Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Aksel on July 02, 2022, 09:11:14 am

Title: sapling yew bow
Post by: Aksel on July 02, 2022, 09:11:14 am

Hello, I cut a stand of European yew saplings last month, full of knots and pins,  which I will try some experimental stone age technology on, like semi-HLD. Before I try something crazy I made a type of bow I am already familiar with. This quick dried yew Holmegård came from a 1 3/4 -2"  sapling. It is 66"long and pulls #43 with the tie-on nocks all the way out. If I move them in an inch its closer to #50.  String follow is 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch. The grip section is quite shallow and there is a certain "give" in the handle which I believe often was the case in primitive bows. You hardly ever see any deep handle sections of old bows.  Hope you like it /Aksel

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: Aksel on July 02, 2022, 09:13:46 am

full draw etc

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on July 02, 2022, 09:57:52 am

Mighty fine. Tiller looks great. Jawge

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: Hamish on July 02, 2022, 10:32:55 am

A very handsome bow, straight from the stoneage.

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: PaSteve on July 02, 2022, 11:34:29 am

Very nice bow. Well done!

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: Pat B on July 02, 2022, 12:17:16 pm

Beautiful, well tillered simple stick, Aksel.   :OK

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: bownarra on July 03, 2022, 02:01:16 am

Sweet :)

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: BowEd on July 03, 2022, 06:38:43 am

Sweet looking bend on your yew bow.Nice work.

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: GlisGlis on July 03, 2022, 12:54:31 pm

it's a very nice bow you got there.
It's likely a weapon that was pretty common for a long period in Europe
you made very good use of that yew

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: Del the cat on July 04, 2022, 03:27:05 am

I love the coffee and cream look of Yew and how the sapwood wraps round on sapling bows.
Clean simple elegant, like all the best engineering.
Del

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: Pappy on July 04, 2022, 08:29:37 am

Very nice work,beautiful bow, looks like a mighty fine stick. :)
 Pappy

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: Will B on July 04, 2022, 07:59:00 pm

 Beautiful yew bow!  Your bow has a really nice bend. Nice character with the knots too

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: M2A on July 05, 2022, 08:34:12 am

Really cool bow. Like everything about that one.
Mike

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: Aksel on July 05, 2022, 12:55:20 pm

Thanks for the comments, all. I´m not sure what the expected life is for a yew sapling bow full of knots and pins but guess I´ll find out  :)

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: bjrogg on July 05, 2022, 01:02:24 pm

Very nice Aksel.

Hopefully your answer is for a very long time.

Bjrogg

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: backtowood B2W on July 05, 2022, 04:10:59 pm

That's a nice sapling bow )P(
B2W

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: superdav95 on July 06, 2022, 02:24:13 am

Very nice looking bow.  Tiller looks perfect.

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: simk on July 06, 2022, 02:57:38 am

this is a nice bow. well done!  (-S Is it from a sapling or is it from a branch?

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: Aksel on July 06, 2022, 04:00:07 am

Quote from: simk on July 06, 2022, 02:57:38 am

this is a nice bow. well done!  (-S Is it from a sapling or is it from a branch?

Something in between. 7 saplings growing out from a common trunk at the ground. They all grew upwards. I suspect it is Irish yew "taxus baccata fastigiata" when I look how it grew. Ornamental tree/bush in a garden. Apr. 8-10 rings/cm

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: simk on July 06, 2022, 05:20:23 am

thanx Aksel - this piece really looks a bit like a branch. but what you describe is a shoot in fact. branches make a lot of compression wood and usually are a little sluggish, shoots don't. have fun with your bow! cheers

Title: Re: sapling yew bow
Post by: Aksel on July 06, 2022, 06:02:58 am

Thanks Simk, no this bow isn't sluggish at all. Shoots very fast for its size.