[Judge]

Originally Posted by Yew Selfbow

I think GNAS may have jumped the gun in making their rule changes. The GNAS longbow specification comes directly from the specification laid down by the B.L.B.S. The BLBS changes to the long bow specs are based on an "assumption that the reflex/deflex limb gives an unfair advantage in cast/ draw weight ratio's compared to a conventional straight limbed Long bow. This assumption of superiority of performance has never been quantified in a bow for bow comparison. The changes to bow rules was put to the 2005 AGM of the BLBS but will not be ratified until the 2006 AGM. Therefore the reflex/deflex bow is still legal at BLBS events until ratification in 2006, but it seems to bave been banned from GNAS events forthwith.
Another part of the specification GNAS has spectacularly misunderstood, is the nature of the self bow and the 5/8th ruling. I have an Osage self bow that, because of the shape and make up of the wood grain, the bow has a section where in order for the limb tiller to work correctly the depth of the limb at a particular point is below the 5/8th specification.
This bow, by ruling definition, is now illegal by a rule instigated, and ratified by, I suspect, someone that knows or understand very little about longbows.

What I posted is only a preview of the rule that will not appear until April 2006 and the wording may be slightly different when published. I do believe that BLBS was asked for their opinion on the rule by GNAS. I only posted as a forewarning of what GNAS is planning on publishing. The only part in the rule that was new was in red. The 5/8 rule has been in the rule book since at least 2000, when I started judging. However I would need to see the bow before I would make any decisions on it, but self bows are not usually uniform in section because of the variance in the the wood used to make it. At least that is my knowledge as a non longbow archer. I wouldn't mind further education though!