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

[Jon G.]

Hello,

I have a 100 year old lemonwood longbow that I would like to try. However, I have not ever attempted shooting a longbow and I am not sure if this one is in good condition. I am a novice recurve archer.

Let me describe the bow...
The bow was made by my great grandfather, it is made from lemonwood, it has been strung for over 40 years while it sat at my father's house, and I don't know of anyone who has used it. Sounds like a recipe for disaster if I were to take a good pull.

Should I get a new string and give it a try? What precautions should I take. Or, should I just put it up on the mantle?

-Jon

[buzz lite beer]

1st steal a hard hat from McAlpine's, rub the likes of walnut oil/linseed oil well into the bow, then pull the bow back in 1" incraments gradualy increasing over a period of time (wearing stolen hard hat at all times). get to about 12" of draw then reduce to 6" of draw and give a few dozen or more rapid draws at 6" just work it in slowly as you would with a new bow listen for creaks and look for splits etc. Then continue up to 16" draw followed by 9" rapid draws and so on until you get to your desired draw length in such a manor or until you wake up in casualty as you forgot to wear hard hat.
Best of luck
Buzz

[Tony_zelah]

if theres some one at the club you don't always get on with ask them to test it

[Allvyn]

Are you really sure you wanna try that old thing out? It's pretty dangerous is it not? And besides if it does hold some sentimental value, i guess it's better off left on display somewhere in the house.

I'm sure the last thing you would want is to break a 100 year old bow made by your great grandfather, something which cannot be replaced mind you. Think about it.

[buzz lite beer]

Bows are meant for shooting, pictures and statues are for looking at. Go on do it, you know you want to. Good idea Tony.

[provins]

The last person on this weboard that tried to shoot an eighty year old bow ended up with kindling.
Jon you said the bow had been left strung for forty years,not a good thing to do to a long bow.
Maybe take the bow to a good bowyer for advice or try the Society of Archery Antiqueries for advice.

[Yew Selfbow]

If the bow has been strung for 40 years.. don't even think about shooting it. You can rub in all the oils or waxes you want, they won't penetrate the wood more than about a millimeter.

[Allvyn]

Originally Posted by Yew Selfbow

If the bow has been strung for 40 years.. don't even think about shooting it. You can rub in all the oils or waxes you want, they won't penetrate the wood more than about a millimeter.

AMEN to that

[Bald Eagle]

If you must draw it back, put it on a tillering jig with a long string on and a pulley and stand well back whilst you pull it back slowly, a little further each time. you may get it back to the required draw length before it explodes!!

[Kae]

Its a piece of wood to look at, nothing more.

I wouldn't want to pull a lonbow that had only been strung for a year, let alone 40!

The bow probably wouldn't change shape if you took the string off, as they take a set very easily.

Don't do it!