The Turks produced the most sophisticated and powerful bows of antiquity. They constructed their weapon from materials typical of Asian recurve bows—a wooden core, a horn on the belly, and a sinew on the back. However, the Turkish bow had the most extreme curvature, as the outer limbs, when not drawn, curved forward in a C-shape and often touched or overlapped. Turkish archers frequently used a thumb ring, or "zihgir."
A traditional Turkish bow is a relatively short bow, measuring between 41 and 44 inches from tip to tip. The extreme reflex of the limbs, as well as their materials, result in extremely efficient bows. Flight archery (distance archery) was widespread throughout the Ottoman Empire. Distances of 800 meters or more are recorded in Ottoman sources! The Ottomans developed special archery equipment to ensure that the arrows flew as far as possible.
Turkish bow making & traditional Turkish archery
The composite recurve bow, used for millennia, evolved slowly over time. At the height of the Ottoman Empire (c. 1400-1500 BC), the Turks had advanced the design of a composite recurve bow to its most advanced point yet. Because they were highly efficient and compact, they were also adorned, decorated, and crafted into aesthetically beautiful objects.
Kabza: The handle or grip of the bow
Sal: The essential bending area
Kazan: Rigid and stiffened, non-flexing section near the end of the bow arm. The backbend of the bow begins where the kazan meets the sal.
Kazan-gezi: Slightly angled section where Kazan and Sal connect
Strike: The rigid, angled tip of the bow arm is usually made of solid wood, possibly reinforced with horn
Kasan-Bash: Angled splice between the Kasan and Bash sections. The rigid sections of the Kasan and Bash are also commonly referred to as Siyah
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