Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Cultural Services

Item's Choctaw Name:  Tanamp Shibata

Item's English Name: Bow

Age:  pre-1865

Material: Osage Orange Wood

Dimensions:

            Length = 159 cm

            Grip:

                        Width = 3.25cm

                        Thickness = 1.99cm

            Mid Limb:

                        Width = 3.12cm

                        Thickness = 1.45 cm

            Tip:

                        Width = 2.58cm

                        Thickness = 0.82cm

Origin: Latimer County, OK.  This bow made by Sam Gallihar (former slave in the Choctaw Nation) when he was a boy. "Oh yeah", the old man said.  "I made it when I was a boy and used it to get me a mess of meat any time I wanted it." It is said to have been used to shoot birds, fish, and squirrels.

Current Owner: Choctaw Nation Councilhouse Museum

Location: Tuskahoma, OK

Notes: Although it was said to have been used on small game, this bow appears to have been a powerful weapon.  It is rectangular in cross section.  The bow was rough shaped by scraping.  One growth ring has been carefully followed on the back, even around the knots.  After rough-shaping, the bow was filed with a toothed implement both on the back and belly. Double nocks are found at both ends.  They appear to have been made with a saw and then possibly evened up with a sharp knife.  The surfaces of the implement are highly reflective and appear to have been burnished or polished.  The bow does have a propeller twist to it.  It has fairly strong string follow at the handle and especially the mid limbs.  The tips are straighter.