The joy of jelly(bows)

[english_archer]

Over the past few months I have been fancying getting a longbow or a mongo just for a bit of fun but its been quite low on the priorety list due to funding both my own and the compound kid's archery habbit
Then the other week while rummaging about at the back of the club equipment room I found just the thing the clubs old stock of jelly bows the one piece fiberglass jobs beginners used before the cheap takedowns became avalable . A quick chat with the club chairman a small donation to club funds and I am now the pround owner of "old number one" which fills all my needs to a T its a real piece of history think of all the beginners that have learnt to shoot using it, it looks cool (i think) and is great fun to shoot with wooden arrows or some old jazz arrows not tried it beyond 40 yards yet but will do soon
So if its cheap fun your after take a peek in your clubs equipment shed you never know you might just discover the joy of jelly bows for yourselves

[phil_r_58]

Got one in the shed. It belonged to our school archery club 30 years ago. Still shoots, bit savage in the hand though.

Perhaps we ought to have a vintage bows section ?

[english_archer]

Originally Posted by phil_r_58

Got one in the shed. It belonged to our school archery club 30 years ago. Still shoots, bit savage in the hand though.

Perhaps we ought to have a vintage bows section ?

Count me in I know what you mean about savage crude is another word that could be used ,But it makes smile every time I shoot it cant wait for the next club fun shoot might even turn up for the odd field shoot with it .
And I love the fact that it has real history attached to it if only begienners courses and have a goes

[MrT]

We have a whole load of jelly bows that we use at the local Beer festival for "have-a-go" sessions, and more than a few of us can be seen shooting them when it gets a bit slow :-)

We also use them for our Fun Shoots to even up the odds between juniors, seniors and non archers! In fact, there is a pic of my good lady (non archer) shooting one in the latest "Archery UK"

Kev

[N.Vodden]

out of curiosity, where does the term 'Jelly Bow' come from?

[tel]

I'd guess at the gel-coat of the fibreglass?
Our club have a charity jelly bow match with another local club tomorrow evening - most of our lot have never picked one up before this week! I 'unfortunately' can't make it - need to practice for Dunster week

[phil_r_58]

And don't forget, for "have a go" sessions, the jelly bows are both left and right handed.

I improved the shot of ours by adding one of those narrow Petron arrow rests for jelly bows, on each side. The arm is quite deeply hooked, holds the arrow on better than using the shelf.

They are quite savage on release with Aluminium or carbon, but heavy wooden shafts, with feather fletch smooth them out well. I would guess the jelly bit comes from the fact that the fibreglass and resin does have a jelly like look, and is a little bit translucent on some of them

[simon m]

Indeed a cracking idea

Start a classic club!

Its a new dicipline one piece bows of any material dating from pre 1990!.

Could be a dangerous shooting line to be on with a high failure rate!

[phil_r_58]

Originally Posted by simon m

Indeed a cracking idea

Start a classic club!

Its a new discipline one piece bows of any material dating from pre 1990!.

Could be a dangerous shooting line to be on with a high failure rate!

Never mind the jelly bows, I still have an old Merlin compound, 1975 style, and a Jennings Arrow star II compound, 1979. The merlin is in bits, but the Jennings can still score 20 on an EFAA 80yd walk up shot, and 25 point ends on PAA/Worcester at 20yds. Still fitted with a 70s Killian Chek-It sight and an old Springy rest.

Before using on a round, I would change the steel cables. Lots of people say they would never use them, but if treated like strings, and changed each season they are OK.

The one bow you would not get me standing next to is the old Apollo steel longbows. They need shooting from inside a sandbag bunker.

[english_archer]

It's nice to hear Im not totally lost the plot with my jelly bow just back from the club were the compound kid spent an hour wizzing arrows in to a field boss he had a great time and he HATES recurve