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Author Topic: Elm Holmegaard Bow  (Read 9917 times)

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Offline Airborne890

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Elm Holmegaard Bow
« on: August 16, 2016, 05:30:08 pm »
A series of four bows were found in a bog at Holmegaard Moor, on the island of Zealand in Denmark. These consist of 2 near-completed bows and 2 other fragments from a similar type of bow. All were made from Elm. The site, and subsequent artifacts were dated to around 8500 years before present. They belonged to a mesolithic group of hunter-gatherers who were part of the Maglemosian culture, which was widespread across Northern Europe from 11,000 to 8000 years before present.
I have attempted to replicate the "holmegaard style" bow to gauge it's performance. The finished weapon is 62". It pulls 55 lbs at 27 inches of draw. The bowstring is twisted deer rawhide. The nocks are built up with twisted cordage, pine pitch, and sinew (the original artifacts having no carved nocks.) The handle is wrapped in twisted elm bark cordage.
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Offline mullet

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Re: Elm Holmegaard Bow
« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2016, 05:40:14 pm »
That's a good looking bow and you nailed the Tiller.
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Offline bradsmith2010

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Re: Elm Holmegaard Bow
« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2016, 06:06:17 pm »
how do you like the rawhide string, I have never tried that,, do you have a comparison of performance with a modern string???
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Offline SLIMBOB

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Re: Elm Holmegaard Bow
« Reply #3 on: August 16, 2016, 06:47:00 pm »
Nice bow and beautiful scenery. 
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Offline crooketarrow

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Re: Elm Holmegaard Bow
« Reply #4 on: August 16, 2016, 06:57:24 pm »
SWEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
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Offline lonniels

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Re: Elm Holmegaard Bow
« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2016, 06:58:05 pm »
That looks great, I want to make this style of bow. Nice work!
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Offline Stixnstones

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Re: Elm Holmegaard Bow
« Reply #6 on: August 16, 2016, 06:59:54 pm »
Right on! Thats one smooth lookin shooter. Nice work.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Elm Holmegaard Bow
« Reply #7 on: August 16, 2016, 07:11:56 pm »
Nice simple bow. No wonder the design has lasted this long. Well done.
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Offline Airborne890

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Re: Elm Holmegaard Bow
« Reply #8 on: August 16, 2016, 07:19:15 pm »
Thank you all for the encouraging comments! The deer rawhide string is actually quite thick and sluggish, compared to other rawhide strings I have made out of goat, squirrel, or groundhog. All said and done, I love the durability of rawhide strings, and the ease of manufacture. Of course they don't compare to the light, strong dacron strings of today, but offered a wonderful solution to the primitive and historic archers of yore.
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Offline BowEd

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Re: Elm Holmegaard Bow
« Reply #9 on: August 16, 2016, 08:06:06 pm »
Great replication Airborne890.The whole thing.Nice bow too.Looks like your in sasquatch country there....lol.
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Offline bjrogg

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Re: Elm Holmegaard Bow
« Reply #10 on: August 16, 2016, 09:10:18 pm »
Great job great bow. Love that you started with to money shoot and ended with it to. Sweet f/d real nice bend.
Bjrogg
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Offline bjrogg

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Re: Elm Holmegaard Bow
« Reply #11 on: August 16, 2016, 09:16:14 pm »
PS I really like your outfit is that brain tanned? Did you make it?
Bjrogg
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Offline Airborne890

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Re: Elm Holmegaard Bow
« Reply #12 on: August 16, 2016, 09:21:38 pm »
Thank you Bjrogg! Yes, my outfit is braintanned. It was actually gifted to me by the man who taught me to braintan, so has great sentimental value :)
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Offline Peacebow_Coos

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Re: Elm Holmegaard Bow
« Reply #13 on: August 16, 2016, 10:10:17 pm »
Nice work, looks like it spits an arrow
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Offline koan

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Re: Elm Holmegaard Bow
« Reply #14 on: August 16, 2016, 10:38:20 pm »
Sweet bow!.... Brian
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