Buying my first longbow

[Schme1440]

If you dont already know im normally a Recurve archer. I have been shooting for over 10 years and have also been part of the GB Junior team so I know a little about archery. However I dont know alot about Longbow and that is my next challnge.

Im not looking to master Longbow (very few ever have) but I would like to compete at a good level. I am looking at getting my first longbow in the new year for the next outdoor sason.

My requirements are 45lb draw at about 30".

Id like the bow to be made for a 30" draw and not a 28" draw which I think is the standard. I was wondering what people think I should start out with?

I was wondering on the materials and also the manufacturers. I dont know anything about the best materials or the best make so I need lots of advise on this.

I dont want a beginners level bow but I dont want the top of the range. I was looking for a mid level bow, one that will allow me to shoot well. However I'm only looking to spend £250 on the bow. Can anyone help me?

Dont forget I am a novice to Longbow but nowehere near and archery novice.

Help me Please!

[Aliwren]

Hi I am in a similar position - I have only shot recurve before and wanted a longbow 45lb with 30 inch draw. Last week I went up to Bickerstaffe bows in Kegworth just off Junction 24 of the M1 had a fantastic morning learning about longbows. Pip and his team are making me a longbow for £210. I cant wait the 6 weeks until completion!! I really can recommend Bickerstaffe to help you.

http://www.bickerstaffebows.co.uk/

[kernowtom]

Nothing against Bickerstaffe at all - but for comparison have a look at some of the other bowyers on the web. Pete of trad longbows at http://www.tradlongbows.co.uk/ makes nice bows and if you are lucky you can pick up one of his on ebay for a very good price. His site also has some general advice about buying bows and I found him very helpful when I made a bow from one of his staves.

[Schme1440]

They are 2 i have been looking at. I like Trad but the bickerstaffe bow boys seem to be cheaper for the same level bow. Unfortunatly that will be a big factor for me, Money. If the difference comes down to price then I will go with the cheaper option.

Is there any difference between Trads bows and bickerstaffe's? If its just price then unfortunatly it will have to be bicker boys.

Alternatively does anyone know who supplies the traditional equipment to Custom Built. I use to know who it was but have now forgot. I enquired about a mongo bow with a shop and they pointed me to this other company just down the road near Worksop. Is that the Trad Boys?

[alanesq]

I couldn't agree more about Tradlongbows - I recently bought one from him and he is very helpful, willing to give advice/share information and makes a very good bow

Before finding him I had contacted every bowyer I could find and none of the others were willing to make me the bow I wanted - see http://www.alanesq.com/longbow.htm

[Schme1440]

Does anyone know if either the trad bows or Bickerstaffes are better than the others? Im guessing not really. Plus I dont think it will matter to me.

[alanesq]

I do know that Trad' give excellent after sales service / advice and I have never heard anything bad about him

Keep an eye out on what he is selling on eBay as he will sometimes sell a repaired or used one which you should get at a very good price and he will usually give a warranty for an extra £20

BTW - Longbows do tend to fail a lot (being made of a natural material put under enormous stresses) so whoever you buy one from I would make sure you have a good warranty with it as a good percentage will always fail early in its life

[Schme1440]

So with breakages in mind, Should I stay with the cheaper bow for now encase it does break? or do the higher end ones tend to last longer?

[alanesq]

As long as you make sure you have a good warranty then its ok
Once you have shot a few hundred arrows then they are general ok but there is a good chance your bow will explode within the first 100 and if you have spent hundreds on it and there is no warranty then you would be pretty depressed
A friends Yew bow exploded recently. Its very impressive to see but in an instant a £700 bow was a pile of worthless sticks
I think around 3 percent failiure is what a good bowyer would consider about normal?

BTW - I am no expert, just going on what information I have gained by asking experts along the way

[Schme1440]

Well both Bickerstaffe and trad do 12 month warrenties. So either companys should be ok no prob. So moving on to the bow. Should I go for.

Whats the difference between single core hard wood bows and double core hardwood. Im looking towards bickerstaffe bows (purely on price). The double is there higher level bow bt is it worth it for £30 extra?