Longbow straightening

Blackcat · Longbow straightening

I have a question regarding my new (to me anyway) longbow. My bow shoots well is 30# at 28 and I draw 29 1/2. The bow is quite old and does not return to straight but keeps quite a curve when unstrung. It is just a first bow to get me started but should I be considering getting it straightened. I know this can be quite expensive but is it worth it. Also I would appreciate comments on what string to put on (flemish etc) to get a better, cleaner shot.

segolden

You ever get an answer on this one? Was curious about it myself.

Blackcat

Nope no one answered. I gave up and still shooting my little bent stick.

segolden

Might want to pm Dawn, that family knows where to get answers if they don't have them available. Me, I was told that having "taken a set" like you describe is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as there are no other signs of wear or aging. Assuming you bow is pure wood (no glass), it's probably just an indication of atmospheric moisture infiltration. Since it hasn't given you any grief so far, just keep it waxed and as dry as possible, don't draw it fully the first time when wet or hot. Save your coin for another bow later on.

TimS

Missed the original post.

Don't worry if your bow 'has followed the string' unless it is exceptionally bent (more than 2 - 3 ins from straight - in which case it is not worth straightening anyway). Most longbows do this to some extent.

My original bow - second hand when I bought over three years ago (45lb @ 28") - has nearly a couple of inches of 'follow' and still sees regular service as a loaner bow for visitors and still shoots up to 180yd nil wind (clout).

Whatever the weather, age or state of the bow ALWAYS warm the bow up with some gentle exercise building up to full draw.

As segolden states you need to watch for other sgns of damage - both visually and by passing your finger tips along the back when the bow is strung (the later will identify the first signs of cracking at an early stage. I do this EVERY time I string my bows, in order to ensure spotting damage before it becomes terminal.

Noting your draw length compared with the bows tillered length ENSURE that you do not overdraw the bow - the best way to do this is have your arrows cut to the correct length for the bow - then if you overdraw by an inch the arrow falls through the hole !

Overdrawing reulalrly (or even at all) is the best way to knacker your longbow permanently other than stringing it incorrectly (see: http://www.bickerstaffebows.co.uk/info.php), in particular by using the 'step through method' and failing to get the bending knee braced behind the handle position.

Again as segolden states - 'save your coin' for another bow later -at 30lb you are probably going to outgrow this one fairly quickly.

With regard to strings - we have found the best performance (based initially on advice from Pip Bickerstaffe) -speed and life - from double looped dacron strings made specifically to the bow,so that they have the minimum number of twists to achieve correct brace height. The lengthened weave below the loops absorbs the shock of the otherwise
inflexible dacron. Beaware that oo many twists in the string will always degrade performance.

Like everything in traditional archery, there are a million different variations and theories - and no doubt some will disagree with the above, but I hope it is of some help.

segolden

Thanks, Tim, figured we'd get one of you hexpirts in here if we got a conversation going, and you're one of the most knowledgeable. I've ordered a KG Deluxe Longbow recently, but this is a whole 'nother kettle o' fish to the selfbows I've fiddled with, so any help for Blackcat and the rest of we newbies is appreciated.

Blackcat

Hey TimS, thanks for the info. Your right of course I have already out grown my bow but will have to wait a while for enough pennies to get another. My little bow has a bit more than 2" from straight but it does make the 120yrds for clout. The back of the bow is getting a bit rough but I've had it looked at now and its still shootable (not sure thats a real word) for a bow thats over 20 years thats not bad going I think. I'm not that powerful a woman so I think maybe 35lbs will be my max and I'm much more likely to shoot target than clout so hopefully that poundage will do me just fine. Im sure segolden and I will have lots of questions for you later.