Bows 'n' arrers

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Bows 'n' arrers

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mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 06 11:33 pm Post subject: Bows 'n' arrers
My son mentioned that he'd like to learn how to make them. I found myself saying "I'll ask Sally and Gareth." Did I do the right thing?

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 06 8:31 am Post subject:
We could introduce him to some very skilled bowyers and fletchers, but we have no expertise there ourselves. I'm afraid, we know the principle, just havent ever done it

footprints

Joined: 26 May 2005
Posts: 234
Location: North Wales

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 06 9:02 am Post subject:
You could at one time get a handy booklet on making the longbow from the Long bow society (I think they were called) for a quid

footprints

Joined: 26 May 2005
Posts: 234
Location: North Wales

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 06 9:48 am Post subject:

I've just had a good root for the little book I got from the long bow society and it's either out on loan (see gone forever) or I've lost it (see gone forever) You could have had it with pleasure.

You didn't mention your sons age? If your happy with him using and axe,draw knife,spoke shave,(hard hat), then he's away. If your not, the willow provides the gear for "my first bow".

I've had 2 0r 3 attempts at making a longbow. I used ash. The reason being was that although I might have been able to get my hands on a piece of yew, I didn't want to waste the materials.

All 3 attempts ultimately failed. The first 2 failed when I found flaws such as tiny dead knots as I was working on them.

The 3rd attempt I put a lot of effort into.

I cut a large straight/young ash tree that was growing on a quiet stretch of a railway embankment (they are all cleared every few years). The tree was straight with no side growths.

When quartered it split well and even as it dried a little, developed a curve that I thought would assist.

I worked for hrs and hrs on that piece of wood. working on the D shape and tapering the limbs. I finally got to the part that is I think called tillering. This is when a forked and notched stick is used for drawing the bow to check the curve of the limbs are equal.

I strung the bow using bale string and worked at the fine tuning of the limbs. When I was getting to the point of near completion and was thinking about the nocks for the proper bow string, I was so impressed with my mighty bow.

I was stood outside the workshop drawing the bow gently, telling my wife that was coming in from shopping just how powerful it felt.
My wife with her hands full left me to play.

Just as well really. As I fully drew the bow for a final time, feeling the power as I drew the string back to my cheek, it snapped hitting me on the head and almost braining me.

I haven't given up on the bow making, but I have bought a compound bow from the car boot for £30

marigold

Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 12458
Location: West Sussex

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 06 10:48 am Post subject:
There's a section on bow-making in Ray Mears' The Survival Handbook. It's more words than pictures, but I'd be happy to photocopy and send the relevant pages.

Silas

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 6848
Location: Staffordshire

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 06 12:42 pm Post subject:
Your best bet would be a longbow kit from 'Quicks' or somewhere. You need a good lamination to make a decent bow and the kits come with all the right wood and materials and instructions. English Yew is not ideal for longbows - most yew longbows used spanish or mediterranian yew - you also need a section with the outer hardwood and inner sapwood along its entire length.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 06 1:51 pm Post subject:
While one day I'd love to make a 'real' longbow from the finest yew it is possible to make one from other types of wood and still have fun. When I was a nipper I made one from hazel and it could fire an arrow quite a long distance. As footprints says, it could be ideal to start with some easily obtainable wood before using some hard to find yew.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 06 4:35 pm Post subject:

Not too worried about him using sharp things: he was 30 a few weeks ago!

What he wants really is a hobby: something constructive with an end result. He'll stick to it and get something out of it at the end. I could let him have any number of ash plants, but he lives in Hingary. I imagine there's quite a lot of timber there, though, so that shouldn't be a problem.

I'll point him in the direction of the Long Bow Society: should be a good place to start.

Cheers y'all!

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 06 4:47 pm Post subject:
While on the subject, does anyone know the traditional wood for making arrows?

marigold

Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 12458
Location: West Sussex

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 06 4:50 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

While on the subject, does anyone know the traditional wood for making arrows?

According to Ray M - yew for the English longbow, but in America Osage Orange wood is preferred.

Ed. He suggests beginners start with ash which is easy to work

derfel

Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 1

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 07 10:33 pm Post subject: Bows n arrows
Try typing in your search bar 'primative technologies' a great site for bows n arrows' flint knapping etc. derfel

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 44460
Location: yes

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 07 12:55 am Post subject:

mochyn wrote:

Not too worried about him using sharp things: he was 30 a few weeks ago!

the worst age
got my sharp and springy stuff in the market

skedone

Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 351
Location: essex inbetween a blue bit and a green bit

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 07 12:57 pm Post subject:
here is the link i used to make mine andf my mates english long bow https://www.thebeckoning.com/medieval/longbow/longbow.html https://www.thebeckoning.com/medieval/longbow/longbow-manual.html

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