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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Archery !!
- Thread starter Brendan
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2002
- Messages
- 3,930
Does anybody here do archery? Does Guinness come in pints? Check out the British Longbow Society at; http://www.askarts.co.uk/longbow.htmloe
There are many good bowyers in the British Isles. One that immediately springs to mind is Steve Ralphs. Steve made all the bows for the movies "Braveheart" and "Thirteenth Warrior", just to name a couple. But first, do check out the BLS, they can likely put you onto a club in your area.
Sarge
There are many good bowyers in the British Isles. One that immediately springs to mind is Steve Ralphs. Steve made all the bows for the movies "Braveheart" and "Thirteenth Warrior", just to name a couple. But first, do check out the BLS, they can likely put you onto a club in your area.
Sarge
- Joined
- May 18, 1999
- Messages
- 15,395
There was much to be admired about the Misty Isles of long ago England, Ireland and Scotland!!!!
Good English Steel and a strong Yew bow made for one helluva combination IMO!!!!
And as much as I admire my own people's work in the field or archery I still wonder if there was any comparison between the bows of Yew and good English Elm over the bows on Good American Yew and Bois'D Arc or even the good American Red or Slippery Elm?
I doubt there's any way to begin to compare as the needs were different for all the different tribes. I've heard it said the Apache made some dayumed decent bows from Desert Willow, but I haven't studied near enough to begin to scratch the surface.
I know some of the Bois'D Arc bows were way over 100#'s as well as some of the Slippery Elm bows.\
The CHerokee also used Honey and Black Locust for bows and it wasn't until just recently I learned it was the same as Bois'D Arc in that the heartwood was used.
It's said that the Northeastern bows weren't as strong as the plains bows, but I don't know.
I would assume that they would have been at least 60 #'s or more for hunting whitetails in the woods. Some of the clearings in Pennsylvania are pretty good size making me think the longer bows were needed for a longer cast?
Any comments?
Good English Steel and a strong Yew bow made for one helluva combination IMO!!!!
And as much as I admire my own people's work in the field or archery I still wonder if there was any comparison between the bows of Yew and good English Elm over the bows on Good American Yew and Bois'D Arc or even the good American Red or Slippery Elm?
I doubt there's any way to begin to compare as the needs were different for all the different tribes. I've heard it said the Apache made some dayumed decent bows from Desert Willow, but I haven't studied near enough to begin to scratch the surface.
I know some of the Bois'D Arc bows were way over 100#'s as well as some of the Slippery Elm bows.\
The CHerokee also used Honey and Black Locust for bows and it wasn't until just recently I learned it was the same as Bois'D Arc in that the heartwood was used.
It's said that the Northeastern bows weren't as strong as the plains bows, but I don't know.
I would assume that they would have been at least 60 #'s or more for hunting whitetails in the woods. Some of the clearings in Pennsylvania are pretty good size making me think the longer bows were needed for a longer cast?
Any comments?
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2002
- Messages
- 3,930
Yvsa, I've got a Native American style Bois D'arc flatbow, that's one of my sweetest shooting bows. The ndn bows that impress me most though are the sinew backed horse bows used by the plains tribes.
Brendan, archery is all luck, the more diligently you practice, the luckier you are. Hopefully I'll find time enough this year to get in the practice needed to hone myself back to competition level. I have been "lucky" enough in the past to finish fifth in the world in the SCA Period Longbow division.
Sarge
Brendan, archery is all luck, the more diligently you practice, the luckier you are. Hopefully I'll find time enough this year to get in the practice needed to hone myself back to competition level. I have been "lucky" enough in the past to finish fifth in the world in the SCA Period Longbow division.
Sarge
Hello Brendan, I didn't think anyone but me shot or were interested in traditional bows. I should have known better, especially on this forum.
What I shoot are the old "Fred Bear " bows. They are laminated fiberglass recurves. I currently try to buy the old ones on ebay. The prices are about a third to a half of what you can pay for out of the factory in Gainesville Florida. www.BearGoldenEagle.com
You can order direct and their long bows are par to none!!!!!
I can talk for hours about archery, started in 1964, and I love it. However I'm not that good of a shot, arthritis old age etc.
There is some technical stuff to learn about the arrow shaft diameter, the weight of the tips, and lbs. of draw weight etc. email me and I will try to confuse, I mean help you.
I wish you all the best. Sam
What I shoot are the old "Fred Bear " bows. They are laminated fiberglass recurves. I currently try to buy the old ones on ebay. The prices are about a third to a half of what you can pay for out of the factory in Gainesville Florida. www.BearGoldenEagle.com
You can order direct and their long bows are par to none!!!!!
I can talk for hours about archery, started in 1964, and I love it. However I'm not that good of a shot, arthritis old age etc.
There is some technical stuff to learn about the arrow shaft diameter, the weight of the tips, and lbs. of draw weight etc. email me and I will try to confuse, I mean help you.
I wish you all the best. Sam
Oh Man! I LOVE archery! I mean I LOVE IT! I don't get a chance to shoot much nowadays. I have a traditional longbow, made by Dan Quillian in GA. can't remember the wood, I would have to check. (had it a long time). It's a 78 lb draw, (and hard to find targets for). That is a bit of a pain sometimes for me to pull when practicing, but feels like paradise if there is a Wild Boar coming down the trail, fast.
Shooting bows is great! The compound bows feel kind of hokey like a crossbow, but the normal longbows are great fun to shoot!
I used to ocasionally hunt gar and carp with a spear bow as well.
I don't know about archery being all about luck, it feels more like (without sights) just knowing how your weapon will shoot and perform under different conditions.
If any of you ever had one of those lever action BB rifles as a kid you may know what I mean. Shoot it long enough and you just know where its going to go without really aiming.
Good topic Brendan. Anyone a bowman in SCA? I would like to hear about that.
I used to ocasionally hunt gar and carp with a spear bow as well.
I don't know about archery being all about luck, it feels more like (without sights) just knowing how your weapon will shoot and perform under different conditions.
If any of you ever had one of those lever action BB rifles as a kid you may know what I mean. Shoot it long enough and you just know where its going to go without really aiming.
Good topic Brendan. Anyone a bowman in SCA? I would like to hear about that.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2001
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- 5,946
I thought you were looking for a bow.
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2001
- Messages
- 2,170
I'm an archery fan too!! In fact, I plan on getting real active this coming spring. I'm more interested in Magyar/Hungarian bows, or the bows of ANY of the Steppes folk in Eastern Europe...
I'll be fleshing out my Magyar persona too... but I suppose I'll have to eventually get a horse if I'm gonna be a Horse Archer ... Maybe I can rig a saddle on the dog ?
Alan
I'll be fleshing out my Magyar persona too... but I suppose I'll have to eventually get a horse if I'm gonna be a Horse Archer
... Maybe I can rig a saddle on the dog ?Alan
- Joined
- May 16, 2002
- Messages
- 4,437
I shoot both recurve and compound bow, my longbow was olf and the lower limb exploded during a draw.
The recurve is a Bear, the compound a PSE Vulcan Hunter.
Keith
The recurve is a Bear, the compound a PSE Vulcan Hunter.
Keith
Funny we did not find this topic earlier as a lot of us seem to be archers (I only knew Silvrfalcn is before). I am an archer since the age of 14 but have little experience with traditional bows as I shoot olympic recurve (okopniak - a german bow) and compound (Hoyt Striker) bows. However I used a longbow some years ago and tried to shoot from horseback with a magyar bow too.
Brendan, you ask if it is hard to draw a bow - well it depends
Do you search a longbow, a traditional recurve bow or something like a replica of a historic semitic/hunnish or whatever bow?
If you want an authentic longbow (I guess that is what is closest t o you) it should have a draw weight of at least 80 lbs (measured at a draw length of 28"), the real ones seemed to start with this weight and ranged up to 140 lbs (there are books that mention even higher weights). This is NOTHING TO START with. You will only torture yourself and not learn the technique. It would be better if you find a good dealer where you can lend a bow for the first 3 or 4 moths if you pay a fee (to build up the strengh). With a longbow I would start with not more than 45-50 lbs (you do not hold and aim that long as you would with an olympic bow. If you start with the olympic-bow-technique you would start with ca. 30 lbs... it does not need so much draw-weight because of the recurve that gives the arrow more speed - to gain that speed the straight longbow has to be stronger).
Shooting a long bow is one flowing motion of drawing and aiming, followed by a smooth release - all in all lasting only about 3 seconds. You need the strengh in your shoulder - muscles you do not use for any other sport (except rowing), so you have to build up the muscles there (press the shoulder blades together - these are the right muscles to draw and hold the bow). You will not look like a body-builder at the end. I know a girl that shoots a 90 lbs longbow four times a week. You would not see the strengh in her arms and shoulders - but its there and its a lot of technique.
If you want to learn and do it seriously find a good trainer or menthor and have enough time. Then, after half a year choose "your" bow with a matching draw weight and a good feel at full draw. A good bowyer who does a custom-made bow for you (expensive) will have to know your draw lengh - and your draw-lengh increases while you learn shooting - so buy a bow not right from the start but wait until you have reached a certain level.
To find a club you could try the FITA-homepage (www.archery.org) or the English Field Archery Association English Field Archery Association . Almost every Field archery Club should have a longbow/traditional bow section (field archery is doing a parcours with a few others and shooting at different targets at an unknown distance - very challenging).
I do not have any information on bowyers in England. But if you want to try shooting from horseback with a magyar/hungarian bow you find some links below(interesting for Alan I think):
Lajos Kassai is THE man to ask if it comes to horseback archery and replica of recurve bows in Europe. I know a close friend of him here in Germany and tried shooting from horseback once - quite a difficult thing (you can shoot only in the moment when all the horse`s legs are in the air (galopp) and during a competition you have to hit 3 targets: one during approaching the target at 0°-15° angle, one while passing the target at 90° angle and one while riding away from the target (turn your upper body around and shoot from a golopping horse - remember you need two hands for the bow and arrow...) at 160°-180° angle - forunately the stirrup has been invented since the days of the huns ...) Some of the guys are incredible good I just stared at them and thougt "If only I would be glued to my horse like this...".
Andreas
horseback archery 1
horseback archery 2
horseback archery 3
Skyth bow
Hunnish bow - my favourite click link "nächste Seite" top/right to see more bows
Brendan, you ask if it is hard to draw a bow - well it depends
Do you search a longbow, a traditional recurve bow or something like a replica of a historic semitic/hunnish or whatever bow?
If you want an authentic longbow (I guess that is what is closest t o you) it should have a draw weight of at least 80 lbs (measured at a draw length of 28"), the real ones seemed to start with this weight and ranged up to 140 lbs (there are books that mention even higher weights). This is NOTHING TO START with. You will only torture yourself and not learn the technique. It would be better if you find a good dealer where you can lend a bow for the first 3 or 4 moths if you pay a fee (to build up the strengh). With a longbow I would start with not more than 45-50 lbs (you do not hold and aim that long as you would with an olympic bow. If you start with the olympic-bow-technique you would start with ca. 30 lbs... it does not need so much draw-weight because of the recurve that gives the arrow more speed - to gain that speed the straight longbow has to be stronger).
Shooting a long bow is one flowing motion of drawing and aiming, followed by a smooth release - all in all lasting only about 3 seconds. You need the strengh in your shoulder - muscles you do not use for any other sport (except rowing), so you have to build up the muscles there (press the shoulder blades together - these are the right muscles to draw and hold the bow). You will not look like a body-builder at the end. I know a girl that shoots a 90 lbs longbow four times a week. You would not see the strengh in her arms and shoulders - but its there and its a lot of technique.
If you want to learn and do it seriously find a good trainer or menthor and have enough time. Then, after half a year choose "your" bow with a matching draw weight and a good feel at full draw. A good bowyer who does a custom-made bow for you (expensive) will have to know your draw lengh - and your draw-lengh increases while you learn shooting - so buy a bow not right from the start but wait until you have reached a certain level.
To find a club you could try the FITA-homepage (www.archery.org) or the English Field Archery Association English Field Archery Association . Almost every Field archery Club should have a longbow/traditional bow section (field archery is doing a parcours with a few others and shooting at different targets at an unknown distance - very challenging).
I do not have any information on bowyers in England. But if you want to try shooting from horseback with a magyar/hungarian bow you find some links below(interesting for Alan I think):
Lajos Kassai is THE man to ask if it comes to horseback archery and replica of recurve bows in Europe. I know a close friend of him here in Germany and tried shooting from horseback once - quite a difficult thing (you can shoot only in the moment when all the horse`s legs are in the air (galopp) and during a competition you have to hit 3 targets: one during approaching the target at 0°-15° angle, one while passing the target at 90° angle and one while riding away from the target (turn your upper body around and shoot from a golopping horse - remember you need two hands for the bow and arrow...) at 160°-180° angle - forunately the stirrup has been invented since the days of the huns ...) Some of the guys are incredible good I just stared at them and thougt "If only I would be glued to my horse like this...".
Andreas
horseback archery 1
horseback archery 2
horseback archery 3
Skyth bow
Hunnish bow - my favourite click link "nächste Seite" top/right to see more bows
Brendan here are some good long bows, it should be easier to find....
http://beargoldeneagle.com/bear/fredbear.html
click traditional bows and make your selection
http://beargoldeneagle.com/bear/fredbear.html
click traditional bows and make your selection
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2002
- Messages
- 7,269
Boy, did you stumble into a knowledgeable bunch!
I, on the other hand, have just messed with bows, archery, and hunting.
After the accident, I had to give it up, the left arm socket couldn't take the pressure.
BUT, even if you don't get an authentic recreation of a longbow, magyar bow, or native american design, just messing around with simple recurve bows, or the robo-cop compound types, is vastly entertaining. It can be a very low investment, minimal equipment, and undemanding hobby/sport. It is very nice if you have pals who are also interested, and as mentioned by the smart people, most clubs have folks who LOVE to help newbies....
But even without such...you and your fiance can get a couple of light bows, a few books, or website instructions, and share a really pleasant afternoon, developing skills. Bow fishing is more demanding that one might think; bow hunting requires the patience of Job, but both are marvelous.
However, even popping a ballon that is on a target 30 yards away is tremendously satisfying.
By the way, start with the target close, reinforce the effort with success, then move back (Or move the target further away). You don't need heavy poundage bows to start...REINFORCE the satisfaction, then work on the skills--especially true if you have your lady there and she is somewhat self-conscious about it, but true of everyone, really.)
Second to last, be careful not to get immediately sucked into the hypervelocity group. These guys shoot titanium slivers 1,000 kph, with such speed that the laws of gravity almost don't pertain.
And finally, when Pan Tau gave his excellent post, and the great links...please note: They were on HORSES...equines.... NOT MUSTANGS, by Ford.
Be safe.
I, on the other hand, have just messed with bows, archery, and hunting.
After the accident, I had to give it up, the left arm socket couldn't take the pressure.
BUT, even if you don't get an authentic recreation of a longbow, magyar bow, or native american design, just messing around with simple recurve bows, or the robo-cop compound types, is vastly entertaining. It can be a very low investment, minimal equipment, and undemanding hobby/sport. It is very nice if you have pals who are also interested, and as mentioned by the smart people, most clubs have folks who LOVE to help newbies....
But even without such...you and your fiance can get a couple of light bows, a few books, or website instructions, and share a really pleasant afternoon, developing skills. Bow fishing is more demanding that one might think; bow hunting requires the patience of Job, but both are marvelous.
However, even popping a ballon that is on a target 30 yards away is tremendously satisfying.
By the way, start with the target close, reinforce the effort with success, then move back (Or move the target further away). You don't need heavy poundage bows to start...REINFORCE the satisfaction, then work on the skills--especially true if you have your lady there and she is somewhat self-conscious about it, but true of everyone, really.)
Second to last, be careful not to get immediately sucked into the hypervelocity group. These guys shoot titanium slivers 1,000 kph, with such speed that the laws of gravity almost don't pertain.
And finally, when Pan Tau gave his excellent post, and the great links...please note: They were on HORSES...equines.... NOT MUSTANGS, by Ford.
Be safe.