Making a Bow By Hand | Live Free or Die

So the back of the bow is looking pretty nice, and I'm going to start shaping the bow with the axe. Take it down to one continuous grain that’ll provide the most strength.

Hunter gatherer Matt has only caught small squirrels since returning to his desert home. Bigger game like wild rabbits will offer more meat but can only be hunted with a bow and arrow, which Matt will have to make from scratch.

[Music]

So I've got this piece of Oage Orange wood, which actually makes a really nice durable wood. This is going to make a beautiful bow, and I feel like when you're making something as primitive as a bow, there's a simplicity to it. I like using as few tools as possible.

Although it's a wooden bow, it actually will shoot quieter than the most expensive high-tech modern bows on the market today. It's a slow process when you're working with such a hard piece of wood, but it's really worth it in the end.

So my pulling on it tells me if both limbs are bending evenly. It's coming along really nicely; I've got a nice even bend throughout. But to get a final finish, I'm going to rub a bunch of sand on there, maybe some horse tail, to get a really fine tune—super smooth and beautiful.

A little finish of some animal fat and a little bit of sage brush rubbed in there. The handle I'm going to fine tune, wrap some nice buckskin around there. We'll see how it shoots. It's the first time this piece of wood's being brought to life as a bow.

Now, there's been a few moments where it's like you get it right there and kapow!