Silver Bow Nocks

[jaxenro]

Looking at Victorian style ELB designs I seen a few with sterling silver bow nocks. Did they use those 100 years ago and wouldn't the weight on the tips have an impact on performance?

[Del the cat]

It's just a bit of silliness for someone who wants to be flash.
I can't see that they are really practical.
I've seen a lovely Raven head top nock, again very decorative but not really practical as it was V bulky.
IMO form follows function, and it will look good if you stick to that mantra.
I had to replace the top nock on a bow made by one of the prolific Uk bow manufactures... it was stupidly long past the string but had very little horn below the string and predictably it split 
Del
PS. I inlaid a gold arrow pass  it was for a bloke who had some gold rings that he wanted to melt down... I had some help from my mate Mick the blacksmith. It did the job and wouldn't adversely effect the performance.

[jaxenro]

An arrow pass is just inlayed in the side doesn't really add weight at the tips I could see using pearl or gold I mean didn't the queen present Robin Hood with silver inlayed bows according to the legend? Although I always guessed it was wire inlay

[PatM]

People didn't seem to obsess about minuscule tips back then.
One of Pope's books showed a yew bow with Aluminum tips. Well before the time most would associate the use of aluminum.

[Hamish]

Silver looks pretty fancy, I wonder about the weight reducing performance too. Alu' nock would definitely be lighter.
 Greenman Archery UK does a lovely modern version of  silver nocks, for those who haven't seen them.

[lonbow]

It seems like silvernocks on bows have a long tradition. They are mentioned in lŽart dŽarcherie from ca. 1515. The author states that he doesnŽt find them useful.

https://www.archerylibrary.com/books/gallice/docs/chapter03-1.html


lonbow

[jaxenro]

So I received my first pair of bronze bow nocks need to be cleaned up drilled and polished but all in all they look pretty good. These are destined for a rosewood-holly-cocobolo bow as I think the dark wood will set off the bronze color

I think a sterling silver pair would make interesting ear rings for someone into archery

[Hamish]

Hey jax', the nocks look really good. Did you cast them off an original pattern that you made or were they available commericially?

The next bow sounds like it will be a real looker.

[jaxenro]

I had them designed in 3D then Shapeways prints them in wax on a 3D printer and does a traditional lost wax casting from that

[Hamish]

I think you might have a market for these nocks if the final price is affordable.

[jaxenro]

They are affordable as miniatures I hate to think what full size would cost.

[Hamish]

 I haven't done any casting yet, but I imagine a guy could make an  original pattern from horn or wood, by hand rather than use a 3D printer.3D printers are amazing but many times doing stuff by hand (if the pattern is simple like a nock)can be quicker and more cost effective.
 A small backyard foundry is on my to do list.

[jaxenro]

A person could definitely make a pattern, set up a small foundry, and cast themselves. I don't because I only do miniatures so the full size price of having it done commercially isn't an issue, and I don't have the space to do my own casting. It would be less expensive but these cost me under $20 plus a one time fee I paid to the 3D modeler to do the design for me. A set of matching bow nocks, arrow target points and nocks for 6 arrows, and a take down joiner all in bronze would still be under $100 to have made

[DC]

Would full size cost that much more? I would think that most of the cost would be labor. The only difference would be amount of material and bronze can't be that expensive.

[jaxenro]

I will check their price an PM you