Editing Bow and arrow (section)

==Construction==

===Parts of the bow===
[[File:Subeshi bow.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|A [[Subeshi culture]] bow, circa 800 BCE, Xinjiang Museum]]

The basic elements of a modern bow are a pair of curved [[Deformation (engineering)|elastic]] [[Recurve bow#terminology|limbs]], traditionally made from [[wood]], joined by a riser. However [[self bow]]s such as the [[English longbow]] are made of a single piece of wood comprising both limbs and the grip. The ends of each limb are connected by a string known as the [[bow string]].<ref name=Paterson27/> By pulling the string backwards the [[archery|archer]] exerts [[Compression strength|compression force]] on the string-facing section, or [[Recurve bow#terminology|belly]], of the limbs as well as placing the outer section, or [[Recurve bow#terminology|back]], under [[Tension (physics)|tension]]. While the string is held, this stores the energy later released in putting the arrow to flight. The force required to hold the string stationary at full draw is often used to express the power of a bow, and is known as its draw weight, or weight.<ref name=Paterson111>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 111</ref><ref name=Trad20>Sorrells ''Beginner's Guide'' pp. 20–21</ref> Other things being equal, a higher draw weight means a more powerful bow, which is able to project heavier arrows at the same velocity or the same arrow at a greater velocity.

The various parts of the bow can be subdivided into further sections. The topmost limb is known as the upper limb, while the bottom limb is the lower limb. At the tip of each limb is a nock, which is used to attach the bowstring to the limbs. The riser is usually divided into the grip, which is held by the archer, as well as the arrow rest and the bow window. The arrow rest is a small ledge or extension above the grip which the arrow rests upon while being aimed. The bow window is that part of the riser above the grip, which contains the arrow rest.<ref name=Paterson27/>

In bows drawn and held by hand, the maximum draw weight is determined by the strength of the archer.<ref name=Trad20/> The maximum distance the string could be displaced and thus the longest arrow that could be loosed from it, a bow's draw length, is determined by the size of the archer.<ref name=Trad19>Sorrells ''Beginner's Guide'' pp. 19–20</ref>

A [[composite bow]] uses a combination of materials to create the limbs, allowing the use of materials specialized for the different functions of a bow limb. The classic composite bow uses wood for lightness and dimensional stability in the core, horn to store compression energy, and [[sinew]] for its ability to store energy in tension. Such bows, typically Asian, would often use a stiff end on the limb end, having the effect of a recurve.<ref name=Paterson38>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 38</ref> In this type of bow, this is known by the Arabic name 'siyah'.<ref>Elmer ''Target Archery''</ref>

Modern construction materials for bows include [[Laminated bow|laminated]] wood, [[fiberglass]], [[metal]]s,<ref name=Heath15>Heath ''Archery'' pp. 15–18</ref> and [[carbon fiber]] components.

===Arrows===
{{Main|Arrow}}
[[Image:arrow.svg|thumb|Schematic of an arrow showing its parts.]]

An arrow usually consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other.<ref name=Paterson18/> Modern arrows are usually made from carbon fibre, aluminum, fiberglass, and wood shafts. Carbon shafts have the advantage that they do not bend or warp, but they can often be too light weight to shoot from some bows and are expensive. Aluminum shafts are less expensive than carbon shafts, but they can bend and warp from use. Wood shafts are the least expensive option but often will not be identical in weight and size to each other and break more often than the other types of shafts.<ref name=Trad21>Sorrells ''Beginner's Guide'' pp. 21–22</ref> Arrow sizes vary greatly across cultures and range from very short ones that require the use of special equipment to be shot to ones in use in the [[Amazon River]] jungles that are {{convert|8.5|ft|m|abbr=in|order=flip}} long. Most modern arrows are {{convert|22|to|30|in|cm|abbr=in|order=flip|round=5}} in length.<ref name=Paterson18>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' pp. 18–19</ref>

Arrows come in many types, among which are breasted, bob-tailed, barreled, clout, and target.<ref name=Paterson18/> A breasted arrow is thickest at the area right behind the fletchings, and tapers towards the (nock) and head.<ref name=Paterson32>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 32</ref> A bob-tailed arrow is thickest right behind the head, and tapers to the nock.<ref name=Paterson25/> A barrelled arrow is thickest in the centre of the arrow.<ref name=Paterson24>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 24</ref> Target arrows are those arrows used for target shooting rather than warfare or hunting, and usually have simple arrowheads.<ref name=Paterson103>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 103</ref>

For safety reasons, a bow should never be shot without an arrow nocked; without an arrow, the energy that is normally transferred into the projectile is instead directed back into the bow itself, which will cause damage to the bow's limbs.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Schuh |first=Dwight R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NckTL7jbz3YC&dq=dry+firing+bow&pg=PA87 |title=Fundamentals of Bowhunting |publisher=Stackpole Books |year=1991 |isbn=978-0-8117-3034-1 |pages=87 |language=en |access-date=2022-07-29 |archive-date=2022-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729031759/https://books.google.com/books?id=NckTL7jbz3YC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA87&dq=dry+firing+bow&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Arrowheads===
{{Main|Arrowhead}}

The end of the arrow that is designed to hit the target is called the arrowhead. Usually, these are separate items that are attached to the arrow shaft by either tangs or sockets. Materials used in the past for arrowheads include flint, bone, horn, or metal. Most modern arrowheads are made of steel, but wood and other traditional materials are still used occasionally. A number of different types of arrowheads are known, with the most common being [[Bodkin point|bodkins]], broadheads, and piles.<ref name=Paterson19>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 19</ref> Bodkin heads are simple spikes made of metal of various shapes, designed to pierce armour.<ref name=Paterson25>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' pp. 25–26</ref> A broadhead arrowhead is usually triangular or leaf-shaped and has a sharpened edge or edges. Broadheads are commonly used for hunting.<ref name=Paterson33>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 33</ref> A pile arrowhead is a simple metal cone, either sharpened to a point or somewhat blunt, that is used mainly for target shooting. A pile head is the same diameter as the arrow shaft and is usually just fitted over the tip of the arrow.<ref name=Paterson85>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 85</ref> Other heads are known, including the blunt head, which is flat at the end and is used for hunting small game or birds, and is designed to not pierce the target nor embed itself in trees or other objects and make recovery difficult.<ref name=Paterson25/> Another type of arrowhead is a barbed head, usually used in warfare or hunting.<ref name=Paterson18/>

===Bowstrings===
{{Main|Bowstring}}

Bowstrings may have a nocking point marked on them, which serves to mark where the arrow is fitted to the bowstring before shooting.<ref name=Paterson80>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 80</ref> The area around the nocking point is usually bound with thread to protect the area around the nocking point from wear by the archer's hands. This section is called the serving.<ref name=Paterson93>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' pp. 93–94</ref> At one end of the bowstring a loop is formed, which is permanent. The other end of the bowstring also has a loop, but this is not permanently formed into the bowstring but is constructed by tying a knot into the string to form a loop. Traditionally this knot is known as the archer's knot, but is a form of the [[timber hitch]]. The knot can be adjusted to lengthen or shorten the bowstring. The adjustable loop is known as the "tail".<ref name=Heath27>Heath ''Archery'' pp. 27–28</ref> The string is often twisted (this being called the "flemish twist").

Bowstrings have been constructed of many materials throughout history, including fibres such as [[flax]], [[silk]], and [[hemp]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.primitiveways.com/bowstring.html|title=Grow Your Own Bowstring|website=www.primitiveways.com|access-date=4 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723063611/http://www.primitiveways.com/bowstring.html|archive-date=23 July 2017}}</ref> Other materials used were animal [[catgut|guts]], animal [[sinews]], and [[rawhide (material)|rawhide]]. Modern fibres such as [[Dacron]] or [[Kevlar]] are now used in commercial bowstring construction, as well as steel wires in some compound bows.<ref name=Paterson28>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' pp. 28–29</ref> [[Compound bow]]s have a mechanical system of pulley cams over which the bowstring is wound.<ref name=Paterson93/> Nylon is useful only in emergency situations, as it stretches too much.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://diyready.com/diy-how-to-make-a-bow-weapons-pvc-fiberglass-bow/|title=DIY Bow Weapons Making Series DIY Projects Craft Ideas & How To's for Home Decor with Videos|date=15 May 2014|website=diyready.com|access-date=4 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050943/http://diyready.com/diy-how-to-make-a-bow-weapons-pvc-fiberglass-bow/|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>