Archery

[Kekvit Irae]

I used to go to archery tournaments. I used a shortbow. Longbows and recurves were too cumbersome for me, and compounds are for no-skill pansies.

[TosaInu]

Hello Evil_Maniac From Mars,

I do. Horse/shortbows, flatbow, recurve and compound.

I used to go to archery tournaments. I used a shortbow. Longbows and recurves were too cumbersome for me, and compounds are for no-skill pansies.

Compound requires different skills. It looks easy, but it's certainly not a walk in the park.

[macsen rufus]

I was thinking just the other day it would be nice to get back into it, but I guess I'd need to find a good club/range nearby as I've moved since I was last in a club. More eagerness than skill on my part, but I did enjoy it immensely. Field courses were my favourite, rather than an indoor range, but I guess you have to take what's on offer. I'd love to try a traditional English longbow, but the draw would be well beyond me right now.... it seems to be in the blood to some degree, my dad made his own longbow when he was young.

[Orda Khan]

I use a Kassai Hun and so does my wife. I make all our wooden arrows (carbon is a swear word) and I also make leather quivers.



Mouzafphaerre
There are some fine archers using traditional equipment in Turkey, you really should give it a try. I've seen some amazing bows crafted by these individuals, either flight or target

.....Orda

[TosaInu]

I'd love to try a traditional English longbow, but the draw would be well beyond me right now.... it seems to be in the blood to some degree, my dad made his own longbow when he was young.

Hello macsen rufus,

Any bow is available in any drawweight (within limits). If you mean over 90# by traditional, anyone may need a workout first. However, one 90# draw is not the other (just like some 50 F days feel colder than others).

http://bickerstaffebows.co.uk/products.php?id=Standard

You'll find longbows up to 35# maximum (granted that's re-enactment stuff, but still functional), up to 60# (typically 30-60 range) and over 60#.

Grozer makes 30-90 range longbows too http://www.grozerarchery.com/htm/long/longbow.htm

It's often possible to have some customisation when ordering with a bowyer (say you want it at only 20 lbs).

One will have to learn the ins and outs first. Starting with a lower drawweight and then gradually increase that when getting stronger (30, 50, 70, 90, 110..).

[Tristuskhan]

I broke my homemade yew longbow last summer (a pity, I waited for five years for it to be dry and stable). Now I understand why yew that grew in atlantic climate was not used in the middle ages and why bowmakers used Italian or Spanish yew. I still have one long and fine yew branch drying, but it's gonna wait for long before I dare using it.

Until then I use a basic leisure bow (quite an huge one).

[Fragony]

Quite a popular sport here as it turns out, got a bow and shot it a few times but it was something I got because someone owed me some money and bows>money especially when they can be dissassembled and put in a small suitcase it makes you feel like James Bond. Shooting it is easy, pull string and arrow goes where you point it (and through things oh yeah, heard it has same exit speed as an 9mm bullet) assembling it is hell can't do it alone at least.

[TosaInu]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKa8...eature=related

[TosaInu]

Shooting it is easy, pull string and arrow goes where you point it (and through things oh yeah, heard it has same exit speed as an 9mm bullet) assembling it is hell can't do it alone at least.

Something like this at 1:33 Fragony? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzss...eature=related

[TosaInu]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPKg...eature=related

[Martok]

Longbows and recurves were too cumbersome for me, and compounds are for no-skill pansies.

A question from the ignorant masses here: Why would recurves be cumbersome? I understand why longbows might be due to their size, but what makes recurves hard to handle?

[Orda Khan]

Hi Martok
The term 'recurve' is normally applied to the bow used in Olympic event archery, as in the bow, sight and stabiliser/s. Imagine the bow with a T.V aerial on the front and you begin to get the picture.
Without the sight and stabilisers, the same bow (modern recurve - riser and detachable limbs) is in a different category, known as bare bow.
Then, and this is the worst part, use that 'barebow recurve' to shoot wooden arrows and it is classed as Traditional. This is the category the Hun and other Asiatic reflex bows fall into, so you can see we are at a disadvantage immediately because we have no cut out window and have to shoot around the bow. Longbows have their own classification.

As for wooden arrows, they really should be treated with thinned varnish or Danish oil or something similar. It's not essential but it does help prevent the shaft absorbing moisture if it's raining or whatever, thus preventing warping or changes in the arrow's characteristics....weight, cast, etc

......Orda

[Rodion Romanovich]

Crossbows and sniper rifles ftw!

[Fragony]

A question from the ignorant masses here: Why would recurves be cumbersome? I understand why longbows might be due to their size, but what makes recurves hard to handle?

The sportsbows are big because of the stabilisers, think a stick of +/- 60cm pointing forwards. Don't have to use them but it's more accurate.

[edyzmedieval]

Thread necromancy...

Bow-experts, I seek your advice on buying a bow. I want a yew longbow to buy, as I am very fond of these huge things. Is it reliable to buy from the internet? (I doubt it but still)

Is it good a yew longbow? Should I choose another material? I am about 1.77m, and I can pull on a low row (not sure if its useful) around 40-45 kg maximum. Will improve this summer.

Longbow only.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Bow-experts, I seek your advice on buying a bow. I want a yew longbow to buy, as I am very fond of these huge things. Is it reliable to buy from the internet? (I doubt it but still)

Actually, buying from the internet is quite reliable, if you have a good dealer. For example, my bow is from Martin Archery, bought online, and it arrived in perfect condition - without a doubt it has become my favourite bow. If you can, find a website where you can calculate your draw length and recommended draw weight, or even better, find a local archery range to get a few shots off. A bow is part of you, in a way, in that you need to find one that fits you like an extension of your own body. Therefore, if you buy online, do your homework.