Quick Disagreement Settling Question

[Longbow_Gold]

I know this is going to sound kinda stupid, but I have spent 30 minutes, listening to my cousin argueing with me about a string bracing that is on a longbow he just got a few days ago from a friend of his.

he has told me that the bow has got 2x nock hooks at each end of the bow, the inner nocks having a string bracing that is wrapped around the bow, but also runs along the backing to the other end, with the 2 outter nocks being for the bow string itself.

The Question is simply, if a self nocked bow arrives with a string bracing covering the bow, should the bracing be kept on the bow or should it be taken off?

I realise that it's a kind of a strange thing to be asking about, but it's something that I thought I would ask to try and clear this up, purely for curiousity's sake

Thank you in everyone in advance

Willie

[robtattoo]

Definately, definately leave it on! It sounds like a cable-backed bow to me. The cable is there to provide extra support to the back of the bow. Pics would help please.
If it is a cable bow, removing the cable will result in a great collection of toothpicks!

[Longbow_Gold]

I'll take some pics of my own bow and upload them as I still have the original backing on my bow as well, simpoly because I couldn't be bothered to take it off yet lol

It's a "Cordage-backed, self yew longbow", but the bow itself is like a cross of a English Longbow and an American Flatbow

Thank you Rob for replying and as I mentioned, I'll take a few pics of my own bow later and upload them

Willie

[englishwarbow]

If it says its backed with it then do not remove it, but the pictures will resolve it when you upload them.

[woodsplitter]

Why not ask the bowyer?

[Longbow_Gold]

Here's some pics of the bow with the backing

Sorry about the quality of the pics, unfortunately my webcam is not the best for taking pics







I don't know who the bowyer is, as I bought it on evilbay, purely as a bow to get me started

Thank you once again guys for your input, it's very much appreciated

Willie

[HOTHOUSEDOG]

Yep, Rob is totally correct that is a cable backed bow. The cable takes some of the tension instead of the back of the bow, increasing cast and resistance to breakage.
Interesting bow mate where'd you get it? How does she shoot? I've thought about making one of these myself ( when i have the time! 4 bows in progress at the mo!)
Happy shooting!

[Longbow_Gold]

Thank you guys

I got it from an ebay seller, who sells various items from time to time, to help raise money for people who suffer from MS, it came with 12 self nocked ash arrows and I had purchased the other 18x ash arrows as well, since it was for a good cause

I haven't been able to have the oppertunity to test the bow's full potential yet because the only place near to me that I could test it, is usually hounded by dog walkers, and the risk is too high to justify going to the playing fields.

It's 35lb @ 30" and it's got a nice smooth draw and release action, but I'm going to be putting a handle wrap on it, but I'm looking to have the handle wrap thick enough to use as an arrow rest as well

Willie

[Longbow_Gold]

This bow is 1/2 a step away from becoming a bag of sticks for lighting the fire with!... UNLESS, I can get some of the cast back in this bow, but I seriously doubt it.

I think that the problem with this bow is that the bow is meant to be 35lb @ 28", and not 30" as it was mentioned in the auction, hence why the bow will have lost a fiar amount of cast.

It has dropped from about 35lbs, to about 22lbs, which is of now use, especially at 18 metres, which seems to be a bit of a struggle for the bow

Willie

[robtattoo]

What wood is the bow built from? It must be following the string like mad to lose that much weight!

You could try winding up the cables somewhat. I'll remove a lot of the set from the bow, but could cause chrysals to form in the belly.

Frankly, it sounds like you've bought a pup & then, through inexperience, bust it by overdrawing.
Primative bowstyles such as selfbows, cable-backs etc... are nowhere near as forgiving as modern laminates. Even laminated longbows let you get away with a lot (overdrawing, lighter arrows etc...) compared to selfwood bows.
Funnily though, in my experience, selfbows seem to prefer fastflight. Go figure!