What is your Longbow made of ? (wood choices)

[NoWay]

Not sure if this will work but here goes.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2367/...7bdfa75a_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2393/...4b652815_o.jpg

Interesting to see how the osage on the older bow has darkened

[Et tu brute]

They both look great! Have you noticed much of a difference in performance between the two?

[NoWay]

Initial impessions are that the new bow is very fast. The Bickersaffe is incredibly smooth and assured, the Rayner really whips the arrows out. I tried it with slightly lighter arrows than I use on the 75lb bow, 30g rather than 36g, and it was almost to fast, finishing with a bit of a kick, but the arrows flew beautifully fast and flat.

Early days though. The bamboo ossage bow hasn't had a chance to settle in yet. I'll report back when I've spent more time with it.

[Et tu brute]

Nice one, sounds like it'll be a great bow

My bow (bamboo/bubinga/lemonwood) just arrived about an hour ago, it looks fantastic! Just one little query, on the bamboo backing it looks like it has some very light cracks along it, I don't think they are anything that shouldn't be there, and for all I know it's probably perfectly normal for them to be there! Just thought I'd ask, I can put some pics up if it helps, it's really one line running for a bit over a foot that you can only really feel if you run your fingernail over it.

[steve58]

Lovely looking bow NoWay. BUT, am I right in thinking that GNAS rules require horn nocks? Or maybe you don't intend to shoot GNSA comps with it? And if I am right would that hold for FITAs?

[Trunkles]

Originally Posted by steve58

Lovely looking bow NoWay. BUT, am I right in thinking that GNAS rules require horn nocks? Or maybe you don't intend to shoot GNSA comps with it? And if I am right would that hold for FITAs?

Looks like they do:

206. Longbow
(a) Bow. The bow shall be the traditional longbow made from wood, either “self”, “backed”,
or “laminated” with cambered (stacked) belly and horn nocks. With the exception of the
“self” bow, each limb of the bow shall form a single simple curve from the handle to the
nock when at full draw. The bow shall be not less than five feet in length for an arrow of
less than 27 inches and; not less than five feet six inches in length for a 27” or longer
arrow, this being measured along the back between the string nocks. At no point shall
the depth of the bow, measured from back to belly, be less than 5/8 (five eighths) of the
width of the bow at the same section. The bow may carry no support for the arrow.
Bows of bamboo, constructed in conformity with the above, shall be permitted.

[NoWay]

I used to do archery on my own as a child growing up on a farm, and it is only because of the medieval style revival that I go to any competitions at all. Long varied distances over fields and trees, just like when I was a kid
So I have no plans to try useing the bow where it isn't welcome.

[NoWay]

Not posting these to claim any ability at target but, just by way of comparison, for those who might be interested.

120 arrows at 40 yards with each bow, this morning.

50lb @ 28" Bamboo Osage score 400

75lb @ 31" Hickory Osage score 366 (was a bit knackered towards the end)

[steve58]

Originally Posted by NoWay

Not posting these to claim any ability at target but, just by way of comparison, for those who might be interested.

120 arrows at 40 yards with each bow, this morning.

50lb @ 28" Bamboo Osage score 400

75lb @ 31" Hickory Osage score 366 (was a bit knackered towards the end)

A lot of arrows, no wonder you were getting tired! Wonder if the differential would be reversed if you shot them in reverse order? Or if you shot enough fewer arrows for tiredness not to come into it? If you do try it out I would be interested in the result.

[NoWay]

OK, I did it again this morning but in reverse order.

Osage hickory 75lb bow score 415

Ossage bamboo 50lb bow score 330

I'm tired again but this time I have a blister as well!

Looks like the tiredness is the variable factor. I will now have to keep a record of how I do with each bow when I'm not tired. I won't keep on posting here because that has gone off topic, but will just add one post when I have done enough shooting to be sure of the consistency.

edit.
Thinking about it two sets with the same bow would be the next thing to do. Once the blister has gone down!