Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Del the cat on October 18, 2010, 01:55:51 pm

Title: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: Del the cat on October 18, 2010, 01:55:51 pm
No frills, no horn no nuthin' 71" 52#@28" tested to 31"
Not the best piece of Yew, the sap/heart boundary is rather indistinct, the grain is a bit coarse and the wood rather pale, but it still bends nicely and is quick enough.
(Give it 5 years it'll look great ;D)
It's for a guy at the club who does re-enactment , works at the Celtic Harmony Ironage village, and has a bit of a rough yeoman personna.
There is a slight S shape to the stave so the top limb looks a tad stiff. Less chat more pics!
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/Website%20stills/wholebow.jpg)
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/Website%20stills/toplimb.jpg)
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/Website%20stills/Bowyersmark.jpg)
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/Website%20stills/fulldraw.jpg)
The bowyers mark is nice and simple, a subtle play on my nom de plume, it's a bit like a C and a D for Del the Cat.
I've made the top nock just above a little line of pins to accentuate it.
It should really have a flemish style string, but I've used my usual continuous loop for consistent bracing height, the guy may make his own string.
A simple Yeoman's bow for a simple Yeoman ::)
Del
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: mullet on October 18, 2010, 02:38:08 pm
 I like "simple", Del, and the tiller is spot on.
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: TBod on October 18, 2010, 02:46:44 pm
Very nice!

What does Yeoman means, caveman or something?
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: Parnell on October 18, 2010, 02:49:16 pm
Simply elegant, Del.  It looks very clean and the tiller is superb.  Nice job!
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: Del the cat on October 18, 2010, 02:56:22 pm
Very nice!

What does Yeoman means, caveman or something?
Funny you should ask!
I looked it up to check and it's meant different things at different periods (all waaaay later than cave men!!!) anything from a  young village labourer (yeo man=young man?)  in Saxon times to a freeman who owns land at some later date. (We still have Yeomen of the Guard at the Tower of London, often called Beefeaters)
I was meaning something along the lines of a labourer who could be called to arms by the local landlord. "Pick up you bow stout fellow and off to France to fight for your king and earn great riches, the spoils of war and pretty French girls for you my young lad" .
Oooh where do I sign up? :o
Del
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: JW_Halverson on October 18, 2010, 03:14:14 pm
Hey Del, those French gals aren't much for bathing and cats generally don't like strong smells. 

I really like your "chop" with the C and D, deceptively simple.  And the bow is a nice representation of the 'simpler is better' school of design.  Hard to hide flaws in tillering with such clean lines, you are really showing off with this one, Del.  Nice bow.
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: Thwackaddict on October 18, 2010, 03:23:23 pm
very nice Del!!so simple yet elegant!!two thumbs up ;)
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: Ifrit617 on October 18, 2010, 04:52:31 pm
Awsome bow. Simple yet deadly. I like. ;D
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: Cromm on October 18, 2010, 06:44:46 pm
Great work Del.
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: NTD on October 18, 2010, 09:32:35 pm
Nice Bow Del!
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: youngbowyer33 on October 18, 2010, 09:36:05 pm
very nice, very simple
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: Lombard on October 18, 2010, 10:30:54 pm
Yeoman is the oldest rating in the US Navy as happenstance. Del I've been liking simple lately too, and the elegant simplicity of that fine bow is exemplary.
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: Pappy on October 19, 2010, 06:05:44 am
Simple is good,sweet looking bow,tiller looks great.
   Pappy
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: Del the cat on October 19, 2010, 10:07:36 am
Cheers guys,
Presumably Yeomen greet eachother by saying 'Yo man' ;D
Del :-[
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: Pat B on October 19, 2010, 12:09:03 pm
Yo Del, nice simple bow! Only the usefulness shows!  ;)
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: adb on October 19, 2010, 12:29:31 pm
A yeoman... a freeman... maybe a land owner, but certainly a commoner... not of gentle birth... but not the property of any Lord. Your bow is very nice Del, certainly fitting of a common archer.
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: wundabred on October 19, 2010, 01:13:02 pm
i like it.   This is made from branch wood, i think?

Does the string dig into the back of the bow at all?
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: Del the cat on October 19, 2010, 01:54:58 pm
i like it.   This is made from branch wood, i think?

Does the string dig into the back of the bow at all?
Here's Mrs Cat pointing it out, you see I have her well trained as a stave spotter :o
The Yew was planted to screen off a tennis court (now a car park) probably about 50-60 years ago.
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/GibberdYew.jpg)
The string doesn't dig in at all, I haven't got a pic of it braced.
Del
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: AllanM on October 19, 2010, 01:56:48 pm
Andy is gonna love it- Almost primitive, like the lad himself ;)
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: dwardo on October 19, 2010, 08:14:16 pm
Lovely looking easy on the eye yew bow. Very nice.
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: PeteC on October 19, 2010, 09:23:22 pm
Very nice bow Del.I like it a lot. God Bless
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: AncientArcher76 on October 19, 2010, 09:31:43 pm
Simply smashing!  I like it some day i'll get my hands on some yew!  Cheers Del!!!

Russell
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: kerryb on October 19, 2010, 09:46:35 pm
Very nice bow, tiller looks outstanding.
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: HoBow on October 19, 2010, 10:11:14 pm
Nice bow!  These are probably my favorite type of bows and you did a great job.
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: wundabred on October 20, 2010, 03:57:58 am
hard not to cut em all
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: Del the cat on October 20, 2010, 08:19:56 am
hard not to cut em all
Yeah, I have my eye on some others.
They are in a big sculpture garden which is open to the public and I do some work for them. I made them a nice wooden donations box in exchange for cutting that one :)
Del
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on October 20, 2010, 02:53:35 pm
Very nice, Del. The tiller is right on. I like simple. Jawge
Title: Re: Yeoman's plain Yew Longbow
Post by: Josh on October 31, 2010, 11:07:37 pm
Tiller looks great on this one Del!   saved for October BOM contest too!  :)