New 128lb War Bow getting a workout.

[AndyF]

After blowing up my previous 105lb war bow fashioned from a stave of local Brigalow, I went for broke and ordered a stave of 80-100 growth ring per inch Pacific Yew from Medicinebow Woods in the US.

This is the resulting outcome, thanks to my mate Nick Lintern. It was rather a bugger to make but, to quote Nick 'after much thought and a bit of swearing, finally came around to his way of thinking'. It's 128lb at 32 inches, and after a few weeks I'm finally hauling it back to a reasonable sort of draw length. The arrows (ones I posted pics of here a few weeks back) are around 1200 grains and measure 33 inches to the back of the point.

I've called the beastie 'Towton II' after the War of The Roses battle the Yorkists won (fought about eight miles away from where I'm from). And much to Nick's disgust, I made a white, yellow and green string for it (Yorkist colours). A set of matching Yorkist arrows in Birch are on the production line. (War bow bling )

Hope this link works to the Youtube video I posted. Any comments on my technique are welcome. I'm sure it's pretty woeful at this point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCSLd6mtP8s

[hunterguy1991]

Looks like it fairly sends them out there mate!!

My only thing is that it looks a tiny bit stiff in the tips, judging from the brace profile and paused at full draw... Is a bit hard to see in the video tho.

Could you post up some photos of the bow as well for a closer look?

As far as technique goes I would encourage to "roll" your drawing elbow from high to low in the cycle to engage more back muscles and less shoulder. Will try to find a video by Steve Stratton shot in Vic a few years back where he is demonstrating this.

Keep at it tho mate!! Very jealous of the Yew bow!! hopefully will have mine soon.

Colin

[AndyF]

Hi Hunterguy,

Will post some better quality still pics when I get chance. It was a pretty awkward stave. It bends through the handle, but as far as I know (and as Nick tells me), pretty much follows the arc of a circle. The tips may look a touch stiff due to the very 'character' (i.e. knots/twists) nature of the stave.

Anything on technique welcome.

Cheers,

Andy

[AndyF]

A rather naff quality still. She's a slightly weird looking thing with all her bumps and twists.

[hunterguy1991]

Still think its a touch stiff in the last 6 inches but I'd have to see it on a tiller board to tell... either way the maker has done a great job to get such a bow from a difficult stave!!

This is the video on technique... its hard to hear whats being said but if you closely watch Steve's movements you can get what he means about rolling the elbow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEqWyPTV6H8

I have spoken to him myself to improve my technique and I'm shooting my 120lber with no issues now. Looking to make something heavier soon to move up the weight.

Hope the video helps and I look forward to seeing the photos of the new bow!

Colin

[AndyF]

Another shot. Not quite as full draw. But I think this shows more of the 'character' I mentioned.

[hunterguy1991]

I quite like the bumps and what not, makes it more unique I reckon. Shes certainly a beauty mate! Would love the chance to shoot the warbows with you at some stage.

[AndyF]

Thanks for the video. I think it's fairly obvious as to what he's explaining. You can easily see the difference in the action.

Cheers.

PS. As far as shooting war bows with you, both myself and Eoin Mcarthy will be at The Gathering in June. Plenty of room to throw big arrows about there.

[Gilly]

Beautiful bow Andy, I saw it a few times during the build, yew bows have a character for sure, mine is full of odd bumps but shoots beautifully, Nick made that one too!

[mikaluger]

Thats what i call a character bow!!! beautiful!! nice one. I need some more Yew. Now....lol