Ethnic bow can anyone identify

[Kmaddock]

Hi
I just picked up the attached bow
1.3 M in length
Approx 20 mm diameter
One end squared off and one end in a cone shape
Rattan binding at two tips and in middle
Wood is black but white on inside

I know it is a v v long shot but anyone got any ideas as to where it may be from

Am I correct in thinking one end of string would be iced to bow and the other end attached to a piece of horn or a cone of some sort that would be slipped over the end when you wanted bow to be operational.
The purpose of this so as not to have bow taught all the time

Ideas of origins awaited

[kronckew]

Your bow may not have had horn nocks, string may have been just looped or tied over the pointy end. Not sure of yours' origin. Reminds me of a bushman's bow tho.

Horn nocks are generally paired and glued to the bow, string is looped at both ends (usuall for custom made strings) or one end is tied to the lower end nock ('Universal length string). When tied bottom, the upper-end nock is usually thru the string's upper loop when it's relaxed (you put it there before tying the bottom) and as the bow is flexed to string it, the loop is slid up into the notches on the horn nock, for double looped, the bottom loop is placed in the nock grooves, usually deeper than the upper one, string is held taught and the bow is flexed to the loop and the loop brought over the nock end into the groove.

These nocks are unfinished and intended for a long straight bow like yours, the grooves need smoothing and the nocks get an overall polish. the fatter short one is the bottom, the taller, the top does not have as complete a groove as the bottom, this is on purpose...

As you note, traditional bows of natural materials should not be left strung under tension, or they may take a set permanently and be unuseable.

[Kmaddock]

Thanks for the pointers and nock education.
Regards
Ken