I hate self yew

[chris]

feel beter now?????????
i know i do
chris

[laminatekid]

yes i do feel better thank you....phew, any way the basic point was yew was used out of neccesaty not choice and had people the choice in the middle ages they would have been using composite recurves that europeans came across during the crusades as they were more powerful and less cumbersome but alas our climate did not lend itself to a bow relying on the strength of water based glue....damn that drizzle

[chris]

you are probably right,but i wish i could aford a yew bow!
just a bit out of my range
chris

[English Bowman]

Originally Posted by laminatekid

yes i do feel better thank you....phew, any way the basic point was yew was used out of neccesaty not choice and had people the choice in the middle ages they would have been using composite recurves that europeans came across during the crusades as they were more powerful and less cumbersome but alas our climate did not lend itself to a bow relying on the strength of water based glue....damn that drizzle

That's not the only factor in the choice of yew to make the Warbow.
The time needed to make the bow is a factor. It can take more than 2 years to make a tradtional composite bow, a boughstave yew longbow can be turned out in a day. When you are supplying an army, this is a very important factor.
Also the small recurves aren't that much better. I was surprised in an experiment we did recently a Bickerstaffe 50lbs lemonwood/hickory matched a 50lb Mongolian style recurve for range with similar arrows.

Daniel

[chris]

woodenuns is best
chris

[Macbow]

Lamkid I'm sure you don't feel that harshly about yew but it definitely isn't the be all and end all of bow woods. Design is more of an issue and with the right design a good working bow can be hacked out of anything. However, if I was a primitive European archer looking to make a hunting bow - something that doesn't soak up moisture, that bugs and beetles don't relish, that doesn't need backed and can be whittled with stone tools from a narrow tree I'd choose yew.

[laminatekid]

Originally Posted by Macbow

Lamkid I'm sure you don't feel that harshly about yew but it definitely isn't the be all and end all of bow woods. Design is more of an issue and with the right design a good working bow can be hacked out of anything. However, if I was a primitive European archer looking to make a hunting bow - something that doesn't soak up moisture, that bugs and beetles don't relish, that doesn't need backed and can be whittled with stone tools from a narrow tree I'd choose yew.

or elm?(pre dutch elm disease!)

[stevesjem]

Originally Posted by laminatekid

yes i do feel better thank you....phew, any way the basic point was yew was used out of neccesaty not choice and had people the choice in the middle ages they would have been using composite recurves that europeans came across during the crusades as they were more powerful and less cumbersome but alas our climate did not lend itself to a bow relying on the strength of water based glue....damn that drizzle

Yet Again, another load of drivle, I'll put my 120lb self yew war bow up against any composite recurve, we'll both wear armour of the period, you shoot at me and break your arrows, i will shoot at you and my arrows will penetrate with no problem.

Yew is the perfect wood for longbows and if made correctly will shoot a military weight arrow far further and with more power than any composite, ask Simon Stanley, Mark Stretton etc.