Arrow pass on longbow

[Saxon]

I note that these are usually horn or brass.

Do people use any other material for the arrow pass? Or are horn and brass predominantly used for wear resistance?

I ask as i have a piece of ivory sitting doing nothing that i think would be nice to incorporate into a longbow but am not sure if it is suitable?


Cheers.

[bogaman]

19th century longbows invariably had mother of pearl arrow passes. English bows used a 'steeple' shape, Scottish bows had a 'half moon' shape. The convention was to use arrow passes only on self yew bows to protect the wood.

Nowadays abalone is often used as a substitute, although metal is also occasionally used. Ivory would be quite accepatble, providing it is not 'modern' and 'poached'. .

[Saxon]

Thanks Bogaman, I can't say if it is 'modern', what would the definition be? It has been around at home for at least 30 years and where it originally came from i don't know. Whether or not it was originlly poached there is no way of knowing.

But from what you say there is no physical reason why ivory can not be used so it looks like it may well find its way onto a bow.

Thanks.

[mathewsmainliner]

I have seen a few with Silver being used and Tufnol (also used in the tips of recurve bows) Look up The Attwater Grp based in Preston, they have been known to send out sample cut off pieces that fit the bill, Ask for black SRBP 3/16" thick.

[gwynn]

some years back i saw a gold arrow plate on a beautiful self yew bow, which i thought was quite nice