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Author Topic: I need to make a short (ish) longbow  (Read 3340 times)

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Offline kevinsmith5

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I need to make a short (ish) longbow
« on: September 08, 2013, 01:43:51 pm »
So a friend has asked me to make her husband a longbow for his birthday. He is only 5'7" and so I'm thinking a 6' bow will be a bit much. He isn't a regular shooter so I don't think I want to make it too high a draw. I've been making hickory and maple backed Jatoba longbows but unless I make it very narrow (under 1") I'm thinking that a short one would have a higher draw. Which would be better, taper the limbs or make a Trilam with a lighter core?
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Offline Pat B

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Re: I need to make a short (ish) longbow
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2013, 01:49:38 pm »
Make it his height. Start out at 1 1/4" and see how that goes. If you start getting too thin begin removing wood(tillering) from the sides. Even a 1" wide longbow is not unheard of. Some folks like narrow bows.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline kevinsmith5

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Re: I need to make a short (ish) longbow
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2013, 02:25:36 pm »
 Already making 1" bows to get them the 30 lb draw these folks (SCA) like at 72". I'm thinking 3/4" will look kinda silly...
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Offline adb

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Re: I need to make a short (ish) longbow
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2013, 02:58:14 pm »
Why would a 72" ELB be too much for someone 5'7"? Longer bows are more comfortable to shoot and more accurate for beginners IMHO.
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Offline kevinsmith5

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Re: I need to make a short (ish) longbow
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2013, 06:19:16 pm »
I don't honestly know.
Has anyone ever done hickory backed Ashe? Ashe is lighter than Jatoba and I THINK makes a lower draw bow....
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Offline adb

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Re: I need to make a short (ish) longbow
« Reply #5 on: September 09, 2013, 12:12:59 pm »
Quote from: kevinsmith5 on September 08, 2013, 06:19:16 pm
I don't honestly know.
Has anyone ever done hickory backed Ashe? Ashe is lighter than Jatoba and I THINK makes a lower draw bow....

I think you're thinking the wrong way. Regardless of material, you tiller a bow to whatever desired draw weight and length you want. I made my wife a hickory backed osage pyramid flatbow... 25#@26". That's all she can shoot comfortably. I could make a hickory backed osage flatbow to 80# if needed. The bows are proportioned appropriately. Material (for the most part) does not determine the end result... you do. That being said, I wouldn't make an 80# flatbow out of maple, but I think you get the idea. I also wouldn't make a hickory backed ash bow... they're both tension woods. Ash backed jatoba would be a better choice IMHO.
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Offline kevinsmith5

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Re: I need to make a short (ish) longbow
« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2013, 07:56:05 am »
You have to remember I'm trying to make a bow that looks high draw ("warbow") but isn't. Ok on the Ashe though, guess this is becoming backing...
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