A question about Bows

[Nonoko]

I've noticed some strange things on top of some shortbows.  Namely the one I'm interested in is the Bow of Owls, but it's also on the Aetherial shortbows and the vintage bow.  It's a strange figurine that's like a pair of legs sticking up or something.  I'm wondering if anyone knew what this piece is, or what its purpose would be.

[Dogberry]

I had to google it to see what you're talking about, but it looks purely decorative to me. I'm not an expert on archery by any means, but it's above any part of the bow that would give it any function.

[C'kayah Polaali]

Yep, it's purely decorative.

 

Also, hi Narhi! 

[Nonoko]

I don't know why the Eorzeans think upside down legs are decorative, that's just weird.  Thanks guys.

 

Hiya creeper Kayah

[Knight Kat]

I practice Archery IRL, but I can only speculate as to the purpose of those things.

 

The legs decoration may serve a purpose of immediately helping the archer know when they are holding the bow right-side-up. Ironic that they'd use upside-down legs to do that. Another possibility is that the decoration is a balancing weight. Weights are often used on bows, but they are usually attached to the front of the bow, not on one of the limbs /shrug.

 

The decoration looks solid and heavy. If I were using that bow, and an enemy got close to me (which usually needs to be avoided) I might swing my bow at them making sure that stupid decoration smacked them in the face. Cuz, that would hurt!

[Dat Oni]

I thought at first it might be a pseudo-sight of sorts, but the width of the bow is simply too much to peep through the space between the horns.

 

So yeah, its gotta be decorative.