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Update on 120# yew warbow - I don't like to complain, but...
toomanyknots:
Thank you Will! Indeed he does make a very nice bow!
WillS:
--- Quote from: meanewood on April 14, 2014, 09:05:17 pm ---
OK, tried some pics but the camera is not good enough to pick up the details.
I'll try to explain it better and anyone with a side nock and a length of cord can try it out!
The idea is to create a small loop at one end of the cord ( about the same circumference as a pencil)
You can do this with an overhand knot on the bite ( which means fold the cord back on itself and tie the knot into both strands)
It can be hard to get the loop formed small enough but if you adjust it before pulling tight, its easier.
Then you thread the other end of the cord through the loop which creates the sliding loop you put around the nock!
I've also tried a running bowline which works just as well. Which raises the question, why would it be called a Bowline if not for use on a bow!
These knots are easy to tie, just google a knot site and view the simple steps.
I guarantee if you try one of these knots out on your bow with side nocks, you will find it easier to string and unstring and no more slipping of the top bowyers knot.
Still use a bowyers knot on the lower limb to enable adjustment
--- End quote ---
I really like this explanation, and will be trying it out on a bow I'm just starting (ash, 110#) so thanks for putting the research and experimentation in!
As for the "bowline" - as far as I'm aware (and it's been a long time since I sailed properly!) it was originally used to attach a mainsail via sheet to the bow of a ship/boat. That basically means the front or leading corner of the mainsail (or mizzen, I suppose) is tied (the ropes are called sheets) to the very front (or bow) of the boat, and this resulted in the knot that was used being called the bowline. That's bow pronounced baaaoooowwww as compared to our bows, pronounced bohhhhhhhw. Technical terms there.
Interesting snippet fact - according to Wikipedia one of the earliest bowlines found was on the Solar Ship of Pharoah Khufu. Khufu was the modest fella that had the Great Pyramid built for him at Giza and the Solar Ship was the wooden royal barge that was built for the pharaohs when they died that would carry them across the river into the afterlife. They found a Solar Ship buried beside the Great Pyramid and it was like the world's first Ikea Flatpack - every single plank and piece of wood was separate, all laid in a great neat pile and everything would have been connected with small ropes and dowels following a strict set of instructions. If you ever get a chance to go to Egypt and have a look it's well worth it. Quite a stunning achievement.
Marc St Louis:
Such a knot wouldn't work with a linen string, the string would break at the knot
WillS:
What about a normal Flemish laid-in loop, as you would make any other bowstring, then pass the end of the bowstring through that loop, thus creating a slipping knot without any actual "knots"?
meanewood:
Hi Guys
My linen string has not broken yet and the knot shows no sign of stress so far!
I think this set up spreads the strain over all parts of the string as it passes around the nock just like the bowyers knot does
A laid in loop would require a wide nock slot and the knot is required to lift the tight loop out of the slot when rotating!
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