Crafting The Ranger's Longbow

Longbows are simple wooden bows that are typically 60 to 100 inches tall (1.5 to 2.5 meters or 5 to 8.3 feet). They are used by both the Araluen Army and the Ranger Corps. In the Ranger's Apprentice series, the longbow is based on the same English weapon that has been used since about 1000 AD and was used during the War of the Roses and the Hundred Years' War. In the hands of a trained Ranger, the longbow is incredibly powerful and capable of shooting arrows farther, faster, and more powerfully than any other ranged weapon.

Choosing the right wood

There are many types of wood that can be used to make a longbow, and here are some of the most popular options:

Osage Orange

Osage Orange is widely regarded as the best wood for longbow fabrication. This type of wood has the ideal compression and tensile strength for use in bow construction, and it is also aesthetically pleasing. Osage Orange is easy to shape into a bow by applying heat to the wood, allowing the wood fibres to become more malleable. However, it is not the most readily available type of wood and can be expensive.

Hickory

Hickory is a readily available and affordable option for longbow construction. It is commonly used for drumsticks due to its ability to absorb and release large amounts of potential energy, making it ideal for a bow project. Hickory is also light and strong, making it a good choice for those who plan to travel with their bow. However, it tends to absorb a lot of moisture, which can impact performance in moisture-rich environments.

Red Oak

Red Oak is a strong and durable option for longbow construction. It is a dense and heavy wood, which means your bow will have good shape retention and feel sturdy when lining up your shot. However, it is important to note that Red Oak is porous and can be tricky to cut. It is also not the cheapest option, but its quality makes it a good investment.

Cedar (Red Cedar)

Red Cedar is a type of juniper that has been named for the colour of its heartwood. It is lightweight and readily available, making it a common choice for traditional longbows. However, it is fairly brittle and prone to splintering, so additional protection or wrapping is recommended.

Bamboo

Bamboo has been used for centuries to make bows and is one of the best options available. It has the perfect rigidity to flexibility ratio for use as a bow and is highly durable. Bamboo is also significantly cheaper than other options and can be customised by applying heat. However, it can be more challenging to fashion a bow from bamboo compared to traditionally used hardwood species.

Maple

Maple is a popular and aesthetically pleasing hardwood that is commonly used for bow-making. It combines durability, availability, and energy storage, making it a versatile choice. Maple is often mated with other materials to enhance its performance.

Other Options

Other types of wood that can be used for longbow construction include birch, dogwood, ash, yew, palmwood, cherry, juniper, hazel, elm, mulberry, and lemonwood. Each of these options has unique characteristics and may be more or less suitable depending on your specific requirements and availability in your region.

Stringing the bow

The bowstring is a critical component of a longbow, and there are several factors to consider when stringing your bow. Firstly, determine the appropriate length for your bowstring. The string should be a few inches shorter than the length of your longbow. This can be achieved by measuring the length of your bow and subtracting about 2 to 3 inches.

For the string material, a thin yet strong piece of linen or other durable fabric is ideal. You can also use modern materials such as Dacron or Fast Flight, which are commonly used for recurve bows and are known for their durability and resistance to stretching. If you're aiming for a more traditional approach, natural materials like flax, hemp, or sinew were commonly used in the past.

When stringing the bow, start by placing the bow on the ground with the belly of the bow facing up. Take your bowstring and place it in the groove at the lower tip of the bow. Pull the string up and hook it into the groove at the upper tip. You may need to bend the bow slightly to create some tension and help guide the string into place. Ensure that the string is seated properly in the grooves at both ends.

Once the string is in place, you can use a bowstringer to help with the initial tensioning. A bowstringer is a tool that fits onto the upper limb of your bow and provides a mechanism to pull the string up and secure it in place. This tool is especially useful for recurve bows, which have greater reflex and require more effort to string. If you don't have a bowstringer, you can carefully bend the bow and tie off the string, ensuring that the tension is distributed evenly across the limbs.

After the initial stringing, you'll need to fine-tune the tension. This is typically done by twisting the string to adjust the number of strands that are active, thereby increasing or decreasing the tension. This process is known as "bracing" the bow. A properly braced bow will have a slight bend in the limbs when strung, and the string should be aligned with the central part of the bow, known as the "throat."

Carving the bow

To make a Ranger's Apprentice longbow, you'll need to start with a careful selection of wood. The bow should be carved from a single piece of wood, known as a stave. This stave will be shaped and crafted to form the entire bow, so it's important to choose a suitable type of wood that is strong, flexible, and able to withstand the stress of being drawn.

Once you've selected your wood, the carving process can begin. The first step is to cut the stave to the desired length, which will typically be somewhere between 5 and 8.3 feet (60 to 100 inches) for a longbow. This length will determine the size of the bow and, consequently, the draw length and the power of the shot.

After cutting the stave to length, the next step is to shape the bow. This involves carving the wood to create a smooth, curved shape that will allow the bow to bend and flex when drawn. The exact shape can vary depending on personal preference and the specific type of wood being used, but the goal is to create a gentle curve that maximizes the energy stored when the bow is drawn. This is a crucial step, as it will determine the performance and accuracy of the bow.

The tips of the bow, known as the limbs, should be carefully tapered to allow for the attachment of the bowstring. The limbs need to be thin and flexible enough to bend and store energy, but also strong enough to withstand the force of the string without breaking. A good guideline is to ensure that the limbs are no thicker than one-third of the thickness of the thickest part of the bow, known as the handle or grip.

The handle or grip section of the bow should be carefully shaped to provide a comfortable and secure hold for the archer. This section will be thicker and stiffer than the limbs, providing a stable platform for drawing the bow. It's important to ensure that the handle is shaped symmetrically, so the arrow can be nocked and released accurately.

Finally, once the basic shape of the bow has been carved, it's important to refine and smooth the wood. This involves carefully sanding the surface of the bow to remove any rough spots or imperfections that could affect the performance of the bow. The bow can then be treated with a protective finish, such as a natural oil or varnish, to protect the wood and ensure its longevity.

Testing the bow's strength

Testing the strength of a bow is important for good performance. The strength of a bow is called its "draw weight", and it measures the amount of force required to draw the bowstring back to a normal shooting position. This is usually measured in pounds, but can also be measured in kilograms or ounces.

To test the strength of a longbow, you can use a bow scale. First, slide the scale indicator back to the starting position. Then, place your middle and index fingers on the scale finger rests, and hold the bow up with your arm stretched out straight. Next, hook the scale around the arrow nook on the string and pull it back a bit to make sure the hook is secure. Now, pull the string back smoothly until you reach your normal draw length. Hold it for a few seconds, then let the tension off the string slowly. Finally, check the indicator line on the bow scale to measure the poundage.

The strength of a longbow can also be estimated based on its dimensions and the type of wood used. For example, the draw weight of a longbow made from yew wood can be estimated using the following formula:

Draw weight = 0.9 * yew wood density * bow length * cross-sectional area.

Additionally, the performance of a longbow can be estimated using the following formula:

Initial velocity = square root of (efficiency * draw weight * draw length / (arrow mass + limb mass * hysteresis coefficient)).

The kinetic energy of a longbow can be calculated using the formula:

Kinetic energy = 0.5 * arrow mass * initial velocity^2.

By testing the draw weight and calculating the initial velocity and kinetic energy, you can estimate the performance and strength of a longbow.

Making arrows

The first step in making arrows is to choose the correct arrow shafts. Typically, arrow shafts are made from Port Orford Cedar (POC) from America or Pine from Europe. The diameter of the shaft should be determined by the weight of the bow and other factors. A spine chart can be used to find the appropriate diameter. The shaft should be straight and free of knots or bad chips.

The next step is to cut the shafts to the correct length. Typically, twelve shafts are required to make a set of longbow arrows. The shafts should be cut using a fine-tooth saw or hacksaw. The shafts should then be tapered using a tapering tool, which is essentially a glorified pencil sharpener. The tapering tool will taper the arrow shaft so that the point and nock can be glued on easily.

The next step is to attach the nocks, which are plastic items that allow the arrow to be placed on the string securely. The nocks should be lined up with the pencil mark of where the cock feather is to go. A good-quality glue or fletching glue should be used to attach the nocks.

The next step is to attach the fletches or feathers. A fletching jig is an essential item of equipment to ensure that the feathers are equally spaced around the shaft and are straight. The feathers can be attached using fletching glue.

The final step is to attach the piles, which are the metal points or tips of the arrow. The piles should be glued on using a strong glue such as araldite.

Once the arrows are complete, they should be varnished to prevent the wood from becoming damp and the arrow from distorting.

Frequently asked questions