In virtually all the specimens of the hinged bow examined, with the exception of the Javan bow, the bow seems first to have been constructed as a normal composite bow. After the wood, horn, sinew and glue had consolidated with thorough drying and the bow had been tillered, it was carefully sawn in half through the centre of the handle. A narrow but very strong and durable hinge of iron was then screwed or rivetted to the back of the bowstave (fig. 10). These hinges were hand forged and usually there is some play in them. Whether this slackness is deliberate or due to wear is difficult to assess. The looseness does allow the bow to be folded so that the ears overlap but there seems to be no real advantage in this. When the bow is strung there is no play at the grip and it functions normally.