Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: stuckinthemud on August 12, 2021, 01:01:31 pm

Title: Today's cuts
Post by: stuckinthemud on August 12, 2021, 01:01:31 pm
Quite excited about this, 2 yew staves, together with a couple of small offcuts, a 57" and a 74" length.  The grotty side of the big stem will cut down to a nearly flawless 48 inch length.  More exciting is the very interesting length of box (buxus sempervirens).  Anyone worked with box?

(https://stuckinthemudsite.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/img_20210812_164215817_hdr.jpg)
Title: Re: Today's cuts
Post by: Pat B on August 12, 2021, 04:18:27 pm
Never worked with boxwood but I've never seen any big enough to make a bow. Boxwood is a valuable wood for wood workers and carvers so save your scraps.
Title: Re: Today's cuts
Post by: Hamish on August 12, 2021, 07:41:39 pm
Box was highly regarded in Medieval Europe as a bow wood according to Gaston Phoebus, in the Book of the Hunt. Should suit an elb style bow well.     
Never tried it for the same reason as Pat. I have seen pieces big enough for billets, even those were very expensive
Title: Re: Today's cuts
Post by: bownarra on August 13, 2021, 02:40:36 am
The box will make a very good bow. Elastic and great in compression.