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19TH CENTURY SINEW BACKED BOW – A HEAVY
FULL SIZED WAR OR HUNTING BOW: This is a very
attractive 19TH Century Sinew Backed Bow
originally collected in New Mexico. While the details
of the origin or tribal affiliation were lost to the
passage of time, this bow strongly resembles those
documented in the seminal reference, the Encyclopedia
of Native American Bows, Arrows, & Quivers by Allely
and Hamm, as Southern Plains – Comanche and Kiowa – or
Apache. The proportions and weight of this bow indicate
that it was made for serious work, whether for defending
or feeding the warrior’s family, and the appearance of
the bow testifies that it was regularly employed during
its period of use.
The entire length of the bow is fully sinew backed, with
the sinew having survived in very good condition and
showing only minimal wear. The bow has a nice naturally
aged patina and it has a great feel. The bow is
complete with a heavy twisted doubled cord sinew bow
string which matches the size of the bow and provides an
attractive finished presentation of the bow.
Measuring 45” long along the curve and 1 ¼” by 1” at the
grip, the bow limbs taper down evenly on both limbs to
just under 1” wide at the string notches at each end.
Toward the outer limits of the limbs, traces of red
earth paint can be found between the individual cords of
sinew and there is one place towards the center of the
bow which still retains a trace of a blue-green earth or
trade paint – evidence that this bow was likely
decorated to some degree when newly made.
Having survived in very good condition, this is a very
evocative example of a Native American bow from the 19TH
Century when these weapons defined the line between
survival and perishing on the Western Frontier.
(0366) $1950
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