Welcome, Guest. Please Login
SLINGING.ORG
 
Home Help Search Login


Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print
stonebow (Read 8460 times)
Bikewer
Interfector Viris Spurii
*****
Offline


I love Slinging.org!

Posts: 1627
St. Louis, Mo
Gender: male
Re: stonebow
Reply #15 - Jul 17th, 2007 at 10:12am
 
My very first longbow broke at full draw.  I had backed it with the commonly-used fiberglass drywall tape, and it did the job.  Even though the tape sheared through, nothing went anywhere, and the bow just sort of collapsed in my hand.

I wonder how often this occurred historically?   We see many surviving crossbows in museums with what appear to be well-forged steel prods, often quite heavy.

Maybe we only see the surviving item?

There's an excellent history of the crossbow available, I'll have to get a copy.
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
smgjerald
Descens
***
Offline


Ancient weaponry rules:-)

Posts: 114
Redneck country,Norway:-D
Gender: male
Re: stonebow
Reply #16 - Jul 17th, 2007 at 10:40am
 
It had to have occurred back then for sure,but probably not as often. after all,the guys who made bows and crossbows back then did it for a living,not for fun like we do Grin

There is actually a verse in the Norwegian Snorresaga(ancient epic script about viking heritage) about a breaking bow,the king had a soldier who was a legendary archer(Einar)the best in Norway so when his bow broke when an arrow struck it:"what was that terrible noise?"said the king,Einar said "the noise of the loss of Norway my king" the king handed him his gilded bow"alas,weak to weak is the bow of the king"so he drew his sword an fought like a man.
fun stuff!
Back to top
 

"What the hell are you doing now?"my dad everytime he came home and witnessed my siege weapon projects,the most patient man who ever lived:-)
smgjerald  
IP Logged
 
english
Ex Member


Re: stonebow
Reply #17 - Jul 17th, 2007 at 11:23am
 
Quote:
I wonder how often this occurred historically?
It happened often, I think.  Most of the bows from the Mary Rose that have been uncovered and known to have been finished and used all show string follow, and there are plenty of bow fragments out there.  But it's difficult to know the number, because I think that broken bows would probably be used for firework or knife handles, that kind of thing.   It would help root out crap bowyers though, and bowyers took on apprentices - apprentices had to learn by doing, and would probably mess up occasionally, or frequently, and no one wants to waste good wood.  Sub-standard bows were probably sold to plebs with little money in medieval and pre-medieval societies.  And based on what bowyers say, breaks happen to the best of us, so it's safe to assume it happened in the past too.
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
smgjerald
Descens
***
Offline


Ancient weaponry rules:-)

Posts: 114
Redneck country,Norway:-D
Gender: male
Re: stonebow
Reply #18 - Jul 18th, 2007 at 2:20pm
 
tried to find illustrations of the bowstring for the pelletbow,but didnīt find much..
Is the string one string split in two,braided together etc?
Back to top
 

"What the hell are you doing now?"my dad everytime he came home and witnessed my siege weapon projects,the most patient man who ever lived:-)
smgjerald  
IP Logged
 
english
Ex Member


Re: stonebow
Reply #19 - Jul 18th, 2007 at 2:53pm
 
Split in two is the usual way.  You can see a picture of the string on one of the ATARN links, or should be able to.  Some pellet bows just use a strap of cloth, I think, and some use wooden separators.  You can use a string similar to the ones on pellet crossbows.  Same principle.
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print
(Moderators: Rat Man, Chris, David Morningstar, Bill Skinner, Curious Aardvark, Masiakasaurus, Mauro Fiorentini)