[Archers] More Broken Bows

[Jay Nardone]

Lord Mungo glad you are alright for sure! There is a lesson to be learned
here....This is a perfect example of the uncertainty of when bows will fail.
I have seen 10 or 12 now in my SCA years and probably the same in the
compound world. Most of the time there is no rhyme or reason typically.
Older bows like the original bear's etc that have been stored in attics for
40 years are more likely because those glues just won't hold up over all
those years and in those climatic changes. But the inspections we conduct
cant possibly see what is happening beneath the outer surface. It is no
fault of anyone, it is just the way it is. Glad the bowyer took care of you.

Janyn



-----Original Message-----
From: archers-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
[mailto:archers-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org] On Behalf Of Garth Groff
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2011 8:11 AM
To: archers at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Subject: [Archers] More Broken Bows

Noble friends,

This Saturday I was inspecting and prepping our bows before leaving for 
a practice. I was planning to shoot the new traditional yew longbow I 
got a few weeks back. After inspecting the bow, I thought I would blow 
off a few arrows on the 8-yard range I have in the basement. I hadn't 
even drawn the bow halfway with my first arrow before it exploded into 
three pieces, right at eye-level. I feel very lucky that I wasn't 
injured, but all the pieces were cast forward.

The good news is that I emailed the bowyer and he got right back to me 
with an offer of a similar bow he was just finishing. He even offered me 
an osage orange longbow at half price. I politely declined his generous 
offer, and asked for the next yew bow. I really want this for living 
history demonstrations, and a substitute wood just won't work (I already 
have a hickory traditional longbow which I wanted to replace with yew). 
The next yew bow will not be shot. I have plenty of other bows for that.

So are there lessons to be learned here? Probably not, since I went 
through the whole inspection cycle (except the drawing, which would have 
had the same effect). So Baron Colum is not alone.

I propose we start an honorary order, the Society of Shattered Stave 
Survivors. Any Scadian archer who has had a bow completely break is 
eligible for membership with all rights and duties pertaining (which are 
none). I nominate Baron Colum, Lady Sarah Sinclair who broke an Ed 
Brayette bow at practice, and myself. Any others?

Kind regards,


Lord Mungo Napier, Shire of Isenfir TA Marshal
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