#95 Gerhard Wiesler on Project Quiver
Available on these platforms: Spotify | Anchor | Apple | PocketCasts
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Available on these platforms: Spotify | Anchor | Apple | PocketCasts
Gerhard Wiesler is a bowyer living on a 200-year-old farm near Weiz, Austria, where he has nut orchards of walnuts, chestnuts, and pecans. He is a prolific teacher, guiding hundreds of students yearly in the building of selfbows.
“In a perfect workshop I never ever touch the bow of my workshop participants.”
Please enjoy this episode of Project Quiver on Salish Wolf with Gerhard Wiesler.
Episode Links:
https://www.facebook.com/BogenbauGerhardWiesler
Project Quiver at Anchor Point Expeditions
Summary:
Gerhard Wiesler shares his journey into traditional bow making, the art of crafting self bows, and the cultural significance of archery and martial arts. Discover insights into the craftsmanship, experimentation, and traditions behind this timeless craft. Gerhard and Todd discuss the art of bow making, focusing on different woods, workshop processes, and the impact of forest management on bow making materials.
Show Notes:
Gerhard Wiesler's background and journey into bow making
The process of crafting self bows from a single piece of wood
Experimentation with different bow designs and woods
The tradition and cultural significance of archery in Japan and Europe
The role of workshops and teaching in Gerhard's craft
Challenges of selling handmade bows within European consumer rights
The influence of martial arts on archery practice and philosophy
Innovative techniques like bamboo wedges and fire arrows U wood differences between Europe and Pacific Northwest
Impact of forest management on bow wood quality
Workshop process for building bows from selection to finishing
Design considerations including bow length, draw weight, and aesthetics
Material choices for handles, arrow shelves, and strings
Chapters:
00:00 - Introductions and how to pronounce Gerhard’s name
01:49 - Life in Styria and settling into rural Austria
03:06 - The spontaneous round-the-world trip that changed everything
04:34 - Crossing Canada, then New Zealand and Australia
06:08 - Homeschooling rules in Austria and Germany
08:01 - Why the family chose to keep homeschooling during travel
11:19 - Mika Wolf and the Austrian bowmaking scene
13:47 - What counts as a professional bowyer
16:10 - Japanese dojo culture and slow apprenticeship
19:17 - Martial arts, archery, and embodied practice
21:04 - Rambo 2 and Gerhard’s explosive start in archery
22:28 - Making flaming arrows and archery fireworks
24:14 - From compound bows to self bows
25:13 - A failed first bow and the start of serious bowmaking
27:00 - Burning finished bows as a ritual
29:30 - Why Gerhard only builds self bows
31:45 - Consumer warranty issues for handcrafted bows in Europe
33:39 - Why workshops are better than custom commissions
35:26 - Experimenting with different bow woods and designs
36:22 - Performance, comfort, and the Yumi bow
39:37 - Shooting 50 to 100 arrows as part of the build
41:19 - Bamboo backing and the Japanese rope-and-wedge method
42:20 - One-day and two-day workshop formats
45:08 - First bows made from Pacific yew
46:50 - Humidity problems in Costa Rica and switching materials
48:14 - Success with knotty yew staves
49:00 - European yew versus Pacific yew
52:22 - Yew as a demanding wood and workshop success rates
53:42 - Shipping staves and sourcing osage from the US
55:23 - Ash, black locust, and hickory for workshops
57:37 - Stave logistics and why he buys dried bow wood
58:56 - Logging, yew forests, and habitat loss on Vancouver Island
61:13 - The Redwoods and the feeling of standing among giants
62:24 - How many workshops Gerhard teaches each year
63:08 - Where his students come from
66:47 - Walking through a full workshop from start to finish
68:02 - Manau as the wood used for horse bows
69:22 - Choosing bow wood by type and personality
70:58 - Horse bow dimensions and strong draw weights
74:27 - Choosing draw weight for beginners
75:53 - Who tends to be the most demanding workshop participant
77:19 - Women, men, and learning style differences in archery
79:52 - Bow length, performance, and tradeoffs
80:22 - Rough shaping with hand tools
82:24 - Letting students do the tillering themselves
84:31 - Handle shaping, 50 test shots, and checking limb balance
85:57 - Finish options: sanding, oiling, painting, and wraps
86:45 - Shelves, horse bows, and tradition
88:42 - Arrow passes and decorative inlays
89:30 - Strings, arrows, and cedar shaft preferences
91:14 - Off-site lodging, tents, and RVs
91:45 - Gerhard’s informal success guarantee and free repeat workshops