Building a longbow, or "longbow", out of thin air can be quite a difficult job. It's not just about finding a long enough piece of wood and fixing a rope. Follow the next steps to build a well-functioning bow that will last over time.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Prepare the Stick
Step 1. Find some wood
You will need a fairly straight branch with few knots and curves. It should be about 180cm long, so if you cut a branch, be careful not to break the wood.
- Some of the best woods are yew, ash and walnut. In general, all solid woods are suitable for processing.
- The stick must not be more than 5 cm in diameter.
Step 2. Find the curvature
Hold the stick vertically with one hand up and the lower end against the foot. Push the center: the stick will rotate and the natural curve of the wood will end up facing away from you.
In this way you will find the "internal" and "external" part of the arch. You will only engrave the inner part while the outer one will remain intact. Each incision made on the outside will end up compromising the integrity of the arch and will cause it to break in a short time
Step 3. Mark the handle
Find the center of the stick and make marks about 5cm from the top and bottom center. This part will be the handle that must not be touched to maintain tension and prevent the bow from breaking.
Method 2 of 4: Giving the Arch a Shape
Step 1. Check for creases
Put the lower end of the arch over the foot and hold the upper end with your hand. Use the other hand to push out the central part and see where the bow bends and where it does not bend.
Step 2. Make Adjustments
Use a knife to cut parts of wood from the inner area of the arch, where it does not bend. This will increase the flexibility of the stiffer areas. Continue to check the flexibility of the bow until it bends evenly both above and below the handle.
- Cut the wood only on the inside. Leave the outside intact.
- The handle and the ends should remain relatively straight compared to the rest of the bow.
- The amount of wood to be removed varies depending on how thick the stick is.
Method 3 of 4: Stringing the Bow
Step 1. Make a notch on each side of both ends
These are used for stringing, they must be deep enough to hold the string in place.
Be careful not to carve the arch too much or you will end up piercing it
Step 2. Prepare the rope
Make loops at both ends of a nylon cord. The string, once the bow is complete, must be about 10 cm from the handle.
- Bend the bow and hook the rings into the notches.
- Do not pull the string, the bow is not yet complete and could break.
Step 3. Hang the arch in a horizontal position
Place it in the center of the handle with the rope perpendicular to the ground.
Hang the arch from a branch or at least high enough
Step 4. Pull the string a few inches
Check how the arch bends: the ideal is that it bends evenly, with the same angle at both ends.
- He makes adjustments by removing wood from the inside, where the arch does not bend enough.
- Continue with the changes, always checking how the bow bends by pulling the string. Continue until you reach the length of the shot, that is, the distance between the string at rest and the chin keeping the arm stretched: this is how much you will shoot the bow before shooting an arrow.
Method 4 of 4: Refine the Arch
Step 1. Apply a light oil to prevent the wood from drying out
Linseed oil or wood oil are the most common used in making bows.
Step 2. Try the bow
At this point the bow is ready to be used. Finally, pass some sandpaper inside to make it smooth.
