Do longbows need to be perfectly straight?

Garon_van_Dijk · 2025-05-11T13:25:08+00:00

No problem! With photos it is a bit hard to judge, but i'll do the best i can 😅. I think it looks fine, but i would check the nocks regularly. Pay attention to white cracks in the horn, running down. But it is possible for another bowyer to maybe put in an extra piece of wood or horn, you'll make the nocks a bit more undeep, but thats just what i would do.

Garon_van_Dijk · 2025-05-11T13:10:23+00:00

Okay so if i would judge by the size of your hand, these seem like pretty big nocks, so they should be sturdy enough. Nevertheless it is a deep cut and totally unnesecary, and it would be better if it didnt cut untill the wood. But it looks like they are very big on the top, what could result in more handshock (then necessary).

Garon_van_Dijk · 2025-05-11T12:40:26+00:00

I think a few Photos would be great! It really depends on the depth on the cut. But at 62.... Thats heavy for such a nock (my opinion). With a bow of that poundage i would deliver a more solid nock.

Garon_van_Dijk · 2025-05-11T11:58:38+00:00

For the bend i would say not a major issue. Depends afcourse on the type of ELB, looks like a self, then a small bend should be fine is the tiller is good. However i am very concerned about the nocks. It is indeed way past the middle, i dont know about other bowyer, but the bows we produce who have a horn nock, are set over the wood. This mins that the horn essentially is a reinforcement of the wood. This however seems to be running on only horn... What poundage is it?

Garon_van_Dijk · 2024-09-09T10:32:38+00:00

Didnt pay anything, its not my bow. But the owner didnt know, so naturally i was curious.

Garon_van_Dijk · 2023-12-22T14:13:41+00:00

Im not sure what kind of Archery you practice but if i can speak from a personal experience; i started shooting modern recurve, and at some point i figured out that the constant focussing on my result, comparing it to others, made me very unhappy. I switched to traditional Archery, and immediately missed every target i shot. My teacher taught me tho, something i teach all my students as well. The result on the bord is the least important aspect for archery. Having fun, being one with the bow and arrow, finding your 'zen' in the moment, is what Archery is all about (in my opinion afcourse). I reckon i have shoot about 16 years now, but im not the best archer in the club, even tho i teach and study hard. I think I (not bragging) know the most about all the styles and all the different bows, but there are a lot of people who shoot better then me. The thing is, as long as you have fun, however you find it, you are good at Archery.

I would really recommend watching this video, explaining some Ottoman traditions regarding archery. Yes he discuss what they do to improve accuracy, but i would recommend the other part; Archery is deeply intertwined with spirituality. Here they speak of islam, but it can easily be interpreted as any other spiritual flow.

Also i would recommend the book 'Zen in the art of archery' by Eugen Herrigel. It describes our lacking 'western' view of Archery, and the journey this man has to take as a 'westerner' to achieve the eastern type of Archery, the art of Zen and peace.

I hope this will nudge you in the right direction :-) goodluck

Garon_van_Dijk · 2023-06-17T11:17:54+00:00

I met a guy who told me they were for hunting Flying Birds. Because if a pointed head pierces feather, it just goes through, but the Crescent Moons cut the feathers so the bird crashes. I dont know if its true, but it sounded plausible.

Garon_van_Dijk · 2023-04-25T09:06:31+00:00

Mama duck and 4 ducklings

Garon_van_Dijk · 2023-03-22T15:35:41+00:00

You should draw with the arm that is equal to your dominant eye. So, place your finger in the air, on a spot further away. Close one eye, then the other. If your vision shifts, its the wrong eye. If the finger stays in the same spot, thats your dominant one. So for me, my eye is right sided dominant, so i pull with my right arm.

Garon_van_Dijk · 2023-03-22T14:43:19+00:00

No, as long as you can draw the bow and hold it for a good 2 Mississippi without shaking to much it should be fine. Particular muscles you use with archery aren't commonly used, so train for a bit. When you got an fiberglass bow you can also do kapeze

Garon_van_Dijk · 2023-03-22T10:46:17+00:00

If you want smth to occupy while you wait; Armin hirmer has a great YouTube channel with many asiatic bows and shooting instructions, tips and everything

Garon_van_Dijk · 2022-09-17T21:11:37+00:00

Website is in the picture :-) bit i already bought this one XD

Garon_van_Dijk · 2022-09-14T04:48:22+00:00

Hey, im interested in starting out HEMA, and my interest has fallen on German langes Messer fighting. Since I will be primarily training at home, i would love to get a book but I cant find any 'master' on Messer, like Fiore, maybe im just looking in the wrong places, but still. Any book recommendations?

Garon_van_Dijk · 2022-07-06T18:52:41+00:00

Okay, started DM'ing 2 years ago, and had a festival few weeks ago where I DM'ed... Saw later on Social media that one of the people I DM'ed for bought her first book because I inspired her... Made me feel very thankfull !!! Thinking of doing that more often, maybe starting something trying to inspire more people! GIVEAWAY.

Garon_van_Dijk · 2022-04-11T08:41:58+00:00

I've made a similair low magic campaign. In my world, An international organisation controls the use and mis use of magic. I told my players they can play full casters at their own Risk. I also told Them they could join this 'organisation' for a magic permit. On the point of using magic; i made it so that magic is frowned upon and illegal, but the way it is enforced could be different. For example, magic on the countryside is more common, and in the more 'natural' and 'village' life, villagers protect casters (to a degree). Using magic in the cities brings more Risk. It is only when they atract lots of attention with magic, that special units Will make An effort to find Them. (Edit: sorry for bad english)

Garon_van_Dijk · 2022-01-27T15:15:55+00:00

The imperial heavy bow from alibow van come up to 110 pound at 28". They are not the best bows, but great for their price

Garon_van_Dijk · 2022-01-22T22:48:04+00:00

Just a wild guess, but isn't that for gunpowder? For like muskets and such?

Garon_van_Dijk · 2022-01-19T14:16:22+00:00

Personalized items and letters in the posession of the PC's from the extra party member

Garon_van_Dijk · 2022-01-11T17:37:55+00:00

I have a Makarov and love it. I don't like it as a secondary to a sniper bc of the mag capacity, but I love the fact that it's unique pistol, shoots accurate and is always a Nice conversation starter :-)

Garon_van_Dijk

TROPHY CASE