Main Discussion Area > English Warbow

horn nocks vs. self nocks

(1/5) > >>

luke the drifter:
are horn nocks necessary as opposed to self nocks(no horn nocks)?  why would one use side nocks? 

alanesq:
Horn nocks are just to protect the bow tips from damage
I have seen bows over 150lb which are self nocked no problem although these were not yew (which I understand is not as tough as many woods?)

sidenocks are what were used on longbows until recently so the question really should be why not use them?
see www.alanesq.com/sidenock.htm

youngbowyer:
Horn nocks were used because the string would cut into the yew sapwood which was quite soft but on most other woods you wouldn't need them.

adb:
Horn nocks (or any other hard material nocks) are totally necessary on yew bows, especially heavy weight bows. Yew is soft... you can easily dent it with your fingernail. On laminate longbows, they are not necessary, but can be used for aesthetic purposes.

bow-toxo:

--- Quote from: luke the drifter on June 29, 2009, 11:34:23 pm ---are horn nocks necessary as opposed to self nocks(no horn nocks)?  why would one use side nocks? 

--- End quote ---

 Self nocks were used on yew bows at least since the Roman period for thousands of years before horn nocks came into style. As far as I know, none of the bows from those periods show any damage at the nock. I never had a problem but of course my bows are not warbow strength. Even so I find it hard to imagine a reinforced served string loop producing any more than a slight burnishing effect on any bow. Side nocks would be used because they can hold a string with the least damage to the slender and extended bow tips in style in mediaeval and Tudor times

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page