Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Marc St Louis on April 26, 2008, 03:31:53 pm
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I had this piece of Elm that I found in my wood pile. It was not wide or deep enough to make a regular bow but was just right to make a medium draw weight longbow. I rough shaped the stave then reflexed and heat treated it over a hardwood fire which took much less time than doing it with a heat gun and more fun. I reflexed the bow about 3" and it kept about 1" of that. The bow is 73" long overall, 1 3/8" wide at the center and pulls 70# @ 30". I put horn nocks on the bow and you can see from the first picture here that the top limb has a bit of a crook in it. This is the remains of a knot that it had. Besides that the wood was pretty clean and free of knots.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Selfbows/Elm%20ELB/English%20Longbow/HornNocks.jpg)
Here's some more pictures.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Selfbows/Elm%20ELB/English%20Longbow/Closeups.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Selfbows/Elm%20ELB/English%20Longbow/BracedUnbraced.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Selfbows/Elm%20ELB/English%20Longbow/FullDraw_2.jpg)
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i have a similar piece i been thinking of doing the same thing with. awesome job as usual marc
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She's a beauty, Marc. Nice job. Jawge
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Nice Marc. Interesting knot near the tip. Pat
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Hi, Being from the the UK this is a regular bow to me !!!! what is a "regular" to you? Thanks for your your time.
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Excellent bow Marc, as usual! And the old time bow makers said elm stunk as an ELB. Shame shame :).
Cromm- most North Americaners (that's a technical term folks ;)) use a variation of the flatbow with deep handle for the most part, and Marc has made bows of such a desgin that are absolutely AMAZING.
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Thanks Guys
Cromm. A regular bow here is a flatbow or in my case quite often a static recurve
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Thats about as pure and clean as it comes Mark ;) The tiller is right on and such a nice clean line. It's neat that you left and used the crook in the end. Just a touch of charactor. Another beauty, your consistency is inspiring. Keenan
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Mark, very nice! At 70# the bow is hardly a toy. Looks like a pretty serious bow to me. Steve
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Thats a fine looking torch job Marc ;D. It adds character and contrast to the bow..
Rich-
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Looks like Red Heartwood to me......... :-\
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There is quite a bit of heartwood left on the bow actually. If the stave would have had more depth I would have tried for a bit more draw weight out of it.
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Dang - wish I could shoot it. April Bow of the Month is next week, folks.
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I like the Difference in Color Marc...I would have sacrificed a little Poundage to keep the Looks....I love Red Elm ...and American Elm for Bow Wood...I have one in the Garage Drying right now
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Straight hard Elm is as good a bow wood as you can get. This one is not hard Elm but it's not soft either, it sort of falls in the middle
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With judicious use of heat you can turn hard Elm practically into Osage and soft Elm into Yew.
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With judicious use of heat you can turn hard Elm practically into Osage and soft Elm into Yew.
We'll see
I got a Piece of Red Elm that I am going to start work on one day soon
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Great looking bow, Marc-nice lines, looks like a good one. 8)
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Nice looking bow Marc, good job. Have you shot her yet?
Eric
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terific longbow, mark!!!
frank
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Great looking bow, I like the knot remnants in the top limb. :)
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Another fine looking weapon - I continue to be inspired. Never have tried Elm, but have a peice in the works..
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Thank you guys.
I have shot the bow a bit. It shoots quite well and is pretty fast, for a longbow :)
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WoW ! Nice bow , and you were going to try for "more draw weight" ? 70# seems like enough for what's left of my shoulders... :)
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Paul
My shoulders are not the best either but I can pull more