Osage Holmegård (fulldraw p.2)

[Kviljo]

Of course not   But I think I have distributed the stress as evenly as I possibly can, with just a hint of bend in the outer narrower limbs.

Tillering is sooo easy with board-bows, but these stave-bows tend to give me some food for thought. But I think I have setteled down with the tiller it has got now.

[Badger]

Kvillo, one thing I do and more is explained in the book, but if outer limbs are tiffer than normal as i might do in a holmgarde I would assign a slightly larger number for draw length, maybe 2" over actual, and if mid limb is bending more than usual I would assign a slighlty larger number to stiff handle area, maybe 2" more than actual. This will allow you some extra mass that you need on this design. Steve

[George Tsoukalas]

Looks  very good so far. Jawge

[Kviljo]

Ahh, I see. Maybe it's not that heavy after all. Good to hear!

You will have a chapter on the formula in TBB4?

[Kviljo]

Suddenly and more quickly than I had expected. Here they are:









Here's the section where is goes from wide to narrow:



And a fulldraw.




Oh, and there's also my yew bow that I will make in 40 years time or so

[Pat B]

You got a good bend all the way through the limbs although looks like the top limb is a bit stiff. That could be the camera angle.  That is an exceptionally clean piece of osage. We don't find much like that here in the US.   I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that yew tree to grow. Maybe your great grand kids will enjoy it.    Beautiful bow!
   There ought to be some good shoots in that pink rose besides you for arrows!    Pat

[AndrewS]

Looks like a fine bow

[DCM]

Nice bow.  Clean hedge.  Technically not quite a homey.

There was an article in the archives at the old site by a lady who made a nice whitewood holmegaard.  Been some time ago.  Was well written and a nice bow as well.  Interesting design, I want to say the one example from antiquity was actually a backwards bow, ie. outer growth ring on the belly.  Wide, parallel inner working limb, stiff, narrow outer limb with abrupt transition about midlimb or slightly beyond.  The transition has always been the vexing aspect of the design for me.  Most examples I've seen I considered too generous in the thickness on the outer limb and too stiff in the transition.  Most short, fast flatbows have an aspect of the homey design so in a way it is widely practiced.

[Kviljo]

Humm, I would have to disagree. What is the reason to think that they were "backward"-bows?
Also, take a look at e.g. Gad Rausings "The bow" (1967), or Jurgen Junkmanns "Pfeil und bogen"(2001). Both have drawings, and the latter a picture of one of the Holmegårds. They vary from almost none to quite abrupt narrowing at approx. midlimb. Yep, there's about 24 more or less complete Holmegårds from Denmark, plus at least one from Sweden, according to Junkmanns.
I'd love to read that article by the way! Does it exist on the net somewhere still?

I took several fulldraw-pics, and the tiller looked slightly differen on all of them, but I think I would agree that it bends a little more on the lower limb. It might be me not holding the bow exactly 90 degrees to the camera, or I might be drawing a bit high on the string. Perhaps both, but it might as well just be that it is bending a little much on the lower limb. Anyway, I'll just have to try to forget it, or prepare for giving it 10 coatings of danish oil again

[Kviljo]

Oh, forgot about the shoots! I've never thought of that before. It grows like mad, and theres lots of straight ones "inside" it - got to try that!

[George Tsoukalas]

Very nice bow. Congratulations. Enjoy. Jawge

[Ryano]

nice bow tiller looks pretty darn good to me. Looks like the stave has some prop twist, could be making the top limb look stronger.

[jpitts]

Good Looking bow. Prettiest piece of Osage I ever saw

[DCM]

Kviljo,

"Humm, I would have to disagree. What is the reason to think that they were "backward"-bows?"

I could easily be wrong.  And please don't consider my comments critcism.  I'll have to look around and see where I got the idea of the backward bow. 

"Also, take a look at e.g. Gad Rausings "The bow" (1967), or Jurgen Junkmanns "Pfeil und bogen"(2001). Both have drawings, and the latter a picture of one of the Holmegårds. They vary from almost none to quite abrupt narrowing at approx. midlimb. Yep, there's about 24 more or less complete Holmegårds from Denmark, plus at least one from Sweden, according to Junkmanns."

Again I'd defer to your knowledge.  I think my mistake was assume the archtypical design with an abrupt transition was the only example.

"I'd love to read that article by the way! Does it exist on the net somewhere still?"

I don't see a section on this site with a link to the archive of old published articles.  They may have discontinued that practice.  But I know I had the magazine it was in.  If I can find it I'll send it to you.  I'll look around this weekend.  I think I've kept all my old PAs.

Again, it's a great bow, and evidently very much a Holmegard.

[DanaM]

That is perhaps one of the best looking bows I've seen posted, nice tiller and the clean simple lines truly appeal to me.