Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => English Warbow => Topic started by: adb on December 03, 2007, 12:45:37 pm
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Some more pics:
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
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That bow tip with the horn nock beside it almost looks like it had cut in nocks
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That horn nock is most probably the wrong type. All the bows have one or two sidenocks, on the left side of the bow tips (while seen from the belly with the tip pointing upwards). Before the one and only horn nock was found and identified, the notches in the wood was seen as tillering-nocks, while they today are interpreted as a remain for the sidenock that was cut through the horn.
Perhaps like this:
http://kviljo.no/bue/115/7.jpg (http://kviljo.no/bue/115/7.jpg)
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Neat stuff thanks for posting the pictures.
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Hi,
While at the museum, I of course spoke with staff who were knowlegable regarding the longbows. It is their interpretation that the bows were tillered first, and the nocks were added at the end, so the notches cut into the wood were from tillering the bows first. The entire tip is discolored a lighter color, which would indicate that the horn nocks were not cut through. The picture of the bow tip with the nock beside it actually shows some decay. The horn nock on display is obviously modern, and was made by longbowyer Chris Boyton. Every bowyer I've spoken with who makes horn nocks, does not cut through the horn. Two reasons: it weakens the nock, and defeats the purpose of the horn nock, which is to provide a harder material for softer woods, like yew. If you cut through the nock, the string will wear on the wood.
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That's the old interpretation :)
Check out "Secrets of the English Warbow" by Hugh Soar (2006). There's a picture of the horn nock, and a description of how the nock were cut through the horn and into the wood. But only on the side, leaving the horn in it's full thickness on the back, which probably makes it even stronger than the regular victorian type.
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this is realy cool.I'd like to visit that museum.Thanks for sharing.
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A bit of topic but did you go on the Warrior when you were down there adb3112?
What a fine boat,she was restored in my hometown,when i was a kid i used to fish for big fat eater crabs off the Gunwhales ;D,happy times....
HMS Warrior,the world's first Iron hulled Ocean going WarShip!
(http://www.countrydoctor.co.uk/precis/precis24.jpg)
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Hey, Loki
Yes, we did. It was within spitting distance from the museum. The museum is just off the dock where the Warrior is located. Interesting ship.
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Check out "Secrets of the English Warbow" by Hugh Soar (2006). There's a picture of the horn nock, and a description of how the nock were cut through the horn and into the wood. But only on the side, leaving the horn in it's full thickness on the back, which probably makes it even stronger than the regular victorian type.
Its a shame they dont seem to have updated the museum exhibits :-(
It was around 10 years ago that a horn nock from the Mary Rose was found but the exhibit photographed states no horn nocks were found
On the Mary Rose web site it shows the horn nock which was recovered but then shows a Victorian nock next to it as a supposed reproduction but the recovered nock is clearly a side nock ????
http://www.maryrose.org/ship/bows1.htm
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adb3112,
I would like to point out I didn't make the out of place reproduction horn nock featured in the MR exhibit.
My article in one of the back issues of the Glade Magazine, shows how side nocks work, and the bow I featured in the article had a draw weight of 124 pounds, and to date shows no signs of stress from use.
Chris Boyton, Bowmaker, not Longbowyer.
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tasso, I would love to see that article as I have been putting side nocks on my bows recently but its a lot of guess work on my part as all I am going on is a few dodgy pictures (and advice from Kviljo)
I am using them on a 115lb bow and plan to us them on my 135lb bow in the near future (should I manage to make it ;-)
Kviljo and myself are the only ones who seem to be using them though (and yourself of course)
I want to try and get more people interested in giving them a try
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Great having you here Chris!
Did you have a good picture or drawing of the one MR-nock in the article, or perhaps know of any? As Alan says, the pictures avaliable on the net and in recent books are not too clear. It would be nice having even better sources to go on when making these nocks.
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Glad your here chris. Marlon
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Did you have a good picture or drawing of the one MR-nock in the article, or perhaps know of any?
Nick just posted a video over on the other forum which shows the nock. It's quite an odd shape. To me it's as if they used just enough horn to cover the wood, plus a little pointy bit at the end (?? to prevent it being worn down when resting on the ground ??).
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On englishwarbow.com?
I searched but didn't find the video. Where was is?
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Kviljo,
pm sent.
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tasso,
My apologies. That was the info I was given at the Museum.
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I would gladly use side nocks. I am having trouble getting good refernce pics on them. If anyone has any please post up.
I do not care for the horn nocks as much. As they are heavy at the end of the bow. I would prefer the light yew tips and simplicitic nature of the side nocks.
SJM
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If you want to shoot a heavy (say 120+) yew bow horn nocks are very advantageous. They don't need to weigh much but will add longevity to the bow. I don't fancy the odds of 1/2" tips standing up to self nocks for long.