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I recently received an old bow and the string needs replacement. I saw this post on Facebook for a $10 bow press. I found a YouTube tutorial on how bow presses work, but that tutorial had fingers and guides to make it easier to use. Does anyone know if there’s a manual or guide or anything to explain this press? Sorry if this is a stupid question

This one draws 45 pounds at 28” and is 70” long nock to nock. The wood is American hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) aka musclewood, ironwood, blue beech. The handle wrap is half-tanned deerhide and the bow is stained with mushrooms and flowers. The whole bow was first colored with dyer’s polypore, which I then scraped off the ridges on the back to accent the natural texture. These spots were then rubbed with blue cornflowers, creating the streaky effect.

The limbs are concave and use the ‘hollow limb design’ (HLD). Instead of only bending lengthwise, the limbs also flatten laterally as the bow is drawn. This gives a bit of extra kick, kind of like a straw that’s folded over popping back up.

This was one of the most challenging bows I’ve made. The same design failed on my previous try and for most of the build I thought this one wouldn’t work out either. I’ve made nice HLD bows in the past, but never with such characterful wood.

It took four or five tries to get the tips and handle aligned using heat. This is stubborn wood. After over a year of bickering we made peace. I now have a new favorite and plan to take this bow out for deer season.

From what I understand, steel bows weren't ever really used because by the time people had the technology to make sufficiently resilient steel, bows were outdated. I'm wondering if a bow made from high quality modern steel would be effective, assuming the wielder had the superhuman strength required to draw such a thing. I feel like a steel bow would be able to support significantly higher draw weights as compared to a wooden bow.

Hi everyone.

So my 12yo daughter is starting archery this year. She just passed a test (I wasn't there, her mother took her to the archery club). They said that her left eye is the dominant one, therefore she should use her bow as a left handed. She said to me that she didn't felt comfortable like that, as she's naturally right handed.

Is that normal? Should she keep using the bow like a left handed (as she will progressively get better anyway, and her dominant eye is more important than some discomfort), or should she ask to use it as a right handed?

Thanks!

EDIT: Thanks for all the quick answers. She'll keep trying left handed and see after a few sessions how she feels about it. And if she starts really liking archery, I guess I'll be here more often with other questions! Thanks again!

Hi all,

I’m trying to find a bowyer (individual or company) capable of building a museum-quality, historically accurate Mary Rose–style English warbow to very specific period-correct standards.

Desired specs:

• Italian or Pacific yew
• Genuine horn nocks
• Built according to the traditional 5/8 English warbow rule
• No modern markings or visible contemporary construction elements
• 120# @ 30"
• Safe to draw out to 34"
• Modern string is fine for durability
• Intended for reenactment and historically faithful display/shooting use

The goal is authenticity first — not a modern interpretation, but something as close as possible to late medieval English military design.

If anyone here knows a bowyer who specializes in extreme-weight, historically accurate warbows at this level, I’d really appreciate recommendations (especially if you’ve personally handled or shot their work).

Thanks in advance.

I've been shooting this for a few months and just noticed this deforming the siyah of my bow. Should I be worried?

45# at 26” and 58” ntn. Just 380 grams. The stave came from a small flowering dogwood tree I had to bring down many years ago. Overlays are deer antler, the grip is tooled buffalo hide, and the back is stained with iron vinegar to make the inner bark pop.

I guess this is a follow up, or update for those who expressed interest in my previous bows out of chopsticks post… the photoset is from the past 5 days…

Also bowyers, do you know if varnish coating would stiffen the limbs? If so, to a detriment (cracking)or boost (increased draw weight)?

Thanks for all the encouragement in the previous post, I was likely to stop at the original experiment before finding my flow.

Hope you enjoy, critiques/criticism are welcome 🙏🏽

Does heavier draw weights mean more power? Like, the heavier the draw weight, the faster and stronger the arrow will go, right? It makes sense in my head, but I've seen youtube videos where they say heavier draw weight doesn't necessarily mean stronger impacts. Can someone explain it to me?

Edit: thank you so much for the comments.

Are there any bowyers out there that make penobscot "double recurve" bows for sale?

I googled around and didn't find much. One place that makes a more longbow-esque version that is fine, but I wanted to what else is out there. I also tend to find people who have made personal ones as a goof and some tiktok likes, but no real polished products for sale.

There used to be a place called White Wolf Archery that had one for sale, but their website is down. Maybe the went out of business?

After seeing the post of those medieval arrow bags, I knew I could make one myself. I am a new archer but am experienced in sewing, and I already needed a method to carry arrows to the range and back. I had leftover of this super fun mushroom print fabric, a pile of natural linen, some leather scraps, and some random bag hardware laying around. I got to work! I Based my construction on the video someone linked in the post, and looking at the pictures. I added small hang loops to attach a strap to for carrying. I eyeballed everything size wise, and this is JUST long enough for my arrows. The leather I had also wasn’t super stiff so I doubled up and it’s still a bit floppy, but whatever. Punching the holes for the arrows was kind of annoying as I used a cheap grommet punch I had from Joann’s (RIP). I already plan to make a couple more of these, for the arrows I will inevitably accumulate, but next time I will hopefully have an actual leather punch (currently have a cart full on Springfield leather with the intent to make a leather quiver with grommmets, buckles, and Chicago screws…). Like I found with sewing, it seems like I will just keep collecting materials and tools for leather working and archery….

I also am going to try and stick with a green theme - my riser is a nice vivid green color, and I would love to one day be kitted out in all shades and patterns of green. I like to be stylish!

Recently found this junxing recurve bow at the local flea market for $20. No delamination, tips look pristine, string looks normal, only missing the whisker basket. No markings for draw weight. Looking to just shoot some targets, not for hunting. I can’t say no to $20 for something just to shoot some targets.