Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Cultural Services

Item's Choctaw Name:  Tanamp Shibata

Item's English Name:  Fishing Bow

Age:  pre-1898

Material: Hickory Wood

Dimensions:

            Length = 129 cm

            Grip:

                        Width = 3.05cm

                        Thickness = 1.29cm

            Mid Limb:                                            

                        Width = 2.71cm                                             

                        Thickness = 1.08 cm                                      

            Tip (1):                                                Tip (2):

                        Width = 1.98cm                                 Width = 2.14cm

                        Thickness = 0.73cm                            Thickness = 0.98cm

Origin: Choctaw County, Oklahoma.  The bow belonged to Edwin Snow-Lock, also known as "Alex".  Edwin's older brother was Victor Lock Jr., Chief of the Choctaw Nation.

Notes: The bow is made from a light-colored wood, probably hickory. The bow has an arrow nock in one side. The nock is 59cm from the closer bow tip.  The area between the nock and the farther bow tip is the widest, thickest section of the bow.  The positioning of the nock relative to the widest section of the bow suggests that it make have been made to lie on the right side of the bow when held vertically in the shooting hand.  This may suggest that the archer was left-handed.  One bow tip is significantly wider than the other.

The bow was made from a large-diameter tree, giving it a flat back. The edges are fairly flat, as is the belly, making for a flat, rectangular cross-section The back has been carefully worked to one growth ring, even over a number of small knots.  Tool marks in the nocks are fairly prominent, and were left by a sharp edged-tool.  The bow has no obvious evidence of having been shaped by a toothed implement. A dark stain (4.93mm wide) around the bow nock closest to the arrow nock was left by a string.