HOW WOULD I GET STARTED WITH BUILDING MY OWN LONGBOW?
Ifyou are really new to woodworking and wood bows, it is probably best to go on a course - many bowyers offer courses of one or a few days where you will get to take a longbow home at the end. But if you have some experience with wood, it's perfectly possible to have a go at producing your own longbow.
It’s important to manage your expectations when bowmaking. Because you are working with natural materials, it’s very difficult to achieve a pre-determined draw weight and, even with care, a hidden flaw in the wood can mean a stave breaking at a late stage. Don’t let that put you off but, before you start, be realistic about your level of confidence, equipment and how much time you are prepared to take to decide where to begin. For all projects, you will need to have some basic woodworking tools: a spokeshave or rasp to remove wood; vice; tape measure; sandpaper and a knife suitable for carving.
At the simplest level, you can purchase pre-made components and focus on the finishing. Bow staves are widely available and come in a choice of woods. You will need to buy one the right length – the normal practice is to have a bow the same height as you. You will also need horn nocks and potentially leather to make a grip, if desired.
The first task is to taper the stave from its uniform shape. To do this, you will start by measuring to find the middle of the stave’s length. Measure an equal distance either side of the centre: this will become the handle. At each end, you would then mark the width and height you want the bow to be at the nocks and remove the wood evenly from both ends until you have the desired shape. It is very important to remember you will only work on one side – the belly of the bow, rather than the outer. Once you think the stave is ready, cut a groove for a string at each end.
The next stage is tillering, where you accustom the limbs to taking a cast. To help this, you will need a tillering string, which will allow you to gradually extend the draw length. You may need to remove more wood, to get an even bend. Finally, you will glue on the horn nocks and are ready to shoot the bow.
As you gain confidence, you can start earlier in the process, by making your own stave from laminations or even harvesting your own, though new wood requires seasoning, which can take up to a year.
To get started: check out courses run by bowyers, find tutorials on Youtube, or pick up one of the many books on the subject. Good luck and happy shooting.