So recently, after a lifetime shooting compound bows of one type or another, I took a huge step backward and ordered an English style long bow. I wanted to do something unique to it, so I ordered the basic bent stick; no handle option. I did the handle myself.
The reason I did my own handle is because the black with brown leather trim hides a secret. I wrapped double around the left side of the bow, creating a very shallow riser. This allowed me to experiment. Risers on longbows are usually much wider than the shaft of the arrow. But they really only need to be just over half the shaft's diameter wide. Mine is slightly over that, but much more narrow than most.
If you've ever watched a slow motion video of an arrow leaving a longbow, you'll see that the arrow flexes around the bow stave, and doesn't really touch it again, once it starts moving. I had done a lot of thinking on this "Archer's Paradox" and thought: "If the arrow bends around the bow, and the videos show it never touches the bow again after initial contact, why can't I use a small riser, and use plastic vaned arrows?"
I realize many traditional archers might be aghast at the idea, but some are on a budget, and good aluminum arrows are much cheaper than good wooden ones. Also, I've never been one to assume that what I've been told is 100% true. And my guess was that not too many people had ever attempted doing this.
So after practicing a couple of times to make sure my form was good enough (20+ years with a compound bow can make one lazy) I set up my backstop and target, (which will be another post) got out an assortment of arrows, and shot way too many sets. All of my arrows are spined for a 60 pound pull, and both my compound/recurve and my longbow are 60 pound.
What I discovered was that Aluminum arrows are heavier than you'd think. They dropped a lot more than the cedar arrows I normally use. Could be a hundred different reasons, but even just holding them I could tell the cedar was lighter. The heavy aluminum was a choice I made long ago, lighter ones exist. I had just always assumed wood was heavier. Live and learn.
Speaking of lighter, next up were the carbon arrows. Those, to my great dismay, kicked upward on loosing. I knew the nock was right because the wooden and aluminum arrows few just fine. This puzzled me for a bit, because the spine is right, but I think I've puzzled it out. Even if the carbon arrows flexed the same amount, they would return to shape much faster, due to the same properties that make them preferred for faster-firing bows. This put the vanes in contact with the riser, lofting the rear of the arrow.
So the short story is, if using a riser no wider than the arrow, you can use plastic vanes, provided the arrow isn't carbon. If using carbon, use feathers. And yes, this would be much cooler and more informative if I had a high speed camera and did a video. I don't have that kind of cash laying around, and if I did, I'd buy land or more arrows with it anyway.
Friday, June 17, 2016
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Bows and How they are Defined.
How are bows defined. Now there has been more written on this by more people than you could shake a tensioned stick at, But it always concentrates on the type of bow, or the intent of the archer. So the classifications are things like, recurve, (really, not in the online dictionary?), compound, etc. (One way)(Another way).
The question that was posed was: "What do people mean by traditional archery?" I have seen more definitions for this than I can understand. To me traditional has always meant a bent stick, a string, and a straight stick with feathers. I have seen someone using a take-down, all fiberglass and aluminum bow, with a sight and stabilizer say they were shooting traditional. Which I deduce means that to them, traditional means "Not a compound bow."
So I am going to attempt to clarify, calcify, and define, to the best of my limited ability, the types of bow based on broad category, based on materials and equipment, rather than the shape of the bow, the intent of the archer, or the will of the marketing team. At best we will have a common language. At worst, something to discuss/argue about. I will revise this, if it becomes necessary, to maintain accuracy.
Starting at the simplest:
Neolithic Self bow: Made with stone tools, natural glues, and natural fibers, single piece of wood. Obviously hand made. No sight, no stabilizer, no release aid no rest. Note that for all that, they are still amazingly accurate in the right hands.
Self Bow: Tillered from of a single piece of wood. The handle may be built up, and it may or may not have a riser or arrow rest. This term usually applies to modern, self-made, bows.
Ancient Composite: Made of layered material. Wood and sinew and fabric are sandwiched and glued to create a lighter, stronger bow. Otherwise, as above.
These first three are what I consider Primitive.
Composite: as above, but made of modern materials, and usually not hand made. Modern materials include: aluminum, fiberglass, etc. Most recurve bows are Composite,
This, coupled with the first three, are what I consider Traditional, if used without sights, stabilizers, or release aids.
Hunting: Basically the same as below, but with a short stabilizer. Most archers that claim to shoot hunting style do not use a release aid, but this is far from universal.
Competition: Any of the entrants above, but typically composite, with rests, stabilizers and release aids, and every possible combination. May also include:
Compound: Pulleys, eccentric cams, 4 foot stabilizers, release aids, etc.
Compound Recurve or Lever Action: An abomination that is halfway between a recurve and a compound bow. Imagine a recurve that looks like you broke it. Or don't imagine it, this is the internet. (Next to a compound bow & Drawn) This is the bow I currently shoot.
These last five represent Modern archery. You will note that there is some overlap. That is because a composite bow used without a sight, stabilizer and release aid is traditional, with any of these it is modern.
These together are the types of bow, as arranged by material. Note that I left out any discussion of string types, arrow types, protective gear, etc. Those would be whole other posts. Also, different clubs, ranges, associations, and parks will have broadly defined categories, just to divide the shooters into competitive groups. Typically they are Traditional, Hunting, (or modified), competition recurve, and competition compound. But again, this is not a universal thing.
The question that was posed was: "What do people mean by traditional archery?" I have seen more definitions for this than I can understand. To me traditional has always meant a bent stick, a string, and a straight stick with feathers. I have seen someone using a take-down, all fiberglass and aluminum bow, with a sight and stabilizer say they were shooting traditional. Which I deduce means that to them, traditional means "Not a compound bow."
So I am going to attempt to clarify, calcify, and define, to the best of my limited ability, the types of bow based on broad category, based on materials and equipment, rather than the shape of the bow, the intent of the archer, or the will of the marketing team. At best we will have a common language. At worst, something to discuss/argue about. I will revise this, if it becomes necessary, to maintain accuracy.
Starting at the simplest:
Neolithic Self bow: Made with stone tools, natural glues, and natural fibers, single piece of wood. Obviously hand made. No sight, no stabilizer, no release aid no rest. Note that for all that, they are still amazingly accurate in the right hands.
Self Bow: Tillered from of a single piece of wood. The handle may be built up, and it may or may not have a riser or arrow rest. This term usually applies to modern, self-made, bows.
Ancient Composite: Made of layered material. Wood and sinew and fabric are sandwiched and glued to create a lighter, stronger bow. Otherwise, as above.
These first three are what I consider Primitive.
Composite: as above, but made of modern materials, and usually not hand made. Modern materials include: aluminum, fiberglass, etc. Most recurve bows are Composite,
This, coupled with the first three, are what I consider Traditional, if used without sights, stabilizers, or release aids.
Hunting: Basically the same as below, but with a short stabilizer. Most archers that claim to shoot hunting style do not use a release aid, but this is far from universal.
Competition: Any of the entrants above, but typically composite, with rests, stabilizers and release aids, and every possible combination. May also include:
Compound: Pulleys, eccentric cams, 4 foot stabilizers, release aids, etc.
Compound Recurve or Lever Action: An abomination that is halfway between a recurve and a compound bow. Imagine a recurve that looks like you broke it. Or don't imagine it, this is the internet. (Next to a compound bow & Drawn) This is the bow I currently shoot.
These last five represent Modern archery. You will note that there is some overlap. That is because a composite bow used without a sight, stabilizer and release aid is traditional, with any of these it is modern.
These together are the types of bow, as arranged by material. Note that I left out any discussion of string types, arrow types, protective gear, etc. Those would be whole other posts. Also, different clubs, ranges, associations, and parks will have broadly defined categories, just to divide the shooters into competitive groups. Typically they are Traditional, Hunting, (or modified), competition recurve, and competition compound. But again, this is not a universal thing.
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