Gradually the bow came into shape and with much help from Steve, by two in the afternoon the bow was fully tillered, forming the classic war bow profile. All it needed now was the horn nocks, a new string and a final finishing, but first a sandwich and pint of ale!
Returning to the workshop, Steve went through the fundimentals of string making. Using his string making jig he quickly showed me how it was done and then how to apply the serving
Returning to the workshop, Steve went through the fundimentals of string making. Using his string making jig he quickly showed me how it was done and then how to apply the serving
The four of us were joined by Steves young lad, Ben, at eight years old he is already a fine archer and a talent for the future. Bows braced we gently warmed them up, partly drawing them before going to full draw. Then finally the arrow was bought back the full 32” and loosed to astonishment of Zach! Then it was his go and with a little coaching Zach was soon on his way with it, a happy man.
And so there it was, proof that a war bow can be made as a first project by novices! That achievement is Steve’s, sharing his knowledge, as he says ‘it ain’t rocket science!’
And so there it was, proof that a war bow can be made as a first project by novices! That achievement is Steve’s, sharing his knowledge, as he says ‘it ain’t rocket science!’
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Making a War Bow
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DIY Archery
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DIY Archery
Until recently this meant going along to a bow building course and after a few days effort you’d leave with a 40~50lb Victorian longbow, fine for those who want that but what about the budding war bow archer? The accepted wisdom is that a high (or even low) draw weight war bow is too difficult for the novice and should be avoided. Terrible tales abound of those foolish enough to try, so our would be bowyer takes the path of the recreational longbow and in time he learns to frown, unfairly, upon the war bow.
I have been in that situation for a few years. I can shoot a war bow of up to 130lb draw weight, I can hand make my own arrow shafts, fletch them and put big holes in things but I had never made a bow. I could not see the point in attending a Victorian bow making course so the idea was put into a cupboard marked ‘future’ and left to gather dust.
The staves were laminates of wood, self bows being somewhat harder to fashion, each slightly different depending on our target draw weight. My stave had laminations of lemonwood, yew, greenheart and backing of good hickory. The tensions and strains between these woods improving the bows overall performance.
Our first task was demonstrated to us by Steve. Using the rasp we would fashion the lemonwood of our staves into ‘D’ shape, this would form the belly of the bow. Steve explained how the profile of the D would flatten out as we approached the centre of the bows from the limb tips and once done the whole belly was smoothed off with a cabinet scraper.
Our first task was demonstrated to us by Steve. Using the rasp we would fashion the lemonwood of our staves into ‘D’ shape, this would form the belly of the bow. Steve explained how the profile of the D would flatten out as we approached the centre of the bows from the limb tips and once done the whole belly was smoothed off with a cabinet scraper.
After we had applied a similar procedure to backing of hickory ensuring we had the smooth, graceful lines of the war bow, we prepared the bows for their first tillering. Taking a tile saw the nocks, the notches in which the string sits, where cut, one on the tip of the bottom limb, two on the top. A quick sanding and the bows would be ready. .John had reached this stage before dinner and the rest of us were not far behind.
Lunch was provided by Jackie, Steve’s wife, and very tasty it was too, especially the homemade brownies! Tucking in the jokes flowed and one or two stories told and soon it was back to work.
By mid afternoon I was down at the tiller my bow fitted with a long string. A tiller is basically a winch which pulls the bow gently into shape. At first a bow does not want to bend, it needs gradual work to get it there. Steve showed us how the rough bow would begin to bend, on it’s first attempt bringing it down just a few inches and pointing out the stiff areas on the limbs. He showed us which parts of the bow needed more work in order to get it to bend correctly, which wasn’t always obvious to the untrained eye.
By mid afternoon I was down at the tiller my bow fitted with a long string. A tiller is basically a winch which pulls the bow gently into shape. At first a bow does not want to bend, it needs gradual work to get it there. Steve showed us how the rough bow would begin to bend, on it’s first attempt bringing it down just a few inches and pointing out the stiff areas on the limbs. He showed us which parts of the bow needed more work in order to get it to bend correctly, which wasn’t always obvious to the untrained eye.
By the evening I had a bow well on the way to completion and amazingly John had finished with a huge 110lb draw weight bow! I drove home hoping that the next day I would be in a similar position to John by Sunday afternoon.
Sunday morning at half past nine and I was back at Steve’s reworking my bow. Taking some off here with the rasp and there with a scraper. It would be then back on the tiller, where Steve would bend it just a little more and point out areas to take off some more.
Sunday morning at half past nine and I was back at Steve’s reworking my bow. Taking some off here with the rasp and there with a scraper. It would be then back on the tiller, where Steve would bend it just a little more and point out areas to take off some more.
Steve runs regular bow builds at his workshop in Moreton in Marsh, to find out when he is running his next course email him at, steve@diyarchery.co.uk
or visit his website; www.diyarchery.com
or visit his website; www.diyarchery.com
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Longbows. They come in two sizes, big and small, or should that be two types, Victorian recreational and medieval war bow? However you decide to categorise the two types, you’ll realise that both are made of wood and that means with a little guidance you can make your own!
On two tables our prepared staves were laid alongside the tools we would need to fashion these blocks of wood into fully working bows! I have to admit I was not confident in my abilities. I spent a whole year of metal work classes producing one hand vice and a small assortment of tubing cut to various random lengths much to the disdain of my teacher. As it turned out I had little to worry about as Steve was on hand to make sure nothing went awry.
That cupboard door was opened with one simple forum post by Steve Stratton of DIY Archery, ‘anyone want to build a bow?’ So there I found myself on May Saturday morning in Steve’s workshop with three fellow bow builders. Glenn who writes much for this site. John one of the forum moderators and carpenter. And Zack, a professional musician and instrument maker.
My bow weighed in at 120lb, whilst Glenn’s had made his for Chrissi his fiancée, wieghing in at 75lb draw. But it was Zach who was happiest, he’d never owned or shot a bow before and here he was with a 60lb bow and a handful of new arrows grinning like it was Christmas! Nocks fitted, we where ready to shoot so off to a suitably large field.