Primitive Archer items and books presented by Horsefeathers Ranch to meet all your archery needs.

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    America's Best Selling Tanning Guide. Over 165 photographs and illustrations bring you step-by-step from raw skin to velvety soft buckskin and then show you how to create beautiful garments and useful goods. You will also learn how to make rawhide and hide glue, tan in a wilderness setting and the best way to skin. History, humour and science make this book not only practical, but fun! Designed to be easily understood by the beginner yet rich with details for the experienced, this book teaches tanning as a natural process. No chemicals are needed! All the tools and materials are waiting around your home and land. While the tools are simple, having a great method is the key. This book has that method (see the following reviews). Buckskin is durable, soft, washable and warm. A hand-made garment for people all over the world for millennia, it breathes and stretches with your body, cuts the wind and won't tear on briars. It is excellent to wear hiking, hunting or around the house. Plus you don't need to hunt.
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    All the basics for turning out successful taxidermy and tanning projects. Step-by-step instructions are wasy to follow and fully illustrated.
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    A triumph for master bowyer Dean Torges. He has created the impossible. A book so full of useful information that it could be a college textbook, but written with so much insight and "soul" that you could almost read it to your children as a bedtime story. Everything you need to know from cutting your own wood to the final finish, everything is there. "As good as it gets." If you only buy one bow building book, this is the one to have. Aptly subtitled "A Chronicle of Craft." Written by Dean Torges. Filled with helpful illustrations by Jan Adkins. 157 pages. Paperback. For cutting the wood to the final finish Packed with info in an easy-to-read format 157 pages, soft cover with many illustrations Dean Torges is a craftsman with both words and wood. This book is an instruction manual that will lead you step by step to building a sophisticated hunting weapon from selecting a tree for a stave, to putting it under a durable finish. It is full of helpful work methods. The storytelling and pen and ink drawings help make this an important contribution to our written archery heritage.
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    This fascinating and amply illustrated book charts the history of mounted archery from its ancient roots on the steppes of Eurasia thousands of years ago to its current resurgence in popularity in the Americas. It also provides the reader with up-to-the-minute practical information gleaned from a unique team of the world's leading experts. Mounted archery is shooting the bow and arrow from horseback at the canter and after a century and a half of neglect on the Great Plains of North America, interest in this thrilling activity is rapidly spreading from the Arctic Circle to the Tropic of Capricorn. This is the story of the reappearance of this exciting discipline in the Americas. Horseback archery has its origins in two of the great grasslands of the world-the United States Great Plains, and the vast steppes of Eurasia. As far back as 3,000 years ago Asian mounted warriors thundered down on their enemies in lightning surprise attacks, loosing showers of arrows which stunned and hopelessly dissembled their pedestrian opposition. The horseback archery culture of the American Indians reached a similar level of development and sophistication, but emerged much later and was a shorter phenomenon. Horses spread north from the Spanish colony of Mexico through the Plains beginning in the mid 1600's, but this dynamic equestrian culture virtually vanished with the demise of the buffalo in the mid 1800's. Yet this mounted tradition was revived when, in 1998, Kassai Lajos, the legendary Hungarian founder of the modern standardized discipline of mounted archery, came to the United States for now-legendary demonstration. The world's leading mounted archer returned for three subsequent training camps which inspired many others to take up the sport. Since then, mounted archery has spread with great enthusiasm across the United States, Canada and South America. This challenging and engaging discipline is promoted by the Mounted Archery Association of the Americas, and the royalties from this ground-breaking study of this ancient equestrian art are being donated to this Association.
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    The Sound Of The String is the winner of the 2012 NABE Pinnacle Award for Best Adventure Novel. Set in the beauty of the African bush, Gordon Bradford's journey ushers him to the emotional and spiritual reckonings of both people and animals. Men and women will share the insight, build from its lessons, good and bad, and will be closer from the triumphs and failures of the characters. With a handmade longbow and a duffle bag Gordon discovers Africa...and more. His first safari leads to more as his spiritual connection with the land, people, and wildlife evolves. He discovers ethereal connections with the animals he pursues and learns from their perspectives the balance of the bushveld, for predator and prey. Gordon is mentored by the sage wisdom of Moses, an elderly black man whose early years were spent in racially torn South Africa. He shares in the lives of the people in a remote bush camp and helps as they defend themselves from baboons, poachers, and an angry mob from a neighboring village that attack the camp. His friendship builds with his guide and Professional Hunter, Lucas, while finding he is falling in love with Lucas’ wife, Lise. Sabotage and subterfuge between Gordon and Lucas is hidden behind their professional and personal relationships as they attempt their most dangerous hunt together for Cape buffalo. During the hunt there is a touching story of the last days of Dagga Boy, an old Cape buffalo, as he is cast from his herd. He travels only with his guardian, Askari, and passes his life’s lessons to the young bull as they navigate the dangers of the bushveld to find water and stay alive. The buffalo and hunters find themselves at the same water hole for a thrilling end which leaves one of them dead, one desperately alone, and the others spinning in clouds of their own conspiracy. As lies are exposed, lives are left in tatters. The Sound of the String captures the setting and appeals to the senses. It summons the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touch of Africa. It brings its readers into the bushveld and leaves them immersed.
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    Follow-up to Beginner's Guide to Traditional Archery (0-8117-3133-2) Traditional gear for whitetails Scouting and mapping techniques along with info on stalking and still-hunting deer and using treestands and ground blinds Traditional bowhunters must be close to their quarry before they take a shot, and that nearness is what makes the hunt so thrilling and personally rewarding. That excitement and respect for natural resources and the hunting tradition infuses this unique guide. A chapter on the whitetail deer population and increases in urban and suburban areas deals with this recent phenomenon and tells how traditional bowhunters can help solve the problem. The book includes recipes for venison and a list of traditional archery suppliers. Brian Sorrells spent four years in the U.S. Army before beginning a career in law enforcement that has spanned twenty-five years. His love for hunting and the outdoors began at a young age. He has shot and hunted with the longbow for more than two decades. Sorrells is a masthead contributor for Traditional Bowhunter magazine and also writes regularly for many other archery and hunting magazines. He is the author of Beginner's Guide to Traditional Archery and Traditional Bowhunting for Whitetails. He lives in Bedford, Indiana.
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    This collection of wild and woolly adventure stories from real life was first published by Stackpole Books in 1954. From roping bear and cougar in Arizona to hunting wild boar with a longbow on Santa Catalina Island in California and alligator wrestling in the Everglades, Howard Hill was the prototypical "extreme" guy. Includes outstanding photography from Hill's adventures of such animals as grizzly bear, elk, mountain sheep and moose. First published by Stackpole Books in 1954. Foreword by Errol Flynn. New preface by Jerry Hill, the author's nephew.
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    Description
    By Bob Patten. You need not take up flintknapping to find this book a valuable resource. It has something for everyone. Archaeologists - Every stone tool and chip of debitage tells a story of how it came to be. By analyzing the distinctive attributes of flakes and their scars, we can decipher their often-hidden messages and the circumstances behind their creation. Collectors - Artifact typologies entail more than just shape. Explore the deeper, more subtle technological differences that make each point style special. Flintknappers - Learn from a master knapper the physical basis for fracture and how to control it, through in-depth discussion and detailed illustrations of the knapping process. Students - By exploring the many attributes of chipped stone artifacts, we can learn intriguing and valuable secrets about the lifestyles and motivations of those who made them in ancient times.
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    Table of Contents 1. Equipment 2. Scouting 3. Stand Placement 4. The Plan 5. Calls 6. Stalking 7. Drives 8. Hunting the Big Guys 9. Making the Shot 10. Following the Shot 11. Professor Whitetail Soft Cover- Whitetail Tactics with Recurves and Longbows by Jim Hamm. "Profound insights into being in the right place, at the right time, with the right attitude." --Field and Stream Magazine. How did you fare last season? This book is guaranteed to get you closer to deer, and closer to BIGGER deer, than ever before. These deadly tactics will make you the ultimate "stealth" hunter, so order today for deer season. Soft cover, 176 pages, illustrated
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    A Leading Expert on Traditional Archery Offers Insight Into How the Longbow Was Drawn from Medieval Sources to Modern Recreations “Soar’s book [The Crooked Stick] is indispensible.”―Bernard Cornwell, New York Times bestselling author. Relying on more than fifty years’ experience in archery, historian Hugh D. H. Soar reflects on how the longbow was drawn and shot across the centuries through examining the design of the bow and early literature about the bow, combined with his and his colleagues’ applied knowledge using replica bows. No complete medieval longbow has survived, but those found aboard the Tudor warship Mary Rose provide the best archaeological evidence to the possible construction of the medieval bow. Contemporary treatises written about the proper manner of shooting the bow, together with the resurgence in interest and construction of replica bows beginning in the late sixteenth century that form part of the author’s collection provide the basis for this work. How to Shoot the Longbow: A Guide from Historical and Applied Sources is a fascinating and practical look at the use of a legendary invention
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    Product Description: • Easy-to-understand instruction for traditional archery • Covers both target shooting and bowhunting • Includes the author's exclusive tiered training program for instinctive shooting with in-depth advice on selecting bows, arrows, and accessories The popularity of traditional archery has exploded in recent years, and this handy, readable guide serves as the perfect introduction for anyone looking to break into the sport. From selecting arrow shafts to refining your form to entering your first tournament, it explains in straightforward, no-nonsense prose how to get started. About the Author: Brian J. Sorrells is a long-time bowhunter and target shooter whose writing appears regularly in the magazines Bowhunter and Traditional Bowhunter.
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    • All-purpose guide to utilizing your deer after the kill
    • Detailed instructions on field dressing and butchering
    • Varied recipes for venison plus tips on do-it-yourself taxidermyYou've braved the elements, spent hours lying in wait, and had your share of near misses, but you've finally bagged that prize whitetail or mule deer. Now what? In this wide-ranging guide, Dennis Walrod tells you everything you need to know to maximize the use of your deer. In addition to essential instruction on field dressing and transport, the author goes on to cover salting and tanning hides, aging venison, leathercrafting, soapmaking, trophy mounting, and creating home furnishings and decorations. Also included is a selection of mouthwatering venison recipes, making this an indispensable resource for any hunter looking to extend the hunting experience beyond the moment of the kill.
     
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    In The Crooked Stick: A History of the Longbow, historian Hugh D. H. Soar pulls together all of these strings, presenting the engaging story of this most charismatic standoff weapon. Through a remarkable command of manuscript and printed sources and a judicious use of material evidence, including his own important collection of rare longbows, Hugh Soar establishes the deep connections of this bow to England, Scotland, and Wales. Figures in the past like William Wallace, Edward III, and Henry V appear alongside detailed descriptions of bows, strings, arrows, and arrowheads, while the rise of institutions and craftsmen devoted to the longbow are presented to show how knowledge of this weapon was carried forward across the centuries.
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    Product Description: Horace A. Ford is known as the greatest target archer of all time. He first picked up a bow in 1845, and a mere four years later won the Grand National Archery Meeting held in the United Kingdom. He proceeded to win an amazing, and unmatched, eleven consecutive championships, and a twelfth "comeback" win. His high score - that of 1271 in the Double York Round in 1857 - remained archery's high mark for over 70 years. Although minor improvements have been made in the past 150 years in methodology, Ford's shooting disciplines, techniques and other insights into shooting the longbow remain as the practical guide for archers. The secret to his success lies in these pages. 128 pages. Soft cover. Almost a hundred historic bows, scores of arrows, and more than a dozen quivers from thirty-eight tribes are illustrated. Beautifully detailed full-page pen and ink drawings give dimensions, decorations, and construction details. Hardcover, 135 pages, 8 1/2 x 11, Profusely illustrated.
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    Product Description: • Learn how to scout and prepare sites while leaving minimal evidence of human presence, and how to read deer sign to find the most productive places to hunt • Comprehensive coverage of scent control, including the use of odor-eliminating clothing Picking up where ordinary deer hunting manuals leave off, Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails covers in detail everything the hunter needs to know to take mature bucks in areas where hunting pressure has increased deer's wariness and ability to evade hunters. Learn how to use an ambush sling for increased shot opportunities, and the value of fitness for serious hunting.
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    Product Description: "Purists may complain that this book is not about how to sit under a bush and laboriously fashion a bow and arrows with stone-age tools. With the theory that you have to crawl before you can walk, and since we don't have elders steeped in five thousand years of weapons-making looking over our shoulders, I have chosen to show how to make bows and arrows the easiest way, with steel tools. If a beginning bowyer was going to make mistakes, I felt it was better to make them on a bow in which he had invested thirty hours rather than on a bow he had spent a hundred hours scraping with flint chips. Once the basic techniques are mastered, one can always begin using stone tools, if one's so inclined. A final word on how I approach the making of bows and arrows. I've found the going much smoother when I looked upon the wood and stone and sinew and feathers with respect as fellow living things rather than just as raw materials. Work with the wood, rather than trying to impose too much of your will upon it." Jim Hamm from the Forward. Step back in time to the beautiful weapons used by Native Americans. This complete guide includes wooden bows, sinew-backed bows, horn bows, strings, arrows, and quivers. 160 pages, 150 photos. $14.95, plus s & h
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    Product Description: Glenn St. Charles at his absolute best. Relive the Little Delta hunts of Glenn St. Charles, Fred Bear and friends as they hunt the pristine Alaskan back country back in the late `50's. Over eighty years of history, hunts, action and the St. Charles philosophy. Glenn relives it all, shedding light on and adding insight to the history of traditional archery in this country. Where we came from to where we are today and everything in between. The second of only two books designated by the Pope and Young club for inclusion in their "Quiver Series". More than 400 pages with 200+ photos, This book is hardcover and all copies are signed by the legend himself! Don't miss this opportunity to own such an incredible book. There are only a limited number of signed copies left so order today!
    • Relive the Little Delta hunts
    • St. Charles insights on archery
    • Every copy is signed by the legend
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    Product Description: Native Americans and their elegant weapons have long held a fascination for archers, history buffs, collectors, and anyone who appreciates traditional skills. From museums and private collections around the world the exceptional Indian archery pieces from the eastern North American tribes such as the Mohegan, Mohawk, Cherokee, Seminole, Chippewa, and Winnebago are brought together in one book. Almost a hundred historic bows, scores of arrows, and more than a dozen quivers from thirty-eight tribes are illustrated. Beautifully detailed full-page pen and ink drawings give dimensions, decorations, and construction details. Hardcover, 135 pages, 8 1/2 x 11, Profusely illustrated.
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    Product Description: Illustrated by Raymond Naylor. With a new foreword by Jerry Hill Hunting the Hard Way is considered by many to be the most sought-after archery title of all time. In this book, Hill recounts his thrilling stories about hunting wildcats, buffalo, mountain sheep, wild boar, alligator, deer, and small game with bow and arrow. Hill devoted a lifetime to the promotion of archery until his death in 1975. His phenomenal technique and his magnificent courage set him apart from the rest of the archery field. His bow work is featured in the classic films Robin Hood, They Died with Their Boots On, and Dodge City. Softcover, 318 pages
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    Product Description: Reviews of Ishi and Elvis: "Conservationists and general readers will enjoy this marvelous book. Hamm is a writer to watch.-- Review of Texas Books. "A wonderful change from the normal hunting stories. Hamm has taken outdoor writing to a new level."-- Traditional Bowhunter Magazine. "Wholeheartedly recommended." --New Hampshire Wildlife. Hardcover, illustrated by Steve Allely,
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    Product Description: Though considered an essential component of archery tackle in many parts of the world, the thumbring was until recently virtually unknown by western archers. "One of the effects of a thumbring is to help redristribute some of the pressure experienced when drawing a bow. No matter which style of releases is used - three-fingered release, thumbring, pinch draw-a heck of a lot of the pressure weight of the bow is concentrated in the small angle of the string just prior to release. At a hefty bow weight, say sixty, eighty, one-hundred pounds, you're going to want some relief. That's why most people wear finger tabs or a shooting glove. The thumbring serves the same purpose." Kay Droppedrayer This work • recovers some of the history of the archer’s ring • discusses the purposes and functions of the thumbring • describes the different types • takes its readers on a tour to the many parts of the world where thumbrings have been used • provides some hands-on explanations. Kay Koppedrayer is a professor in the Department of Religion and Culture at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario. In addition to her several research areas, she writes on the history of archery and on cross-cultural archery traditions. She is a frequent contributor to archery magazines and is an Associate Editor of Primitive Archer.
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    Product Description: G. Fred Asbell is a traditional archery guru with both longbows and recurves and in this book, Instinctive Shooting Volume 2 he takes you on a journey. A journey leading you to become the best traditional archery shooter you can be. Every nuance of the shot sequence is covered in the easy to understand style that has made G. Fred Asbell so popular among traditional bowhunters everywhere. Entire chapters are dedicated to dissecting and describing each step in the shot process. Learn the basic elements described in this book, implement them, and you'll become the accurate shooter you've always wanted to be. Instinctive Shooting Volume 2 is a traditional bowhunting classic. Generously illustrated, 153 pages. Soft cover.
    • Learn how to shoot accurately
    • Covers every aspect of longbow & Recurve shooting
    • 153 pages, soft cover by G. Fred Asbell
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    Product Description: "The authors live their subject, and their text is full of practical, tested advice for living off the land." – Sports Afield, Winter 1997-98. This book takes those skills from the first book and applies them in daily primitive living situations. Covers subjects such as:
    • Nutrition
    • Brain Tanning Robes and Furs
    • Dugout Canoe
    • Flintknapping
    • Bone Needle
    • Quick Ax Hafting
    • The Quickie Bow
    • Water Containers
    • Two Piece Moccasins
    293 pages Paperback
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    Product Description: • Another must-have title from the authors of the bestselling Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails • Lays out a hunting program for the entire year, including preparation and training during the off-season • Especially useful for hunting high-pressure areas and it explains how to best take advantage of the rut Father-and-son team John and Chris Eberhart have joined once again to share cutting-edge information and advice on hunting whitetail bucks in increasingly hard-hunted environments. Their year-long program starts early in the off-season, where careful scouting, training, and planning create the foundation for a successful hunting year. Then, once the fall rolls around, the authors explain the scent control and scouting tactics that have helped them to bag trophy bucks in some of the most pressured parts of the country. They also cover hunting in the rain, suburban hunting, and various other special situations. Packed with vital information and fresh insights, Precision Bowhunting belongs on the bookshelf of every serious bowhunter. About the Author: John Eberhart is an experienced whitetail deer hunter from the heavily hunted state of Michigan, where he has twenty-one state record bucks. His articles have appeared in Deer & Deer Hunting, Woods-n-Water, and Michigan Out-of-Doors. Chris Eberhart has hunted across the U.S. and Canada and is the author of numerous hunting articles.
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    Product Description: One of the most basic of wilderness living and survival skills, the building of a shelter takes on many forms. In this book noted primitive skills instructors John & Geri McPherson illustrate the making of not just quickie overnight survival shelters but what has been in the past real houses for our ancestors. They describe just what a shelter is, what for it's purpose and why. Four shelters are built - each from natural materials commonly found throughout the world; sticks, grasses, rocks, sod - and more. Location is discussed, frameworks built and walls and roofs constructed. All protect you from the rain and allow interior fires. Every stage is shown and explained in detail.
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    Product Description: Now you can learn how to design and cast flatbows, recurves, self bows and other primitive archery equipment. Includes great information on quivers, arrow making, and more. 52 pages, 92 illustrations. By D. C. Waldorf. New Edition. Subjects Covered:
    • Making a simple selfbow
    • Design flatbows, recurves, self bows and more
    • Sinew backing
    • Snakeskins, handle covers and finishes
    • Bow strings
    • Information on quivers, arrow making and more
    • 52 pages with 92 illustrations
    " Describing the process of making a bow before a major discussion on the tools that were used or could be used sounds like putting the cart before the horse. However, we have to first understand the nature of the problem before we can solve it and tools are a big part of the solution. The woods you choose to work, or are forced to work because you have no choice, will in some cases dictate what tools you need." "With the exception of the aforementioned bow, I have covered virtually all of my sinew backed weapons with rattlesnake skins. Since rattlesnakes are never around when I want them and in my state it's against the law to kill any snake including rattlers, I buy my skins already tanned. I prefer the dried ones for use with the traditional hide glue." D.C. Waldorf.
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    Product Description: Content: This book is meant to be understandable and fun to use. The topics range from the beginnings to the end - cutting and curing wood through building a selfbow of almost any type and finishing it. Both beginners and advanced bowyers should find the book useable and worthwhile. There are extensive descriptions and directions throughout, supported by over 200 color illustrations. Besides the how-to directions, there are sections on heat-bending, splicing billets, shaping handles, and treating problems like knots and cracks; suggestions on how to make a bow with only a few measurements, reduce handstock, eliminate stack, stabilize arrow flight, shoot where you look, and increase arrow speed.
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    Product Description: Paul Comstock, the author, is a renowned bowyer from Delaware, Ohio, and is highly sought after as an expert in his field. He has also written articles for a number of magazines including Primitive Archer. Paul knows making wooden bows is more art than science. The techniques delineated in his book will produce the best results for the beginner under the most common circumstances and in the widest variety of conditions. Subjects Covered: • Instructions on 10 species of bow wood • How to season wood rapidly • Evaluating wood species for bows • Bow performance • Longbows and short bows • Straight and re-curved limbs • Backing • Shooting techniques • Arrows and primitive arrows. From the Preface: "As much as anything else, "The Bent Stick" is designed to demonstrate the thinking process used in making wooden bows. Read it through before you start work on a bow. And when you do start work on a bow, spend as much time thinking about what you are doing as you spend on the work itself.": "But there is a sizable group of people who could not or did not make a bow until they read "The Bent Stick." Much trial and error has been eliminated for others. I hope this text helps you, as well." Your friend, Paul Comstock
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    The great Carthaginian general, Hannibal, remains one of the most fascinating personalities of the ancient world. Most are familiar with his famous trek across the Alps, complete with elephants and an army of tens of thousands, but fewer understand that the Carthaginian clash with Rome during the third century B.C. was a war between two mighty regional powers that would define the future of Mediterranean world. The victor of the Punic Wars would determine whether the focus would be on North Africa or along the Italian Peninsula. The Campaigns of Hannibal begins with an account of the organization, weapons, and chief tactics of both the Romans and Carthaginians, and then proceeds in chronological order through the thirteen campaigns waged by Hannibal against Rome over the course of 218–207 B.C., including the battles of Trebbia and Cannae. After each campaign, the author discusses the salient points that students of strategy and the history of warfare should recognize. The book concludes with Hannibal's return to North Africa, his final defeat at Zama in 203 B.C., his subsequent exile and death. Based on classical sources and originally published in 1858, The Campaigns of Hannibal is a model of clarity and synthesis, a wonderful one-volume history that is ideal for those who wish to learn more about Hannibal's military genius as well as those seeking a synopsis of the Punic Wars. Sir Patrick Leonard MacDougall (1819–1894) was a military officer and author. He was commander of British troops in North America from 1878 to 1883. 10 maps, 216 pages, Trade Paperback
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    A period of stability in the early sixth century AD gave the Eastern Roman emperor Justinian an opportunity to recapture parts of the Western Empire which had been lost to invading barbarians in the preceding centuries. It was an ambitious plan to attack such a vast territory with relatively few soldiers and resources. Yet Justinian’s army succeeded in checking the Persians in the East and in retaking North Africa from the Vandals and Italy from the Ostrogoths, the strongest and most organized Barbarian tribe in the West. The climactic conflict over Italy between 535 and 554—the Gothic War—decided the political future of Europe, holding in its balance the possibility that the Roman Empire might rise again. While large portions of the original territory of the ancient Roman Empire were recaptured, the Eastern Empire was both unwilling and incapable of retaining much of its hard-won advances, and soon the empire once again retracted. As a result of the Gothic War, Italy was invaded by the Lombards who began their important kingdom, the Franks began transforming Gaul into France, and without any major force remaining in North Africa, that territory was quickly overrun by the first wave of Muslim expansion in the ensuing century. Written as a general overview of this critical period, The Gothic War opens with a history of the conflict with Persia and the great Roman general Belisarius’s successful conquest of the Vandals in North Africa. After an account of the Ostrogothic tribe and their history, the campaigns of the long war for Italy are described in detail, including the three sieges of Rome, which turned the great city from a bustling metropolis into a desolate ruin. In addition to Belisarius, the Gothic War featured many of history’s most colorful antagonists, including Rome’s Narses the Eunuch, and the Goths’ ruthless and brilliant tactician, Totila. Two appendices provide information about the armies of the Romans and Ostrogoths, including their organization, weapons, and tactics, all of which changed over the course of the war. TORSTEN CUMBERLAND JACOBSEN is a former curator of the Royal Danish Military Museum.
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    "An authoritative study of one of history's most feared and successful armies. . . . May concludes this definitive study by tracing the Mongol legacy to modern mechanized warfare." - Publishers Weekly "They razed cities to the ground, burnt woods, pulled down castles, tore up the vine trees, destroyed gardens, and massacred the citizens and husbandmen; if by chance they did spare any who begged their lives, they compelled them, as slaves of the lowest condition, to fight in front of them against their own kindred." - Matthew Paris recounting the devastation of Poland and Hungary in 1240 During the thirteenth century, Mongol armies under Chinggis Khan and his successors established the largest contiguous land empire in history, stretching across Asia and into eastern Europe. Contemporary descriptions of their conquests have led to a popular misconception that the Mongols were an undisciplined horde of terrifying horsemen who swept over opponents by sheer force of numbers. The Mongol army actually used highly trained regiments led by brilliant tacticians, such as Subutai, that carried out planned and practiced maneuvers. It was the strength, quality, and versatility of the Mongol military organization, not unchecked ferocity, that made them the pre-eminent warriors of their time. In The Mongol Art of War, historian Timothy May overturns myths and misunderstandings that distort our understanding of Mongol warfare, and demonstrates that the armies of Chinggis Khan had more in common with modern ones than with the armies of ancient Rome and those of the medieval kingdoms they confronted. Describing the make-up of the Mongol army from its inception to the demise of the Mongol Empire, the author examines the recruitment, weaponry, and training of the Mongol warrior. He also analyzes the organization, tactics, and strategies the Mongols used, how they adapted to fighting in different conditions and terrain - such as using harsh winter weather to their advantage - and overcame a variety of opponents by steadily changing and adopting new tactics and modes of combat. Timothy May, a leading expert on the Mongol empire, is a professor of history at North Georgia College and State University. Illustrated 30 b/w / 232 pages / Jacketed Hardback
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    One of the most profound studies of warfare ever written, The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China presents us with an Eastern tradition of strategic thought that emphasizes outwitting one’s opponent through speed, stealth, flexibility, and a minimum of force-an approach very different from that stressed in the West, where the advantages of brute strength have overshadowed more subtle methods. Safeguarded for centuries by the ruling elites of imperial China, even in modern times these writings have been known to only a handful of Western specialists. In this volume are seven separate essays, written between 500 B.C. and A.D. 700, that preserve the essential tenets of strategy distilled from the experience of the most brilliant warriors of ancient China. This accurate translation remedies a serious gap in Western knowledge of Asian thought. Based on the best available classical Chinese manuscripts, some only recently discovered by archaeologists, The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China is a uniquely important contribution to the world’s military literature and is essential reading for anyone interested in China’s rich cultural heritage or in the timeless principles of successful warfare strategy. Paperback
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    Product Description: This book is packed with information covering a wide variety of topics to interest the traditional archer. Topics include: selecting or ordering your first traditional bow, taking care of the equipment, tuning for best performance; making arrows for field, flight and target use, including footings and fletchings; making flatbows, longbows and primitive styles including Meare Heath and cable-backed bows, and making flemish strings and thumbrings. This book is mainly intended for those interested in traditional English longbows, flatbows, primitive bows, selfbows and hunting-style recurves, and who literally shoot barebow, i.e. without any sight or stabilising attachment on their bow. "Instinctive shooting" refers to the technique of shooting without any sights, the main style adopted being to anchor the draw at the side of the face, and to shoot with a canted bow. Hilary Greenland is a professional Bowyer and Fletcher who has been making and shooting bows for over 20 years; she is a member of the Craft Guild of Traditional Bowyers and Fletchers in England. In 1992 she founded the Society for the Promotion of Traditional Archery and runs events, competitions and workshops to encourage participation in making and shooting traditional archery equipment. She is a frequent contributor of articles to Primitive Archer Magazine. Softcover, 118 pages
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    Product Description: T.J. Conrads, editor, publisher and founder of the Traditional Bowhunter Magazine, one of the leading experts of traditional archery today, has written a book for both the novice and the experienced traditional archer. On these pages you will find: the history of bowhunting in the United States, information on selecting, tuning and shooting traditional equipment, arrow building and string making tips. There are numerous appendices, a glossary and contact information for bowyers, fletchers, manufacturers and traditional archery suppliers. Cross- referenced, indexed, footnoted, and richly illustrated, this is one book that every traditional archer should have in their collection. Forward by none other than Glenn St. Charles. 363 pages, soft cover An excellent book!
    • For novices and experienced alike
    • From history to tuning to building all types of archery equipment
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    Currently on Back Order   Product Description: Vol. 1 Content: 1. Why Traditional by Jay Massey 2. Cutting and Seasoning Wood by Ron Hardcastle 3. Bow Design and Performance by Tim Baker 4. Yew Longbow by John Strunk 5. Osage Flat Bow by Ron Hardcastle 6. Other Bow Woods by Paul Comstock 7. Western Indian Bows by Steve Allely 8. Glue by Tim Baker 9. Splices by John Strunk 10. Sinew-Backing by Jim Hamm 11. Other Backings by Paul Comstock 12. Tillering by Jim Hamm 13. Finishes and Handles by John Strunk 14. Self Arrows by Jay Massey 15. A Comedy of Arrows by Jim Hamm Softcover, 326 pages, profusely illustrated. Vol. 2 Content: 1. Tradition Begins with the Past by Jay Massey 2. Bows from Boards by Tim Baker 3. Eastern Woodland Bows by Al Herrin 4. Ancient European Bows by Paul Comstock 5. Composite Bows by Dr. Bert Grayson 6. Bending Wood by Paul Comstock 7. Recurves by Jim Hamm 8. Strings by Tim Baker 9. Helpful Hints and Shortcuts by Jay Massey 10. Steel Points by Glenn Parker 11. Improving Accuracy by G. Fred Asbell 12. Quivers & Other Gear by Jay Massey 13. "Old Ugly" and the Little Buck by Jim Hamm Softcover and Hardcover, 318 pages, profusely illustrated. Vol. 3 Content: 1. Traditional Roots by Jay Massey 2. Tools by Paul Comstock 3. Bows of the World by Tim Baker 4. Korean Archery by Jeff Schmidt 5. Plains Indian Bows by Jim Hamm 6. African Archery by David Tukura 7. Take-Down Bows by Jay St. Charles 8. A Stone Age Bow by Tim Baker 9. Preventing and Solving Problems by Paul Comstock 10. Wooden Arrows by Gabriela Cosgrove 11. Custom Shafts by Gene Langston 12. Stone Points by Scott Silsby 13. Passing the Torch by Jim Hamm Softcover, 351 pages with index for all three volumes. Vol. 4 Content: From the creator of the first 3 classic volumes, this is essential reading for those who make wooden bows. Tim Baker, Paul Comstock, Jim Hamm, and many of the other top bowyers today provide insights into what thousands of bows have taught them. Includes Heat-Treating Bows, The Mass Principle, Character Bows, Design and Performance Revisited, Laminated Wood Bows, and Ishi's Archery Tackle, among many other ground-breaking chapters. Softcover profusely illustrated
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    Currently on Back Order   Product Description: Content: Why Traditional by Jay Massey; Cutting and Seasoning Wood by Ron Hardcastle; Bow Design and Performance by Tim Baker; Yew Longbow by John Strunk; Osage Flat Bow by Ron Hardcastle; Other Bow Woods by Paul Comstock; Western Indian Bows by Steve Allely; Glue by Tim Baker; Splices by John Strunk; Sinew-Backing by Jim Hamm; Other Backings by Paul Comstock; Tillering by Jim Hamm; Finishes and Handles by John Strunk; Self Arrows by Jay Massey; A Comedy of Arrows by Jim Hamm softcover, 326 pages, profusely illustrated,
  • Out of stock
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    Currently on Back Order Product Description: Content: Tradition Begins with the Past by Jay Massey; Bows from Boards by Tim Baker; Eastern Woodland Bows by Al Herrin; Ancient European Bows by Paul Comstock; Composite Bows by Dr. Bert Grayson; Bending Wood by Paul Comstock; Recurves by Jim Hamm; Strings by Tim Baker; Helpful Hints and Shortcuts by Jay Massey; Steel Points by Glenn Parker; Improving Accuracy by G. Fred Asbell; Quivers & Other Gear by Jay Massey; "Old Ugly" and the Little Buck by Jim Hamm soft and Hardcover, 318 pages, profusely illustrated,
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    Currently on Back Order Product Description: Vol. 3 Content: Traditional Roots by Jay Massey; Tools by Paul Comstock; Bows of the World by Tim Baker; Korean Archery by Jeff Schmidt; Plains Indian Bows by Jim Hamm; African Archery by David Tukura; Take-Down Bows by Jay St. Charles; A Stone Age Bow by Tim Baker; Preventing and Solving Problems by Paul Comstock; Wooden Arrows by Gabriela Cosgrove; Custom Shafts by Gene Langston; Stone Points by Scott Silsby; Passing the Torch by Jim Hamm softcover, 351 pages with index for all three volumes
  • Out of stock
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    Currently on Back Order Product Description: From the creator of the first 3 classic volumes, this is essential reading for those who make wooden bows. Tim Baker, Paul Comstock, Jim Hamm, and many of the other top bowyers today provide insights into what thousands of bows have taught them. Includes Heat-Treating Bows, The Mass Principle, Character Bows, Design and Performance Revisited, Laminated Wood Bows, and Ishi's Archery Tackle, among many other ground-breaking chapters. Hardcover profusely illustrated
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    Product Description:
      Timeless Bowhunting will help you:
    • Choose a bow based on the merits of technical design
    • Find a hunting arrow that gives optimum accuracy, trajectory, and penetration
    • Shoot accurately uphill, downhill, from tree stands, and in the wind
    • Choose an effective shooting style for your type of hunting
    • Perfect your shooting form by eliminating common shooting flaws
    • Find the best aiming method for you
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    Product Description: The Traditional Longbow and Recurve Bow have experienced a renewed popularity in the last two decades, capturing the imagination and testing the skill of archers all over the world. In this thorough, fully illustrated guide, archery expert Sam Fadala presents a detailed examination of traditional archery. How to select and use the classic longbow and recurve bow. Careful attention to bow and arrow selection, bow tuning, testing and maintenance, instinctive shooting techniques, accessories, safety, history, and resource lists of custom bowyers, arrow makers and equipment manufacturers. Sam Fadala is an expert in traditional weapons and is the author of numerous books and articles on archery and the outdoors. He lives in Arizona and Wyoming.
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      When the heavily manned fleet of the Ottoman Empire met the ships of a fragile coalition of Christian European states in 1571, the waters off the coast of Greece, they say, “ran red with blood.” It was a victory of the West-the first major victory of Europeans against the Ottoman Empire. In this compelling piece of narrative history, Niccolò Capponi describes the underlying clash of cultures and takes a fresh look at the bloody struggle between oared fighting galleys and determined men of faith. As a description of the age-old conflict between Christianity and Islam, it is a story which resonates today. Paperback
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    Warriors of the Steppe: A Military History of Central Asia 500 B.C. to 1700 A.D. By Erik Hildinger, 1997. "The steppe forms the heart of Eurasia, comprising land along the borders of China, all of Central Asia, the Ukraine and the area surrounding the Black Sea to north Afghanistan. Its westernmost outcrop is the Hungarian plain. Modern regions with all are part of their territory in the steppe are China, Inner Mongolia, Outer Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkestan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan, Afganistan, Ukraine and Hungary. The steppe is thus a vast place and, accordingly, not uniform in feature. It is not, for example, one vast sea of grass, although there are such places. There are mountainous areas, deserts such as Gobi, and a forbidding subarctic forest belt, the taiga. Climate is severe, even in the better areas which are generally found in the West. In the central belt of the steppe-the land of the Turks and Mongols-temperatures may vary between winter and summer by 80 degrees centigrade; it is a climate for the hardy and it has historically been the home of the nomad." A very readable yet careful account of the repeated waves of mounted Asian horseback archers who swept across the great plains of Asia into Eastern Europe. Follow the hoof beats of the Scythians, Huns, Avars, Magyars, Mongols, and many others. The unique importance of the horse culture and the composite bow receive much attention. Great read to get the ancient background and culture behind the modern mounted archery discipline. DeCapo Press, paper, some nice black and white illustrations, 260 pages.  
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    In a tradition extending back for centuries, and eventually becoming part of English law, all boys were to be provided with a bow and two arrows at the age of six to begin archery training. When the longbow gave way to firearms in the sixteenth century, the ancient statute was relaxed. At that point, rather than disappear, the longbow began a new life as the centerpiece of recreational archery. Quickly abandoned by villagers, the longbow found itself in the hands of gentlemen who formed social clubs around the bow. These clubs and societies of the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries—tightly regulated by social distinction—offered members an opportunity to meet their peers in pleasant concourse. Target and range competitions were natural events at club functions, but roving also became popular, with archers walking across vast swathes of open estate country following their arrows in golflike fashion. Initially men-only, archery clubs in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries began accepting women members. It was then, as Hugh Soar relates in The Romance of Archery: A Social History of the Longbow, that the longbow literally became an arm of cupid, with recreational archery providing a setting for prospective partners to meet in a socially acceptable environment, a ritual known from the time of Jane Austen to Edith Wharton. With the participation of women, the longbow opened up another phase in its centuries-old career, with women welcome to shoot in the Olympic Games. With his characteristic blend of erudition and wit, Hugh D. H. Soar leads the reader on a fascinating journey through the latter history of the venerable longbow. HUGH D. H. SOAR, a leading expert on the longbow, is author of many articles and books on archery, including "The Crooked Stick: A History of the Longbow" and (with Mark Stretton and Joseph Gibbs) "Secrets of the English War Bow".  
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    By Peter O. Stecher. A Who's Who of archery legends. Presenting the techniques, equipment, and philosophies of Saxton Pope, Art Young, William Compton, Fred Bear, Howard Hill, Byron Ferguson, Ishi, and more from the late 19th century to today. Filled with stories, observations, and lessons from the gutsy characters that defined the sport. Be taken on a journey to big game bow hunts in Africa, bowfishing in South America, and other adventures in archery. Relive the excitement of accomplished marksmen and patient devotees of an ancient pursuit.  
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    In this book, the author describes the transition from hand-thrown spear to bow-launched arrow and then follows the arrow's developments in cultures around the world and across time,. The book describes arrows found in Neolithic sites; those used by North and South American Indians–including a discussion of poison-tipped arrows; arrows used in China, Japan and Mongolia; and finally the arrow in Europe, where it was successfully paired with the longbow during the Middle Ages. The author completes his survey with the changes in technology introduced during the 20th century through the use of the alloy of aluminum with other light-weight metals and synthetic materials to construct part of the arrow.

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