Anyone know what Norse long bows looked like?

[sleek]

I'm interested in making one but can't find much.

[jareddchazen]

Like an English warbow but with the tips extending a couple inches past the nocks and deflexed.

There were a few finds in Ireland that were believed to be Norse in origin and even more in Denmark (if I remember correctly). It's believed by some that they also had exposure to and may have used composites as well because etymologically there exists the term "hunbogi" which means HUN BOW.

Jared

[gifford]

Hey Sleek,

Here's one I found, haven't read it myself so, it does have a couple of references.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=9020.0

Hope it helps.

G

[Hamish]

There is a book- The Bow Builders Book by Fleming Alrune that has dimensions of several different original viking bows and reproductions of them. It also has stone age, other Dark Age, Medieval, and modern bows.


The was also a post a week or two ago about a new Viking bow book, that might be of interest to you.

[sleek]

Thanks fellas! I have a piece of winged elm I will be using for this, to keep it accurate.

[willie]

from just the other day.....

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,66077.0.html

[Bryce]

It’s theorized that the ELB is a copy of the Norse longbows. The yew longbow has been found and recorded being in this region before it’s use in the uk. But it’s all a theory. There are longbows all over the world, who’s to say who did it first.
Some Norse bows had A couple inches of wood past the nock which was deflexed, and others had it the same way, but also a few inches before the string nock would be inline with the deflex as well. Which I think is a good solution to get that nice smooth release that you get in a bow with just a little bit of set, without actually having set.

[Weylin]

Here's one I made that was inspired by the Hedeby bow.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,63399.msg890644.html#msg890644