Sometimes you read things in novels that you know are just impossible, especially when you have some experience in that field. It spoils the story when you realise the author has taken a chance and spouted nonsense. After completing the chapter on Torval’s bow (the bow made with only a hunting knife) I wondered if I had just delivered a few thousand words of the aforesaid nonsense. I’d made bows and strings from natural materials, but I’d always used a range of tools, so I decided to put the tools aside and try out the technique.

It’s all on video and I’ll post it as soon as I’ve had a chance to put it together, but here are a few shots of the process. The descriptions in the book (chapter 28) will line up roughly with the pics.

Bow

Arrow

String

Result

To be entirely honest, the string eventually broke and the bow warped after a few weeks, but it was able to shoot pretty well for a time, certainly enough for a survival bow.

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