Mary Rose Style Bows

[Big John]

Time for a second custom longbow. Thinking of going a little heavier and getting a bow in the syle of the Mary Rose bows - ie. it will bend through the handle. Have never shot a bow of this type and am interested in opinions form anyone that has this type of bow or has shot one. Thanks.

[Toxopholist]

Hi, I've shot a couple of these bows briefly and the sensation is strange initially. After this however, there appears to be no significant difference to a conventionally tillered bow.

I wonder why you want one as, for the same draw weight, they are likely to be a bit slower.

I assume the original reason for tillering a bow this way was necessity. The bow would presumably break at the required military draw weight/length if the whole limb was not allowed to move.

Please share your experiences if you do go that way!

[Yew Selfbow]

Having examined a large number of the Mary Rose bows in some detail, and shot some of Pip Bickerstaffes excellent replicas, I could highly reccommend a military style warbow. The bending through the handle isn't really noticeable untill you get up to 100lb plus. You'll need to learn the technique of shooting "in the bow" but once you've mastered that, you'll have all the fun you can handle. I'm a big softee, 60lb is my limit nowadays.. I'm to0 fond of my shoulder joints to shoot big bows.....
... but... go for it... you won't regret it...

[Big John]

Thanks guys. Currrently shooting 55lb tri-lam longbow and weight is fine, even for short holds. Thinking of 70lbs as I don't want to go over the top and end up with something that I can't draw comfortably or might even risk hurting myself with. That throws open a question - how do you determine a reasonable maximum personal weight for this type of bow?
The attraction is the obvious link to history - I have shot bows various since I could walk and while I love the lines of a recurve, I am not sure I can go on without something akin to a warbow in my possession! I'll not bother with any handle wrapping and will ask for a bowyer's mark near the arrow pass. Wood-wise, I need to dicsuss with bowyer but gather already from him that yew is a problem (short supply of quality timber). Might therefore look at osage or maybe he will recommend some other hard woods.

[laminatekid]

I suppose your upper weight limit depends on how much training you are going to put into it, I mean it is no different to uping the weights you might be using in a gym or increasing the distance you run....

[Big John]

Fair comment...except that if the weights are too much then you can always take off a weight or too! I guess the issue is the lack of being able to try before you buy plus the no-going back.

[TimS]

Big J, keep us (me) informed how you get on - am in exactly the same position and same ambitions.

I currently shoot a 55lb (@ 28") Bickerstaffe Classic Bow which does everything I could ask of it (and is envy of my club colleagues - we only shoot longbow), but fancy something a bit more Macho - just to see what its like and because of fascination with the historical aspect.

Also considering a self-bow - Osage rather than Yew at Pip's recommendation.

I reckon something in 70 - 90lb range is manageable for me - recently had a pop at a 120lb specimen and opted out quickly (having had a couple of sessions on sticks due to sciatica previously)

I have absolute respect for Pip and his team and lean towards going back there - we have some fabulous bows from him in the club.

Brgds

TimS

[stevesjem]

Originally Posted by Yew Selfbow

Having examined a large number of the Mary Rose bows in some detail, and shot some of Pip Bickerstaffes excellent replicas, I could highly reccommend a military style warbow. The bending through the handle isn't really noticeable untill you get up to 100lb plus.

Hi everyone, i only know about shooting MR Replicas, i shoot Italian Self yew longbows of weights up to 130lb@32", I have shot Pip's bows and yes they are excellent, i also shoot Celestino Poletti's bows and these are equally excellent, when a heavy compass bow is made properly there is no stacking, no feeling of it bending in the handle, they are sweet as a nut.
Osage over yew, there is no comparison, Osage is too heavy in the limbs to produce a heavy war bow, Yew on the otherhand is much lighter and as far as performance is concerned, Well all the records held by Heavy Longbows are all Yew. Nuff Said.

[Big John]

I have thought about what to make on my bowyery course and have decided to 'stay sensible' - much as I think I would really like to shoot a heavy bow, I am not sure that I could hack it well enough to enjoy it. Instead, I fancy a reflexed longbow at a 'normal' weight - will let you know how I get on.

[Matt Easton]

Which course did you go on, Big John? How did it go?

Matt