What is your Longbow made of ? (wood choices)

[clickerati]

Originally Posted by kernowtom

Glad you like the pic of my belly clicki:-)

It's gorgeous!!!

[jeduffey]

It's all YEW! Yeah, it's all yew!


Was it just me or did anyone else want to say that?

BTW, for those pining for some bamboo backing, have any of you checked Bowstick.com or tradstore.com/woodshed/ ?

[kernowtom]

I stopped training years ago - was in Falmouth - have got rid of most of kit - including unused shinai but not happy to sell used shinai in case of being blamed for any subsequent splintering/lacerations. I have got some standard bamboo for backing a bow but hadn't thought of the shinai. Would be nice not to waste the bamboo... hmmmmmm... I think the japanese flame harden bamboo when making umi - but I don't know a whole lot about kyudo (did lots of shotokan but too old for the bruises now - hence longbows:-)
tom

[laminatekid]

if I were to get another stick to shoot i think it might be one of these http://www.bickerstaffebows.co.uk/pr...Classic&prod=6 Hmmmm....snakewood...

[ThePinkOne]

Originally Posted by kernowtom

I stopped training years ago - was in Falmouth - have got rid of most of kit - including unused shinai but not happy to sell used shinai in case of being blamed for any subsequent splintering/lacerations. I have got some standard bamboo for backing a bow but hadn't thought of the shinai. Would be nice not to waste the bamboo... hmmmmmm... I think the japanese flame harden bamboo when making umi - but I don't know a whole lot about kyudo (did lots of shotokan but too old for the bruises now - hence longbows:-)
tom

Also depends on the type of shinai it is/was. Quite a few cheaper ones are made from a bamboo growing in Taiwan (Phyllostachys makinoi I think) not Madake. Usually you have to specify and pay more for a madake shinai, but they are nice, especially the ladies weight one.... WRT flame hardening, yes some of the bamboo in a yumi is flame-treated- the parts on the belly I think, but I believe the backing isn't treated (I read a detailed article on yumi construction once but for the life of me cannot remember where). I guess the flame treatment sounds the same as those "bio" madake shinai you can get.

e-bogu in US do sets of just the bamboo slats for (madake) shinai and I reckoned if you got a good fat dobari mens shinai you'd have enough for two bow backings (spliced in handle) ... certainly when I look at dimensions of my (shorter) 38 madake shinai compared to an ash longbow rough blank it looks like it would fit...

If you do give it a go, I'd be interested in seeing how you get on.

P.

[Yew Selfbow]

I have a self bow made of ..... Hawthorn
....yes that stuff you find in hedges all over England.....42lb.. as smooth as any bow I've ever shot.... and a perfect indoor bow.

[kernowtom]

I bet you'd have to look in a fair few ditches to find a nice piece, though:-)
Tom

[Miner Willy]

Well, eventually as promised here are the picture of my longbows.

The first is Osage, Purpleheart, wenge and Bamboo. Yes it's definitely Osage and it's definitely that yellow.!!!! Shoots like an absolute dream, no handshock or anything. It arrived yesterday, cheers Keith at YTA.

The second is my "old" bow it's made of Putu Jumu, Padauk, Purpleheart and Hickory, it's lovely too. I just fancied another bow. I can't wait to get outside and hit 100 yds.

[English Bowman]

Originally Posted by Miner Willy

Well, eventually as promised here are the picture of my longbows.

The first is Osage, Purpleheart, wenge and Bamboo. Yes it's definitely Osage and it's definitely that yellow.!!!! Shoots like an absolute dream, no handshock or anything. It arrived yesterday, cheers Keith at [

It'll darken with age, mine was that colour too, now it's much darker

Originally the Belly and centre lamination were the same colour

Enjoy it, I'm waiting for Pip to finish my new bow, Hickory, Greenheart and Osage. I'll post a pic when it's done

Daniel

[Miner Willy]

Originally Posted by English Bowman

It'll darken with age, mine was that colour too, now it's much darker

Originally the Belly and centre lamination were the same colour

Enjoy it, I'm waiting for Pip to finish my new bow, Hickory, Greenheart and Osage. I'll post a pic when it's done

Daniel

That's what I've been told by other people. I'm sure it will eventually but apparently Keith has had a piece from the same log/plank in daylight for several months and it's barely changed. I'm not too bothered to be honest it's growing on me,it's certainly distinctive...