Hello, My name is Mehmet Golhan. I am founder and Bowyer of the ''Golhan Bows'' which is an exact Synthetic copies of (as possible through the researchs and experiences) Ottoman Turkish bows. I am very glad to explain a completely new and special Bow Backing Methods for Archery World. The tutorial contains 4 different application techniques and as far as I concern you probably can not find these in any Bow Making Books which are published so far. Actually it's quite fresh and I'll try to explain these Method by my texts, articles and especially by a good one Traditional Turkish Archery Site. You can use this new, four different Golhan Bow Backing Methods for all of your Synthetic or Organic Bow Backing needs, easily.

Bow and arrow combine is one of the most deadly weapon of the history. That was generally priciple weapon of almost whole nation. The main and simple idea was stop the opponent in a best possible far distance where he can not harm. Through this main aim, the bow was always in a progress period, especially for steppe warriors, for achieving better range and effiency. And when these kinds of goals achieved, were assumed as a military secret. These secrets, which were not written to a manual etc., were tried to keep between the master bowyer and apprentice for hundreds of years, especially in eastern nations, same as Ottoman master bowyers. My story was similar. I asked to myself several times that how can I make my bows faster, how can I use the additional weights on the bow for efficiency. It is supposed to be known that, the purposes and effects of the horn & sinew on an organic-composite bow. But there is generally something omitted. The cover on the sinew, leather! Furthermore, there was almost an "obsession" of the Ottoman bowyers for this issue, Horse Leather! Why horse leather, not sheep, not goat, why especially rump leather of horse. At the begining I could not understand the main object and asking same questions above. But one day there was idea arised about this; Is it possible to use horse leather with the same purpose of sinew? Can the leather act as or like sinew? If so, was the horse leather best for this goal and was it kept secret? After these question salvos, I thought, why not, I should try this! And I started to test 0,8mm goat leather through this point of view. 1) Leather Test: I determined the resistance, flexing and tear capacity-limits of a piece of goat leather which was fixed to a static clamp. At the end, I saw it may act as the same way of sinew and add a some draw weight to the bow! Moreover, I saw these additional effects were depented and could be increased with the thickness, type-kind of the leather also the organic or synthetic varnish materials as well. I used spirit (kind of grain alcohol) and an organic shellac solution and saw great positive effects. Later, I started to analyze of the working distance of the back section on bows.

2) Determining the stretch amount of the back portion of a synthetic bow: I measured the stretching capacity of the back when the bow unstringed to the maximum draw lenght with a flexible tailor's ruler. The difference was 5-6mm. The sinew portion is stored its power in this 5-6mm! Through this, i can achieve this with leather while forcing the leather work between or similar range as the sinew. At the end of these tests, I decided to the backing process and method of my synthetic bows. I called the process "stiffing the leather" (by stretching the leather to its limits before backing) and called the method as "pre-tensioning of the leather" I also configurated 5 different ways for appliying this technic for both sythetic and organic bows; 1) On sythetic bows, pre-tensioning the leather before backing and applying leather while the bow unstringed.

2) On sythetic bows, pre-tensioning the leather before backing and applying leather while the bow unstringed and applying some force to closing of the bow tips and finally,tying the bow from it's tips.

3) On organic bows, after the tillering adjustment process, force to stay beyond unstringed position through holding and tying the bow from it's tips and making the backing while the bow fixed in this position with pre-tensioning of the leather. 4) After streching the leather between clamps to its limits and fixing the leather in this position with organic or chemical solutions.

5) Using same method as on above method but with holding the leather in water and than stretching it with clamps or rollers for a some drying time. 5) Using same method as on above method but with holding the leather in water and streching it with clamps or rollers for a some drying time. That is it… After I realized that, those methods and/or point of view is not written on famous books as Bowyer's Bible series, Ottoman Turkish Bows/ Adam Karpowicz,etc. I assumed the archery community is not aware or do not appropriate importance to the effects of leather on bow backing and wanted to share my opinions and search-try out results with you… I hope these technics called "Gölhan method" together :-) My next goal is to cover a sythetic bow with goat and horse leather through the methods those I explained above and testing the efficiency-draw weight effects of the leather.

Please stand-by :) Mehmet Gölhan /Golhan Bows/Bowyer http://www.ottomanturkishbows.com/

Great!

I'll second the roo leather, I've used it for making whips. Its thin and very strong nothing else even comes close.

Really nice looking bow, Mehmet. Like the style and red.

Thanks to everybody,you're very kind. My synthetic Sipahi'Golhan bows' are very short,N x N 113cm(44,49''),it's very fast and very good for expecially mounted archery. Yes,you're right about the 'Kangaroo' leather,i had heard it's power,but had not heard the 'roo' leather. Ottoman Bowyer's 'choice' was the 'Horses Skin(Sagri)'.It's very hard and tight material.But i think,other hard and tight leathers can be use for this purpose. Main purpose is streching the leather like a sinew.And Now,

By applying 0.5mm thick(0,0197 inc) goat skin onto the back of the bow with an incremental weight increase of 16.6 grams an incremental draw-weight increase of 1.5-2 lb, and an increase of 4-5 fps in arrow speed were achieved.

PRE-STRESSED LEATHER APPLICATION METHOD (GOLHAN METHOD) No.1 1)Pre-stressing the leather before backing and applying leather while the bow is unstrung. The incremental power addition with this method is related to the quality, type, elasticity, thickness of the leather used, and the degree of pre-stressing. In addition, the effect of chemicals used in this process cannot be undermined. 0,5mm thick goat skin was used for this ‘backing’ process. This type of skin will give some indication of the incremental power pre-stressed leather would add (I will be using horse skin in the next application). And, I am sure, comparison of these two applications will shed light on the Ottoman Bowyer’s “choice” of the horse’s skin (sagri).

Before backing the bow with suitable leather (Organic, or synthetic bow will not matter), The draw-weight of the naked bow is to be measured with the dynamometer (draw-weight measurement device) to be able to compare weights before and after.

Procedure:

A) Measurement of the draw-weight by a dynamometer, Naked bow pulls : 50 lb. B) Measurement of the weight of the naked bow on a digital scale, Naked bow weighs: 324,6 gr

Now we can go ahead with the application; After firmly fixing the bow on the workbench the skin is glued onto the outside of the grip (only) from one end to the other end. This area will give us the fixing point/starting point of the stretch.

Next, is the ”Sal” zone. This zone is where the skin will be performing just like the sinew. While stretching the skin gently mark “point 0” on the inside of the skin at 1cm before the Kasan head ( the incremental power will vary depending on this distance). ******Resim****** The stretching of the skin from “point zero” to the kasan head and fixing with glue:

The back of the bow till the Kasan head and corresponding area of the skin till the “point 0” are coated with rubber based adhesive and let to dry 10-15 minutes. Then, with the bash pressed against your tummy stick the skin on while stretching “point 0” up to the kasan head. Press this point first and then stick the sal area by stretching it perpendicularly as well as vertical. Repeat the same procedure for sticking the skin on to the kasan area (kasan head till kasan end). By this way, the very important task of “pre-stressing” the skin on the “sal” area is accomplished.

Following this, the skin is glued to the rest of the bow and necessary finishing is done.

Next stage is the “Application of Chemicals”.

As I have mentioned before , the chemicals issue is open to improvements as this application has a “great” impact on the strength of the leather. With the application of the solution, the leather becomes harder and tensile strength improves. At this stage the only chemical I use is a mixture of shellac and spirit(ethyl alcohol). This mixture must be applied with a brush or cloth in sufficient amounts making sure that it is absorbed as much as possible. I usually apply three coats and this gives the leather a glossy look. One can achieve various colors by adding some natural dry pigment. After this application the skin becomes glossy and tough. With the application of the chemical the procedure is completed. But, one should not hurry to measure the draw-weight. We need to wait for two days so that the adhesive is also hardened. This adhesive behaves similarly to the chemicals. And, the bow created looks like the one below.

Pre-stressed (Golhan method) leather applied Sipahi Bow Two days later, the bow is stringed and draw-weight at 28” is measured by a dynamometer, and bow is weighed once again on a digital scale.

The new draw-weight: 51.5- 52 lbs. (incremental improvement 1.5-2 lbs). The new bow weight: 341.2 gr Skin thickness: 0.5 mm Leather+Chemicals+decorative painting weight: 16,60 gr

Conclusion:

By applying 0.5mm thick goat skin onto the back of the bow with an incremental weight increase of 16.6 grams an incremental draw- weight increase of 1.5-2 lb, and an increase of 4-5 fps in arrow speed were achieved.

However, the best result out of the Golhan method is;

The leather backing that was thought to be a “backing , and a protective layer from moisture for many authorities actually was proven to increase the draw-weight, and arrow speed by working the same way as the sinew. You can read the texts and see all of description pictures on my site clearly.(http://www.ottomanturkishbows.com/)

Thanks, Mehmet Golhan

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