english warbow

[bootboy]

what was the likelyhood of oak being used historically for warbows. Or longbows at least.
There seems to be a lot of people presenting red oak board longbows. I know that oak was used for bow. But does anyone know of an instance of it being used for warbows?

[adb]

I believe secondary woods, like ash, elm, and oak were historically used for warbows, when yew was unavailable or unaffordable for the user. Certainly, yew was (and perhaps still is) the prefered wood for heavy weight warbows. 

[stevesjem]

Ash and Elm yes, but not oak I'm afraid, as far as I know there is no evidense of oak being used for a warbow.

Steve

[adb]

I certainly do not have much good to say about oak. Not a preferred bow wood for me, especially for an EWB.

[Bueskytter]

Never heard of oak being used historically. Ash, elm, birch - yes, but not oak.

[adb]

Birch?? Never heard of birch being used as a historic EWB material. Can you post info from your source on birch EWBs?

[bootboy]

Now that im somewhat more  familliar with bow making and  history, i have to say the same as you all, which was why i asked the quetioned to begin with. While I was growing up anytime someone spoke of longbows, or robin hood or the english warbows they exclusively spoke of them being  "good english oak" or "made from solid oak"

but i cant see oak holding up to warbow weights, most of the oak i have used breaks at about 70lbs maybe a little more