# My English Longbows did well this weekend **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 2, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329 "2017-09-02T15:20:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2017, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/21 "2017-09-04T00:07:04Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > It was especially sweet since I have decided to quit building this year. I spent a little more time getting them right so I could go out with my head high and it paid off. > [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > …I got a nice note from the man whose record we took. You could always do like Brett Farve and come back out of retirement to make one last commission for this guy. 🙂 Then again, that didn’t work all that well for Brett, so maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2017, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/22 "2017-09-04T00:21:37Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > You could always do like Brett Farve and come back out of retirement to make one last commission for this guy. 🙂 Then again, that didn’t work all that well for Brett, so maybe not. ``` From a building standpoint I am at my best, I was just starting loose interest. I have gotten a couple of requests already today. I just don't ever plan to do this for money. Money and hobbies don't mix. ``` ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2017, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/23 "2017-09-04T04:19:45Z")
**HoneyBadger** - What’ your next hobby going to be? We have a school for luthiers here in Nashville. Learn how to create or repair stringed instruments StG ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2017, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/24 "2017-09-04T05:18:36Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > **HoneyBadger** - What’ your next hobby going to be? We have a school for luthiers here in Nashville. Learn how to create or repair stringed instruments > > StG The precision for that is beyond my expertise, bow building is more by feel. I have been playing around with xylophones building. But writing is my next serious hobby, harder than anything I have ever tried. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2017, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/25 "2017-09-04T06:32:11Z")
Fantastic! Did you use Osage Orange? Dennis ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2017, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/26 "2017-09-04T06:53:03Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > No but I would like to open up a coffee shop with a mid evil theme. Might no work without beer. Go full evil - much more fun. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2017, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/28 "2017-09-04T09:09:32Z")
You may be retired; alone on your hardscrabble isolated mountain top. But soon will come a young lady looking to be educated in the way of the [del]archer[/del] force. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2017, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/29 "2017-09-04T10:39:00Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > Fantastic! Did you use Osage Orange? > > Dennis One of them was bamboo backed osage and two of them were bamboo backed ipe. [Did you get to know Harry Drake?] Not personally, he came in right after he had passed. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2017, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/30 "2017-09-04T13:58:57Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > One of them was bamboo backed osage and two of them were bamboo backed ipe. I was just about to ask what you made them from. My assumption would have been an ‘English’ longbow would be made of Yew. In the context of the competition you build for what are the defining characteristics of an English longbow? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/31 "2017-09-04T14:39:44Z")
> [@GreedySmurf](#): > > I was just about to ask what you made them from. My assumption would have been an ‘English’ longbow would be made of Yew. In the context of the competition you build for what are the defining characteristics of an English longbow? An english longbow can be made from any wood including bamboo, it has to mainatain one curve throughout the bow so no recurves or set backs in the limbs. The cross section has to be a D profile and maintain a width to thickness ration of no less than 5/8. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/32 "2017-09-04T14:59:00Z")
Congratulations! We harvested apples yesterday if you need targets. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2017, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/33 "2017-09-04T15:06:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Congratulations! > > We harvested apples yesterday if you need targets. 😉 I built an apple crusher a few weeks ago. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2017, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/34 "2017-09-04T21:39:55Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Congratulations! > > We harvested apples yesterday if you need targets. 😉 Great, just set em up on your head and stand by the tree. Now, steeeeaaaady… ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/35 "2017-09-05T00:45:02Z")
So, can you describe what you did differently with these bows that made them superior? You should teach someone your secrets, that way what you learned and is better than most bow makers, has a chance to not die out. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/36 "2017-09-05T01:51:53Z")
> [@by-tor](#): > > So, can you describe what you did differently with these bows that made them superior? > > You should teach someone your secrets, that way what you learned and is better than most bow makers, has a chance to not die out. I am pretty well published in this field. I think the big difference is that I have developed a technique for monitoring the condition f the wood as I get it bending. Hysteresis in the wood can cause major losses in kinetic energy, by maintaining the integrity of the wood you minimize these losses. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/37 "2017-09-05T02:24:46Z")
Ha! I have a bunch of osage orange logs in my barn. I think the husband of one of my cousins want some to carve, so I put several logs to dry in the barn. Want it? StG ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/38 "2017-09-05T03:25:23Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Ha! I have a bunch of osage orange logs in my barn. I think the husband of one of my cousins want some to carve, so I put several logs to dry in the barn. Want it? > > StG If they are pretty straight I will pay shipping plus some. Can you call me, I will message you my phone number ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/39 "2017-09-05T03:42:15Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > If they are pretty straight I will pay shipping plus some. Can you call me, I will message you my phone number How about tomorrow or Wednesday I take some pics and you can see if you like any of it. They’re probably at least 5=6" diameter logs, IIRC. It’s been a while. Heavy to ship. Where do you live? I’m near Nashville. StG ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/40 "2017-09-05T04:22:27Z")
Wow! An amazing accomplishment HoneyBadger. Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329/41 "2017-09-05T04:29:34Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > How about tomorrow or Wednesday I take some pics and you can see if you like any of it. They’re probably at least 5=6" diameter logs, IIRC. It’s been a while. Heavy to ship. Where do you live? I’m near Nashville. > > StG I am in Los Angeles but have friends all over the Nashville area, we could work something out, maybe I could make a bow for you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-english-longbows-did-well-this-weekend/795329.md?page=3)