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Full Compass or Stiff Handle?

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Gary Mac:

Full Compass or Stiff Handle . . .

What are the pro's & con's with both tillering methods?

I have noticed English Bowyers that tiller their ELB bows in a full compass fashion do not include a shaped handle section as such.
Equally, I have also noticed that tillering and ELB for a stiff handle profile, they include a built-up handle section.

Any thoughts please?

Del the cat:
I think its a draw weight issue.
Light bows will be of a relatively small cross section and thus may need the handle building up to provide a comfortable grip.
A warbow draw weight bow will be fat enough without building up, and if it's made with an even taper along the whole limb it will bend  flex very slightly through the handle.
If you happen to have a large knot in the stave, it makes sense to place it at the grip, and leave some extra meat there which will stiffen the handle slightly.
My personal preference is to have as much working limb as possible, certainly on a warbow.
Del

Gary Mac:
Hi Del
I understand now what your saying, I had a peek at The Bowyers Bible and it said something similar.
The next Warbow I will do will be 70lb. Do you think that is sufficent enought weight to warrant full compass?

adb:
Del is absolutely right, but it's also about arrow weight. War bow shooters are launching heavy arrows, sometimes up to 1/4#. With these massive arrows, you need as much working limb as possible to optimise cast. It's like throwing a shot put, as compared to a baseball. Non-bendy handled Victorian style ELBs generally throw light weight, target style arrows, like a player throwing a baseball, mostly with the wrist and arm, while full compass war bows throwing heavy arrows need to use their whole body to move the heavy shot.

Del the cat:

--- Quote from: Gary Mac on December 29, 2010, 08:55:20 am ---Hi Del
I understand now what your saying, I had a peek at The Bowyers Bible and it said something similar.
The next Warbow I will do will be 70lb. Do you think that is sufficent enought weight to warrant full compass?

--- End quote ---
Yes I think 70# will be good full compass...Look at the home page of my website (click the globe symbol beneath my username) The bow there is 75# @ 28" 90# @31.5" the tiller is pretty much full compass despite a huge knot in the centre. The bow is about 70" ntn (my height) and it copes with the full draw nicely.
Del

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