I need some assistance

[Pat B]

I've agreed to build an ELB style bow for a friend in an SCA group. It will be around 40#@28" and the stave I will be using is hard maple from Dana and is 73" long. Can I go with a deep belly or should it be a bit more flat. Any suggestions on cross section shape, length and profile dimensions would be appreciated. I thought about full circle limbs with a slightly stiff handle area that Bickerstaffe refers to as a type B long bow.    Pat

[JackCrafty]

Can't (or too afraid) to give you advice on how to build an ELB from hard maple but I can give some general advice on SCA personas:  ask your friend what time period his persona comes from and what type of bow was in use at the time.  Most SCA guys want to have exact reproductions of weapons that match their personas' time period.  You may have to do a bit of research if he is not sure about the bow style, dimensions, etc.....

[D. Tiller]

That may be difficult since the only true ELB's that are still in existence come from the Mary Rose and it sank, I believe during the beginning of the renaissance era and the use of firearms was beginning to supplant the use of Bows in England. Before that period we only have pieces of bows and those only from the later medieval ages.

[Kegan]

Either or. At man's height, and with such a low weight, most white woods would hold up to a rounded belly and ELB ratios, as only short or over stressed white wood ELB's have chrysalled/fretted on me. None of the ones that were properly tillered and less than 60# have given me any trouble.

[Pat B]

Thanks Kegan. That what I need to know. I've never made a bow with maple so I wasn't sure about the dimensions. For 28" draw and 40#, what length would you go with. That's probably a stretch for you. Maybe figure an 80# and split it down the middle.  
   Patrick, this is going to be raffled off to help raise funds. He said I could make a flat bow but an ELB style bow was preferred. Looking at the pic of their group, any bow would be better than what they have. Glass recurves are true anachronisms.
   David, ELB referring to an English long bow and not a war bow. During the Victorian era the ELB target bow was popular and that has extended until today. This is the type I was referring to.
   Thanks for your input, guys.       Pat

[Kegan]

Most of my longbows are 70" or more. Less than that and I start getting alot more string follow than I'd like.

How wide will the finished bow be anyway?

[D. Tiller]

Ok, Pat! I tend to focus on the warbow.

[Pat B]

Kegan, I was gonna start at about 1 1/4" with a straight taper from the handle to 1/2" tips.  I'll start with the full 73" and reduce it later if necessary.  Thanks

David, you have to expand your vision.

[D. Tiller]

Why? 

[DanaM]

Pat I know nothing about ELB's but I'm glad that stave is going to a good cause I know you will do it justice and can't wait to see it

[Pat B]

Thanks Dana. I'm looking forward to working with this UP maple.    I've never worked maple so it ought to be interesting. That's why I was wondering about a deep round cross section or a deep but slightly flat cross section.

[Ryano]

Like Kegan said. It will take the rounded belly just fine at that long and light a draw weight. 

[Badger]

Pat, I think 72" would well for a slighlty flexing handle and elb style cross section. I don't think I would go for a straight taper to the tips though, I was doing that for a while and changed over to just a slight taper in the middle two ft of the bow, A little more taper in the next 12" out and then a straight taper to the tip in the last 12". I believe 1 1/4 would work ver well. Steve

[Pat B]

Thanks guys. this is what I am looking for.
   Steve, After reading Bickerstaffe's book, I see that he also recommends a 2 or 3 step taper of the limbs. This is the way I will go. 
   Do you guys think 68" to 70" would be OK for this 40#@28", rounded(or slightly flattened round) cross section longbow?        Pat

[possum]

Please check the 40#.  My brother is in the SCA and he told me the limit was 35#.  It may be different for the different "kingdoms" but they also could have changed it.

possum