i recently got a longbow with no shelf. i was worried about shooting off my knuckel. its actualy pretty cool. maybe its the romance of it.


anyways, share your bow or shooting style/method or any advice.

I do with the only self bow I have built.  Never had a quill poke me yet.  Just check the quills on your arrows and have fun.  I just hold the bow like any other long bow and shoot.  No form adjustment for me.  But then I'm not the worlds best shot either....

Hey Joe how do you like the Green Mountain?

hey schafer,

its pretty awesome. its wicked smooth, plenty of punch, and just plain fun to shoot.

i went to scotts a few times before they changed it to thursday nights.  have you and your dad been?

i would love to meet up with you guys this srping and do some stump shooting....ask your dad if he is interested.

In his book Billets to Bows Glenn St Charles writes about Fred Bear having to borrow a bow to hunt with Glenn. It had to be modified because Fred would only shoot off his hand. If you look carefully at pics you will see this.

You can buy gloves that are made specifically to shoot off your hand which will provide a bit of protection if something goes awry.

DDave

We havent been. I will ask about the stump shooting.

Schafer

I shoot my English War Bow of the Knuckle.

I used to use a glove but now I don't. I hear you can have your hand cut up by the feathers but so far, so good for me.

Matt

I have and  have been cut by a quill. Better off to wear a glove or you can learn the hard way  

Never been cut by a quill/fletch, but I was in a hurry one day and picked up my brother's arrow that had plastic vanes........those cut the hand pretty good.

I have a self bow and have been cut by the feather. They are small cuts that last a day or so. If you get enough of them you will wear a glove. With all that said, it is fun! So find what you need to make yourself comfortable and go for it.

Martin

QuoteThey are small cuts that last a day or so. If you get enough of them you will wear a glove.

Or you will learn to taper the quill of the feathers and put a drop of glue at the leading edge.

99 percent of the time I shoot my self bows,  off my knuckle. I get  no cuts and only wear a glove in cold weather.

Jim Davis

I shoot my self bow off the knuckle.  I wear a leather glove when I shoot this bow to protect my hand.  I like the feel of the arrow resting on my hand.

Getting the nocking point right is important. If it's a little low, you'll find out quickly! Those quills hurt.

Hey, though I have not been cut, yet, why not wear a glove if you want to? Might as well be safe.

Just don't wear your wife's flowered gardening gloves, okay?

Matt

I got cut by a feather shooting one of my brothers arrows. A combination of poor craftsmanship and poor equipment matching. He takes it more seriously these days.

Ya mean those shelfs are there for a reason?  Dang, been using a rasp to smooth 'em off, so I can shoot the darn thing!
       
All kiddin' aside, have shot off my knuckle almost forever.  Even had Lynn Harrelson build me a Kalomi without a shelf, so I wouldn't have to fool with it!
Johnny/JAG

I prefer off the knuckle shooting and make quite a few of my bows that way.   Far as I'm concerned, the shelf is an attachment and makes the bow non-traditional!  Hey, I need to get a bumper sticker made:  "Real Traditional Archers Don't Use Shelves!"      

Almost cried this morning as I cut a shelf into my latest.   I shot it yesterday without and it was handling 1716's beautifully.   However, it's not for me, so.....

Who can spell knuckle?  

I just got my first "shoot off the knuckle" bow, I think I'm gonna like it.

thanks for the comments gents.....

greg.... 'el' 'le'  wats the dif?  lol

joe nuckelhead