dimensions for a Viking bow replica?

[a finnish native]

so basically does anyone have any info to share from viking bows?

[Pat B]

We should be asking you that question!     Pat

[Dane]

I'm at work right now, but will post a link to a Hedeby bow page with dimensions and such when I get home. Somone may beat me to it, through.

Dane

[a finnish native]

got this link fro a finnish primitive bow site. http://www.florilegium.org/files/NORSE/Norse-archery-msg.html
seems that the bows are about 72" long and weight always over70# exept kids bows ect. D style from yew. kinga like english longbows exept for the nocks (no horn) and the draw is shorter. about 28". drawn to the chest.

[a finnish native]

Dane, please do post the link

[duffontap]

I'll build one as soon as someone can tell me how.  This is interesting. 

           J. D. Duff

[Justin Snyder]

I'll build one as soon as someone can tell me how.  This is interesting. 

           J. D. Duff

Show off,   

[duffontap]

Well, Justin, if it's just a primitive English longbow with no horn nocks, I think just about anyone could handle it.

              J. D.

[Justin Snyder]

Been there done that, right JD. Justin

[duffontap]

By the way Justin--you need to take a vacation so I can catch up with you on my number of posts.  You're domination is causing some discouragement here.

             J. D. Duff

PS, my apologies to a finnish native for hijacking this thread.

[Dane]

Dane, please do post the link

Here we are. Two links you guys might find very useful.

Dane

http://www.vikingsna.org/translations/hedeby%20bows/
http://www.vikingsna.org/translations/hedeby%20quivers/

[duffontap]

Awesome Dane.  I'm headed to the shop.  Oh, wait, I'm at work.

         J. D. Duff

[Dane]

Glad you liked it, JD. Making a Viking bow would be fun, and a matching quiver would not hurt either.

I love Viking stuff. Facinating culture, and great crafts and arts. The Sagas are some of the world's great vernacular literature, as well. Some archery related tales in there. One morale is, don't piss off your woman, if you want to later make a string from her hair when the enemy is coming to get you. 

Dane

[a finnish native]

thanks for the links Dane! Now I just need to find some yew..

[sagitarius boemoru]

What is interesting is tips, which suggest heavy weights, because they are simply so bulky, that these bows dont work with low weights.
I have seen quite few "replicas" in yew and none under 60# is worth a dime as a shooter. Certainly not a bow from description of archery shootouts in Sagas.
The big bow was probably 130# and the smaller from Hedaby probably around 80#. Balindery was surelly 100# if not more...


J.