Bow Question

C

chazbo88

Joined
Feb 3, 2006
Messages
24
I'm thinking about buying a long bow and I wanted to know what is the best kind of wood for this. or who might you recommend to buy a long bow from. I want a good strong reliable bow that would last a long time.
 
What type of longbow are you looking for? I own both an English all wood longbow and an R/D flat limbed fiberglass laminated longbow. There must be a thousand or more bowyers and companies that produce longbows, but they can vary considerably in how they feel in the hand, performance, forgiveness, smoothness, wood choices and of course, price.
 
You might want to goggle "traditional archery forum" - that'll give you a number of sites with people better informed then those of us here, who like to play with knives, not bows and arrows! :D
 
Longbow I was looking at the Martin Vision Longbow. Would you recommend a bow like that for a beginner. If not then what would be a better choice for a novice.
 
I seem prefer bamboo, forgiving and fast! yew & osage with glass laminates make fine bows also. Check out the Howard Hill Big 5, I own one and love it.

Darrell...................
 
chazbo88 said:
Longbow I was looking at the Martin Vision Longbow. Would you recommend a bow like that for a beginner. If not then what would be a better choice for a novice.
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IMO it's not who made the bow or what model it is , it's how much are you gonna spend and can you sell it if you don't like it(plasphemy).
Like it has been mentioned above get a bow in the 30-35lb class in draw weight and practice. If you can find an instructor it would be most helpful.
 
Tim Finley makes Kota long bows and they are really nice. Or you can try Abbe Penner of Cari-bow, I have a recruve made by him and he does awesome work. He also makes long bows, one piece, take-downs. He will work with you, he will suggest what kind of wood to use and you pick, he custome makes them to what you want.

http://www.cari-bow.com/
 
Yeah, this is a really huge question.

Have you fired a longbow? I'd recommend you try a couple out and see what you like in terms of draw weight, features, and composition.

All of the recommendations above are excellent: the Martins are very good, but are more mass-produced. The best results in longbows--I believe--are when you have them made for you by a bowyer who knows your interests, draw length, preferences, etc.

Also, that same bowyer can help you determine your ideal arrow weight and length, nocking style, etc., and get you a tuned bow Day One.

Remember also that longbows require some unique care, and don't take to certain weather conditions, even slight overdrawing, etc. They may be simpler than compounds or recurves, but they're definitely not for absolute beginners.

Good luck, and welcome!
 
chazbo88 said:
Longbow I was looking at the Martin Vision Longbow. Would you recommend a bow like that for a beginner. If not then what would be a better choice for a novice.
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Like was mentioned, Martins are a good bow, but their longbows leave a lot to be desired in my opinion. I shot the vision and it's not what I look for in a longbow. Also, Martins tend to be unforgiving for draw lengths that are much over their listed draw length, so if you have a longer draw length, Martin isn't for you in my opinion. To check your draw length for a trad bow, stand with your back to a wall, shoulders back and place the 1" end of a yardstick dead center of your chest, with the other end pointed away from you. Then with shoulders squarely against the wall, reach your arms down the yardstick so that your arms are straight out and your hands together each side of the stick. Where your fingertips end, is going to be very close to your actual draw length.

As a beginner to traditional archery, it doesn't really matter what bow you start with. I started with a 1963 Black Widow recurve (primo) and shot it until about 5 years ago, which is when I sold it for more than my Chek-Mate custom built recurve cost me. The point I guess is that maybe picking up a used bow, instead of spending what it'll take to buy a new Martin is the best way to go.

I would seriously look at the footed shaft, as recommended above in a link and give the owner a call and talk about you and what would be best for you. He is in business to make money, but he sells some very good used equipment.
 
I would seriously look at the footed shaft, as recommended above in a link and give the owner a call and talk about you and what would be best for you. He is in business to make money, but he sells some very good used equipment.
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Lamont is a staight-up guy and a friend of mine too. Many of the bows listed are not his ,but other folks who list in his monthly used bow list. If it is listed "contact the footed shaft" it's in his shop. Others say call so-n-so @..
I do get most of my supplies from him and he has 1/4 inch field points for kids arrows. There are many happy kids in my neck of the woods,and some future archers too.:D
 
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