Wood for bows

[commandocal]

Anybody have a picture of the wood/tree to use for bows? i have a basic idea of making one or if anyone has any links to how to make one would be good thanks

Just been watching the BBC series of Robin Hood and now feel jealous back when Britian was 70% forest it would have been amazing

 

[SOAR]

http://www.vintageprojects.com/archery/bow-plans.html

Dont know if this is of any use.

Ash tree

http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-2961_2968_18323-44704--,00.html

Try this site for idents on trees, also hazel, ash,or someone might suggest a few more.

http://www.4to40.com/encyclopedia/default.asp?category=Plants_and_Trees

 

[John Fenna]

Yew is what the famous WELSH longbow was made from.
Lots of ancient examples of this - plus elm.
The Native Americans seem to have used a variety of woods inc Lemonwood for their flatbows.
I think that you could use almost any seasoned hardwood at a push but I am sure you will get a lot of answers to this thread!

 

[commandocal]

I was going to buy one - it would be a good skill to learn but all the bows about nowadays are man made stuff with a load of attachments that make it look like a gun - i was looking for a simple wooden long bow - but to make one would be awesome

 

[C_Claycomb]

There are some forums that really specialise in bow stuff. This is a good place to start:
http://p081.ezboard.com/Archery--Primitive-Bows/fpaleoplanet69529frm13
This used to be good, but not so sure now:
http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/tf/lw/threadsx2.CFM?category=4

Your best bet would probably be ash since it is easier to find and work with than elm. You can even get pretty good ash in the form of planks from a timber yard that deals in hardwoods. The balsa-like early spring growth makes it easier to find a board where the grain/wood fibres run straight and parallel with the surface of the board.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_tree

This is a good starting point if you want basic instructions:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Traditional-Archers-Handbook-Practical-Guide/dp/0952462761

If you like knowing more, these are great
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss...alias=stripbooks&field-keywords=bowyers+bible

 

[Snufkin]

Sycamore makes a reasonable light drawweight bow. Any of the other maples are good too. Ash will probably be readily available. I'd save the yew until you've made a good few bows. Bow quality yew is a precious commodity.

 

[screeching owl]

Iv used the long bow for about 3 years and studied its history too. The bow most likely to meet field requirements would be a self ash bow of the bare bow type (no attachments at all). you can buy all you need to make one from the kit stage. when your bow is made your best buying the arrows to match the draw weight as matching arrows are important. Yew is the best wood but is very hard to get. You will want at least a 40Ib draw weight but to be honest you need to know much more if your going to use it safely and with accuracy. Most bowers will sell the kits. Good luck. Archery is great fun.

 

[al21]

Hi Commandocal,

If you're interested in archery then you'll find joining a local club very useful, a list can found at
http://www.gnas.org/clubs/ You may not be keen on clubs etc, but the instruction, safety and insurance you get will also be useful. You might find that suitable spots to shoot are not easy to find either and a club obviously has this. If you show interest at a club expect to take a starter course which will invariably be with a recurve bow. Don't worry that it's not a longbow, to start you just need to get going and you can use the club kit for a while anyway.

If you still wish to shoot a longbow then http://www.longbow-archers.com/ will give good history and details of current longbow use. I'm sure you'll find something there that appeals!

There are lots of places on the net to get info about making your own kit, but http://www.diyarchery.co.uk/ might be a good place to start. If your pockets are deep then
http://www.bickerstaffebows.co.uk/ are popular bowyers.

HTH

Al

 

[shadow57]

Hello

There is a chap in Hungary that produces bows at really reasonable prices. He also produces kits for making bows. Additionally other readers will interested to know that he supplies Osage Orange wood at really great prices..

Here is the link

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/OSAGE-6575

PS The prices that he charges are ridiculously low..

 

[Ogri the trog]

If your pockets are deep then
http://www.bickerstaffebows.co.uk/ are popular bowyers.

Al

Wow,
That takes me back a bit - Ron Bickerstaffe IIRC, tillered one of my Richard Head bows about 20 odd years ago from his home in Kent. He took it from a middle of the road lug bow to a 68lb monster that shot as flat as you'd like. I really must try to get out and shoot a bit more, I have four longbows who see very little sunlight nowadays.

Ogri the trog

 

[Dave Budd]

Hi Commandocal,

If you're interested in archery then you'll find joining a local club very useful, a list can found at
http://www.gnas.org/clubs/ You may not be keen on clubs etc, but the instruction, safety and insurance you get will also be useful. You might find that suitable spots to shoot are not easy to find either and a club obviously has this. If you show interest at a club expect to take a starter course which will invariably be with a recurve bow. Don't worry that it's not a longbow, to start you just need to get going and you can use the club kit for a while anyway.

HTH

Al

Chances are that if you want to make yourself a bow, then field archery is more your kinda thing so try the NFAS or EFAA far more fun in my opinion (I've done all of em over the years, but would never go back to target)

 

[al21]

Wow,
That takes me back a bit - Ron Bickerstaffe IIRC, tillered one of my Richard Head bows about 20 odd years ago from his home in Kent. He took it from a middle of the road lug bow to a 68lb monster that shot as flat as you'd like. I really must try to get out and shoot a bit more, I have four longbows who see very little sunlight nowadays.

The guy who runs Bickerstaffe now seems to be Pip Bickerstaffe. He has some good books available on the history and construction of longbows. I like the sound of your 68lb bow, hardly a monster though. Since the raising of the Mary Rose some fairly startling information about the long bows used in the period tells us the draw weights of military spec bows range from 80 - 180lb. I'm hoping to build up to using a bow capable of shooting a British Long Bow Society (BL-BS) standard arrow which needs a 70lb+ bow. It would be nice to think I might eventually shoot a military spec arrow, but as that's shot from a 130lb+ bow I'll have to be patient on that one.

I'll be joining the BL-BS before long so as to join in with their roving meets and clout shoots, which might appeal to you too. Maybe we'll get to shoot together sometime, there seem to be quite a few archers here, perhaps a bushcraft archery event could be arranged.

 

[Ogri the trog]

Hi al21,
I thinik Pip is Rons son - who might well have been the tearaway kid charging about the garden when I visited Ron's place - somewhere near Broadstairs in Kent but I can't remember exactly where.
I went to the Mary Rose exhibition many years ago, only a few years after it had been raised - the bow staves were as thick as my wrist - and I'm not a small bloke.
I know 68lb is not massive by war standards but compared with the bows I had drawn at the time is was collosal. I used to shoot with Old Basing Archers in Hampshire and BLBS - did a few tournaments at the Royal Tox grounds in Burnham - well worth a visit if ever you get a chance.
I have since drawn a 95lb bow but not shot in it, that was quite a task - I seem to remember reading somewhere about a guy who was trying to break some records for shooting a war bow, he'd got a 180lb+ and was in training to draw over 200lb
I haven't shot for a few years now, theres plenty other distractions that take up my time - though the kids are on at me to get a target boss so they can shoot in the field - perhaps its time to resurect the old toxophilite in me.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Aaron]

That was a guy called Mark Stretton - he shot a 200lb bow that Pip Bickerstaffe made for him. The bloke can accurately target shoot with a 150lb bow

If you get a chance to shoot a warbow have a go as it's great fun to make your own monster arrows (1/2" shafts no less), stick some nice hand forged bodkin heads and greylag goose fletchings on and chuck them as far as you can! Not much application for bushcraft however unless you see a particularly tasty morsel 1/2 kilometer away

(Note before I get pulled up by any lawyers on here hunting with bows is illegal in the UK:werd: Arrows may go up as well as down your home may be at risk if you do not keep up your BCUK subscription payments yada yada yada.....

 

[Runs for cake]

I went on a bow making course last year and managed to make an ENGLISH longbow from Ash. Not a work of art but it doesn't half chuck arrows a long way. 55lb draw at 28inches. Its a workout in itself. Occasionally I shoot it accurately too.

I would second the advice about getting to your local archery club. Even if you manage to make a bow , without the basics of archery technique you are unlikely to shoot it correctly.

As for buying longbows, you can get them but expect to pay for a decent one. You can pick up an American flatbow reasonably cheap though. I got an Internature flatbow last year for £99 and its a beaut.

Archery is great fun mate, but get to your local club first.

Sean

 

[Aaron]

55lbs? Workout? You need to eat more chips mate.

 

[Runs for cake]

I certainly do, but I prefer donuts and stuff.

I'm also very much a beginner. I take it you draw a significantly higher poundage.

Sean

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Robert the Bruce had Yew trees planted for bowmaking. An island on Loch Lomond was reserved for it.
http://www.loch-lomond.net/islands/inchlonaig.html

Don' touch the Yew tree at Fortingall, it's rather old.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortingall_Yew

Nick

 

[Aaron]

I certainly do, but I prefer donuts and stuff.

I'm also very much a beginner. I take it you draw a significantly higher poundage.

Sean

In my humility I started with a 40lb bow - less than you draw now. Although people will tell you not to if you want to shoot heavy bows I think the best thing to do is to buy yourself one that is a relatively high draw weight - 70lbs is a good start - and join a club where you have access to a field where you can go and shoot for distance. If you shoot it regularly enough you will be surprised how quickly you gain strength - and as I said eat more chips! People will tell you that you will damage your back if you draw heavy bows - I have been shooting them for nearly five years and havent had any problems (yet.......):bluThinki. Its usually just a cop-out from people who lack the perseverence to practice. It annoys me that people think that something cant be done and put other people off just because they cant do it.

Unfortunately most clubs these days have a 70lb draw weight restriction so over that you need to join a traditional archery club like the PickWick Pepperpots. You will also get loads of comments - normally about how inaccurate your bow is - from other members, normally compound bow archers. Ignore them as you are the purist staying true to the traditions of english archery - most of them have probably tried shooting longbows but gave up because they got frustrated.

 

[Aaron]

"I'm hoping to build up to using a bow capable of shooting a British Long Bow Society (BL-BS) standard arrow which needs a 70lb+ bow. It would be nice to think I might eventually shoot a military spec arrow, but as that's shot from a 130lb+ bow I'll have to be patient on that one."

That is certainly the case with 1/2" Ash war arrows, but you could quite easily shoot Aspen or Poplar war arrows from a 70lb bow whilst still being historically authentic. Make some and have a go!