Question: Bill Price bow

[McDave]

Bill Price was a well known bowyer around these parts who died several years ago.  I acquired an unusual bow that was made by him as a "sweetener" in a trade.  The bow appears to be a replica of an Old English target bow. It is marked 73" and 41#.  It is a straight-limbed longbow, with horn tips.  It appears to have two laminations of unknown wood in the limbs.  I've never tried to shoot it, as I would have to make a string for it, and I've never made a string for a 73" bow.

My question is, can you tell by looking at a bow if it has fiberglass backing?  I suspect it doesn't, but I really don't know.  At some point I have to decide what I want to do with this bow: keep it and make a string, sell it, contribute it to St Jude, or whatever, and it would be nice to be able to describe it accurately.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Ill bet you have a yew self bow. Throw a pic up and Ill tell you for sure.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

how bout some pics?   you should be able to see a glass lamination on the edge even if its clear.

[McDave]

I'll take some pictures and post them when I get home tonight.

[McDave]

Here are some pictures. I think the delineation between the two layers is too sharp to be sapwood and heartwood of yew. It seems more likely to be two laminations of different wood.  I'm also interested in what the .156 means that he wrote on the bow.

 

 

 

[Pat B]

Looks like hickory backing and not glass. I can't tell what the belly wood is but it is from a board stave.  The 156 might be the bows number, his 156th bow.

[McDave]

Given its likely age and lack of fiberglass backing, would you try shooting it, or is it better left as a wall decoration?

[PEARL DRUMS]

It almost looks like walnut on the belly. Id shoot it. Brace it around 6" and draw it back slowly as you progress to your draw. A bow that long and light isn't very stressed. On the other hand, if there this is just a sentimental bow and nothing you'd shoot regularly Id just hang it up.

[Pat B]

I'd brace it low and exercise it gradually increasing the draw as you go; kind of re-education the wood to bend and recover again.

[krisguzzi]

I will look in the records and see if your serial number is on file, most the the bows he kept track of everything and it should tell me what wood was used.  Sorry if I'm a few years late to the party

[McDave]

Hi Kris, Welcome to TradGang!  I still have the bow; never shot it.  We live pretty close to each other.  Be happy to show it to you if you have any interest.  Dave