Monday, May 13, 2013
Some long bow history
Few archery bows have the same inspiring history as the English longbow.
If you decided to ask a professional exactly what makes a long-bow English, you probably wouldn't hear a definitive answer. Historians seem to roughly agree that unless the archery bow is at least Four foot in length, it can't be called an English longbow. A large number of English long-bows were actually so long that they surpassed the archer in height. The long bow was England's national weapon of choice for quite a few centuries back in the days.
The thing that distinguished the English long-bow from any other weapons was the fact it was very cheap, and that meant that absolutely everyone could afford it.. In spite of what a great many may possibly believe, the English long-bow was an enormously strong piece of weaponry with great penetrative capabilities; you'll find reports related to the killing of Simon de Skeltington back in the 14th century which describe the injury he had experienced from a 5 feet long bow as being 2,9 in . long, Two inches wide and seven inches deep.
Estimations vary, however it's typically acknowledged that these long-bows had a draw weight within the range of 104 and 130 lbs .. Imagine the shape bow-men in those days needed to be in if they desired to shoot these bows properly. If you have ever asked yourself how long lasting the long bow must've been back then, then I suppose you have got the answer now - a fragile construction wouldn't ever be capable of tolerating 130 lbs of draw weight, let alone do so over the course of hundreds and maybe thousands of arrows shot.
The long bow was also very effective at sniping down targets from afar, even from ranges of 235 meters and more. Unfortunately, I think it's unlikely that we will ever get to put our hands on a real English longbow ever again. It is impossible to find one these days, not even in history museums.
There are, luckily, a number of Renaissance long bows still in existance today. These specific archery bows are just as long as what the common English longbow was, and they're all a one piece.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Ever considered becoming an archer? This could help
Gossip coupled with speculation are ample when it comes to addressing the following question: just how many years ago was the first archery bow constructed? Precisely how long ago - we have no idea. We do know that our ancestors and forefathers most definitely used archery bows, which were incredibly crude in design at first (something that most of you obviously expected).
Times have changed however, and most contemporary bows are quite innovative pieces of equipment, taking advantage of all the tricks that physics has taught us, in order to make the bow-shooter's job of piercing his target as simple and effortless as possible. There is undoubtedly more than 12 different variates of archery bows on the market today, which is quite a lot when you think about it. However, there are 4 main types of bows that are worth discussing, and that is what I'm going to do next
The Recurve Bow
If you are thinking to yourself that the recurve bow is simply a more sophisticated version of the traditional long bow, then you are correct. Referred to in archery circles as a "recurve" for short, these bows have tips that curve in the opposite direction from the shooter. This makes aiming and drawing the recurve bow a much less difficult task than in the case of the long bow. The recurve has a more rugged design, and it is far more effective than the long bow at transferring power from the limbs to the arrow.
Recurve bows are oftentimes made of wood, although it is very common to find ones with a metal riser. The limbs on a recurve bow ought to be very durable as they are constantly bending, which is why they are always covered with some type of reinforcing layer. The recurve bow is the standard bow used in most Olympic competitions, with the exception of a few less-popular events. Due to everything mentioned above, this bow is a very good choise for a beginner looking to get into archery - a far better one than the long bow, that's for sure.
Long Bow
Typically refered to as simply a stick and a string, this name beautifully shows what a longbow looks like (and what it's looked like over the past 11,000 years at the very least).. Nearly all longbows are really straightforward constructions, with hardwood being the prevailing material employed in their manufacuring; they are very tall, measuring as much as the archer! If you're a newbie, you should perhaps stay away from the long bow, as it's hard to aim properly (no bow sight, no stabilizers, no nothing).
The concept is straightforward: you draw the bow by applying with your lateral back muscle, then hold the string while still exerting the same force, and then you aim and release - what happens from there will depend on on your skill level. A long bow includes a built-in "shelf" that replaces an arrow rest. It's this absence of a good arrow-rest that makes the longbow difficult to shoot for a newbie.There is also the English long bow, which you can read about here.
The Compound Bow and a Special...
Developed in Missouri by Holles Allen in 1960, the compound bow was basically a successful attempt at enhancing the already-solid recurve. The compounds have what are called "cams," which are essentially pulley systems located near the tips of the bow and which serve to relief the archer of as much work as possible when aiming the bow in a drawn position. Compound bows are very much appreciated by hunters, who often spend a lot of time with their bow drawn, so any amount of relief they can get is most desired. Most compound bows are shorter than long bows and recurves, measuring between 33 and 48 inches most of the time.
The last type of bow I wanted to talk about. A crossbow, as you can already visualize, holds the bolt in place using a mechanichal system. All you have to do in order to shoot is mechanically draw the string and then lock it into position to hold the bolt in place. To shoot, just pull the trigger - like you would in a gun. Some people will most definitely enjoy using it, especially those with disabilities and/or other central nervous system issues. This is because the crossbow, of all the bunch I've described in this article, requires the least amount of force to properly draw, aim and shoot. Think of it as the lazyman's recurve bow.
Times have changed however, and most contemporary bows are quite innovative pieces of equipment, taking advantage of all the tricks that physics has taught us, in order to make the bow-shooter's job of piercing his target as simple and effortless as possible. There is undoubtedly more than 12 different variates of archery bows on the market today, which is quite a lot when you think about it. However, there are 4 main types of bows that are worth discussing, and that is what I'm going to do next
The Recurve Bow
If you are thinking to yourself that the recurve bow is simply a more sophisticated version of the traditional long bow, then you are correct. Referred to in archery circles as a "recurve" for short, these bows have tips that curve in the opposite direction from the shooter. This makes aiming and drawing the recurve bow a much less difficult task than in the case of the long bow. The recurve has a more rugged design, and it is far more effective than the long bow at transferring power from the limbs to the arrow.
Recurve bows are oftentimes made of wood, although it is very common to find ones with a metal riser. The limbs on a recurve bow ought to be very durable as they are constantly bending, which is why they are always covered with some type of reinforcing layer. The recurve bow is the standard bow used in most Olympic competitions, with the exception of a few less-popular events. Due to everything mentioned above, this bow is a very good choise for a beginner looking to get into archery - a far better one than the long bow, that's for sure.
Long Bow
Typically refered to as simply a stick and a string, this name beautifully shows what a longbow looks like (and what it's looked like over the past 11,000 years at the very least).. Nearly all longbows are really straightforward constructions, with hardwood being the prevailing material employed in their manufacuring; they are very tall, measuring as much as the archer! If you're a newbie, you should perhaps stay away from the long bow, as it's hard to aim properly (no bow sight, no stabilizers, no nothing).
The concept is straightforward: you draw the bow by applying with your lateral back muscle, then hold the string while still exerting the same force, and then you aim and release - what happens from there will depend on on your skill level. A long bow includes a built-in "shelf" that replaces an arrow rest. It's this absence of a good arrow-rest that makes the longbow difficult to shoot for a newbie.There is also the English long bow, which you can read about here.
The Compound Bow and a Special...
Developed in Missouri by Holles Allen in 1960, the compound bow was basically a successful attempt at enhancing the already-solid recurve. The compounds have what are called "cams," which are essentially pulley systems located near the tips of the bow and which serve to relief the archer of as much work as possible when aiming the bow in a drawn position. Compound bows are very much appreciated by hunters, who often spend a lot of time with their bow drawn, so any amount of relief they can get is most desired. Most compound bows are shorter than long bows and recurves, measuring between 33 and 48 inches most of the time.
The last type of bow I wanted to talk about. A crossbow, as you can already visualize, holds the bolt in place using a mechanichal system. All you have to do in order to shoot is mechanically draw the string and then lock it into position to hold the bolt in place. To shoot, just pull the trigger - like you would in a gun. Some people will most definitely enjoy using it, especially those with disabilities and/or other central nervous system issues. This is because the crossbow, of all the bunch I've described in this article, requires the least amount of force to properly draw, aim and shoot. Think of it as the lazyman's recurve bow.
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