A thumbring which can be used for either foot archery or horse archery. This slightly tipped up thumb guard allows for speed loading your arrow without looking at the process of loading since you need to have your eye on the next target approaching quickly!
The only materials used to make this and all thumb rings I make, are boiled leather, acrylic paint, and clear lacquer to protect the artwork and allow it to be a functional thumb ring. Yes, I use them all the time. Because they are leather, they will wear out or break eventually. I have some that have literally sent 5000 or more arrows down range, while I have made one that broke on the second day I used it. So you will probably want to make more than one thumb ring.
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Midnight on the Lower Palisades Ranch
This design works exceptionally well for a powerful bow used for ground archery.
Black with red and gold lacquer and a top coat of tough clear lacquer so the art work will be protected when being used. I have probably sent a thousand arrows downrange with it. The flat shape is intentional because it is used for foot archery. Because speed loading is of the essence in horse archery, you will see those are quite different in shape.
This is my version of a horse archery thumbring.
It is bent at a much steeper angle to facilitate speed loading. After all, If you can't speed load you will never be particularly successful at horse archery. The horse can give us multiple shots by chasing any target, but you have to get it loaded!
The double headed snake (Scythian design)
This design has lasted forever!
This is a bit flat, but will work for either horse or ground archery. It is very old, and couldn't tell you how many arrows I have sent downrange. It is at least 6 years old. It is a very slim thumbring, well worn and very light. There are days where I prefer a heavier thumbring, and days when I want a light one. A thumbring for horse archery. This is an older ring but still holds its shape well. It has probably launched more than 5,000 arrows.