perry wrote:I just gotta be a kill joy folks
why the focus on a beatifull bow
Arrows are the important part of an Archers equipment. I see folks running around all the time with $1500 Bows and the mottliest crappiest 3 dozen mismatched Arrows that they can find stuffed into their Quivers. And don't start me on their Form
Hey!! I resemble that remark! and you know it You insensitive brute....I'll have you know that currently there are only 2 dozen arrows stuffed in my quiver and only 2 different spines, 2 different arrow lengths and 3 different types of fletching..but at least there is only one arrow material...traditional aluminium. So you can see that I have taken your past ribbing of my quiver to heart and changed my ways. Of course in now doing so I no longer have a quiver that has at least one arrow for any bow poundage or bow type emergency so the above mentioned specialisation of my quiver has reduced my flexibility. Happy????
I agree with what you say about arrows being more important than the bow for the most part...you will also, I think, agree that we have both shot some dog mongrel bows over the years, a certain badly made Bingham longbow always springs to mind and in fact that bow still has me sitting upright sweating and screaming in the middle of the night. It's only redeeming feature being that it could only push out an arrow at about 72fps and thus learning arrow trajectory was a breeze.
As to the point about beautiful bows...there is no point. There is no point to beautiful art or beautiful music or a beautiful quiver or a beautiful hand painted woomera. Other than how it makes the owner or the audience feel. Will that beauty bridge the shortcomings of the individual? In the main, no it won't. I think there are certain psychological benefits to enjoying and confidence in your equipment that do filter down as physical benefits. It is the things beyond simple utility that touches our soul (even though I don't believe in souls) for want of a better word.
perry wrote:
I reckon the best thing any Trad Archer can learn after continually striving for good form is to make their own quality timber arrows from scratch, if not then learn to assemble them from quality store bought components.
I reckon that is a good goal as well. It is for me but there are some limiting factors that vary in the obsticles they present for me to overcome. Time, place, knowledge, expense etc etc. I just took me weeks and weeks to finally find enough time to make a couple dozen aluminium arrows and that's stupid easy...I still had to rush and most people would be embarressed by them.
BTW I am not a Trad Archer.
perry wrote:
I'm sure I have not made the best bow I can yet, always something to aim for but if I had to choose a Bow that someone else made for me I could not go past another RER
http://www.rerbows.com/ . My Arroyo is simply superb.
Your Arroyo is simply superb. It might be plain in the wood/glass choices but the design is attractive and potent...everytime I see it I have to be reminded that it is a much longer bow than it looks. And it has shooting qualities in spades. It is a thing of beauty in the way that your favourite workhorse always reliable workhorse rifle is a thing of beauty. I would not chose to own a Rose Oak bow on looks alone..that just happens to be a fortunate bonus to having a little extra cash for a bow that by reputation has highly regarded shooting qualities itself. Either bow would recieve equal shooting attention from me, but almost anyone, archer and non archer, might be forgiven for admiring the extra inticacies of the Rose Oak. The beauty of the Arroyo is more esoteric but that is pretty cool aswell.
perry wrote:
Years ago when Cliff and I would turn up with a new Selfbow at the Range just about every week we noticed that if Cliff turned up with a well crafted Selfbow sprayed with a glossy finish it got "WOW this is the best Bow you've made yet", and my Boiled Linseed and Gum Turps oil finished to 600 grit Selfbow would not get a second glance. The next week I'd turn up with the same Bow gleaming after 10 coats of True Oil and folks would comment - "WOW thats the best Bow you've made yet"
regards Jacko
As you know I hold the skill required to make a self bow in the highest regard. I have a practical inkling of just how hard this is. I would love to know more but priorities place that way down the list. And I would love to have the boys learn it as they get older. But I will be frank...much of the beauty of selfbows is completely lost on me.
Cheers mate
Troy
) , but man, it wasn't easy getting them tuned and ready to fletch. Even learning to apply varnish evenly was hard. But, I learned a TON for next time and am very keen for another go at it. Can't see myself buying carbons or aluminiums for a while.
Yeah mate, the whole thing. I wouldnt have a hunting cuboard left if it were just the limbs.