small game like rabbit.

Do any of my fellow TGOers have any recommendations?

 

[bigbabysweets]

I've also wanted to try this, but never really... well, I am what doctors call "Lazy". I'm not really sure if there are huge differences in draw knives besides sizes. I've seen quite a few at the flea market. When I was looking into it before I read that the wood is usually season for a while, like a year. I thought hickory was a popular domestic wood and Osage and Yew were highly recommended. I've also heard of people just making a spur of the moment stick bow without the seasoning and draw knife in a pinch. Now, to do this primitive accurate you also need to brush up on the skill sets of cordage making and flint napping. I have never made a bowstring but I have knapped some arrowheads. I'm not sure if any of this helped, I'm really bored at 4:25 in the morning.....

[quietmike]

Basically any drawknife will work (or any long straight blade) for rough shaping.

 

Three rivers archery has one purposely made for self-bows.

http://www.3riversarchery.com/selfbows.asp

 

or Mora makes one for less.

http://www.amazon.com/Mora-2006-Woodcarvers-Draw-Knife/dp/B005KK9QEQ

 

Hope this helps.

[UncleJak]

+1 for Mora

[Guest HillyKarma]

Thanks guys!