© Companions of the Longbow

Bows

So what’s different about the longbow you’ve probably got now and a re-enactment version?

Firstly, although most re-enactment longbows are composites versions (using two or more woods) they’ll probably have been stained to look like the bow was carved from a single yew stave.

Secondly, the bows used at the time were mass produced weapons of war and did not have a leather grip.  The bower would normally have put his mark on the bow stave to indicate where the arrow should pass.

Thirdly, most bows of the time would have bent through the handle.  What this means is that when at full draw the bow would have “come compass” and made a nice ’C’ shape.  Most modern longbows bend at the limbs but do not bend at the handle.

And finally, because of safety considerations a lot re-enactment bows are low poundage (30-40 lbs).  

The picture on the right is taken from Richard Head’s re-enactment catalogue.

Here you can see that the bow is stained to look like yew, bends through the handle and does not have a leather grip.  For a re-enactment bow though he offers draw weights up to 75lbs.

Richard Head’s bows are expensive at around £275, but there are other manufacturers out there and if you really, really, really want to look the business, a re-enactment bow is the way to go.

For the rest of us, we’ll have to stick with our multicoloured, not bending through the handle, leather gripped models.

Illustration by Gerry Embleton

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