Main Discussion Area > English Warbow

Mean wood bows and horn nocks?

(1/3) > >>

Mo_coon-catcher:
Like the title asks, did mean wood bows have horn nocks like yew bows did? It's something I've been curious about but havmt come across anything saying so. Sinc yew needs the reinforcement to hold up to the string biting in, I understand the development of the nocks. But I'm curious if many of the mean wood bows had them since the wood could typically hold up to the string fine with self nocks, excluding soft woods like yew. Or if they were used on them more out of tradition due to usin them on yew so much. I'm sure this has been discussed, but I camt find a discussion on it anywhere.

Just tryin to satisfy a curious mind.

Thanks,
Kyle

FilipT:
I know that Will S puts horn on his ash warbows, but regarding historical use I am not sure. In theory if the string has thick loops they wouldn't probably cut through elm or ash nocks.

Lucasade:
I suspect it depends on the bow - I'm currently making a 90ish pound hazel bow and it's getting horn nocks because I had issues with the self nocks on the tiller tree.

WillS:
It also depends whether they cut grooves at all.  If you simply taper the very tip sharply, and you can use a running loop (a sort of slipknot) in the string and it will tighten up against the taper.  No need for grooves, hence no need for nocks.  That's the best way to tiller bows too, as you're not deciding on a bow length or string position before the bow is made.

You can also tie the string on in various ways, much like African bows were braced.  There's not​ really any limit to draw weight with these methods, so it's quite plausible, and works with virtually any draw weight.

Mo_coon-catcher:
Is something like this what you were talking about? I've been wanting to try this style nock for a while. This is a perfect opportunity for it.

Kyle

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page