How do I know if an aged longbow is safe to use?

[private sponge]

Originally Posted by Kae

eh? how?

My 40lb longbow is 4 years old and is still in reasonable shape........... (touch wood)

Raspberry eh!....... I am ferry stronk!

[ignoramus]

I inherited one, which was made between 1880 and 1920, so around the same age as yours. It had not been shot since before the war (First WW). It's made of lancewood. I decided to risk it and it shoots beautifully.

[tharrowaster]

Take the string off and use the bow as a boomerang

[tharrowaster]

I have had two of my bows dissasenble themselves at full draw.
The first was being used by my son and fortunately the top limb hit him on the head thus going almost unnoticed. if the bottom limb had disconnected however I suspect he would not have coped with the resultant celebecy.
The second one also broke on the top limb but as usual when I shoot. it missed me completely on its way to the ground.
I reused the string.