How long does a Longbow last?

It's a question that comes us quite frequently, particularly now there are so many Longbows available on the 2nd hand market, is this bow still any good? What do we mean by that? Well, in this video we take a look at some of the factors involved and try to answer how long a Longbow lasts!
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Intro 0:00
Premise 0:21
Testing and results 11:41
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[@trevorjones7450]

Well done once again guys!! Aren't we all losing a little 'Zip' as we age?? Dang it. Merry Christmas!!

[@longbows]

Thanks, Merry Christmas to you too.

[@bessiebraveheart]

Hello, i'm 77 and I've got frail. I struggle to draw anything over 30lb, I have loved and used bows since I was a lad. Thank you for a great channel.

[@longbows]

Hi, glad to hear you are still shooting, it doesent matter what weight you are using as long as you can use it, great. Glad you like the channel, much appreciated.

[@longbows]

Want the channel to continue? KZbin want us to make `shorts` which we cant really pass on our experience in that way, please help the channel out if you can...www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=SPKPNPZL55NLE

[@marcoengelbracht4141]

Very interesting topic, thanks for discussing and testing this for us. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you.

[@longbows]

Happy new year

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

This was a Christmas treat, Thanks !

[@longbows]

Our pleasure!

[@usnchief1339]

Merry Christmas gentleman! Thank you very much for all of the archery knowledge you have passed down over the years. Based on the dating of the bows, you guys will be around for many more years :)

[@longbows]

Happy holidays!

[@dpeter6396]

This session is exactly why I subscribe to your channel. There is no other place I can think of to find this sort of information. Thank you!! Merry Christmas and have a good next year.

[@longbows]

Glad you found us, any help with the channel continuing is greatly appreciated. Happy new year.

[@SmallGameHunter]

very interesting topic! Thank you for making this.

[@longbows]

My pleasure! Did it come in useful?

[@SmallGameHunter]

@@longbows yes sir it did. Got a used bow and was wondering if it really is 50#. (only 5 years old). But this video helped putting that thought to rest. Though I dont understand how it still holding its assigned poundage but lose its casting ability. Wondering if a new bow has 100% of its casting and springiness but slowly decrease, would it come to a stop? says 70% and stay there?

[@longbows]

Glad it helped. it's so hard to say how long a bow will keep its cast, I sometimes keep a favourite bow going for years, probably well beyond its useful life, but I like using it! ultimately you will probably know when the bow is 'tired'. Enjoy while you can, nothing lasts forever.

[@MrDmitryKa]

Thanks for the video! Good to know, that a bow can last decades.

[@longbows]

Thanks for watching!

[@beesmongeese2978]

Cheers guys you're inspiring

[@longbows]

That is very kind, I hope we continue to help.

[@fancymcclean6210]

Merry Christmas ya old buggers. Noted, that the consistency is down to your skill as bow makers. Wonderful stuff. Flaxen Saxon.

[@longbows]

Thanks!

[@davisstellman]

This is an interesting finding. I would have thought bows would lose poundage after ~30 years of heavy shooting. It certainly helps storing them properly, but at the end of the day it is helpful info to anyone worried about their pricey custom bows lasting. Lovely video, take care.

[@longbows]

Glad you enjoyed.

[@Skenderbeuismyhero]

My father bought a laminate wood recurve in the late 70's. I grew up shooting in the 90's and still shoot it every once in a while and I honestly can't tell if it's changed in any way.

[@longbows]

Wonderful!

[@bienyamientoefy1923]

greetings to you sir.sorry for the late reply.i posted a beautifull comment ,but i noticed it didnt go through.only the 4 words:which is easy available went through to you.. i am from south africa {mr.toufie} i love bow building.i am just over 3 years building bows taking lessons from a master bow builder. i came across your video.i know i am late. i have build a few long bows but ,gave it thought to gather more knowledge from you mr.richard.

[@longbows]

I am pleased to hear from you, I hope you are enjoying learing bow making, please learn what you can from my videos, I wish you well.

[@bienyamientoefy1923]

@@longbows thank you sir.i will scout the internet for more of your videos.by the way mr.pettit from america is my bow teacher.you might know 🙂 him.

[@longbows]

you could try www.howtomakealongbow.co.uk

[@ogyxfallvanlore8511]

No doubt about it ; an RH Longbow is for life!

[@longbows]

Thanks!

[@matse01]

Very interesting,

[@longbows]

Thanks

[@f1pitpass]

thanks!

[@longbows]

No problem!

[@Sam.2zo]

Merry Christmas to all

[@benjamindahler3710]

Nice movie I wich yur happy chrismas day in your homton. I like englich longbow.

[@longbows]

Thanks for watching, same to you.

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

Question ? Does it seem that the bows lose draw weight progressively? - That is, when new, a given bow would draw 15 pounds at 12" , 20 pounds @ 16" , 30 pounds @30" , or some such, and as they age would still draw 30# @ 30" , but would now draw only 15 pounds at 16" . etc. Thus losing speed, without losing full weight? Is this something you have ever measured? I am not sure why a professional bowyer would waste their time performing such measurements, but it seems interesting to me.

[@longbows]

Not really, a bow will lose a pound or two after production during its first months of actual use, this is why we usually make our bows a pound or two heavyer than is ordered, which we alwasy explain to customers, once the bow has settled, as you can see from the video, the weight tends to stay the same.

[@Pedro8k]

Depends how it was made examine it before bracing and exercise it before use I have one that is 20 years old

[@longbows]

Exactly

[@martindorrance8133]

Hi both. I have a couple of bows that haven’t been strung let alone shot for 10-15 years. Would you recommend having them re-tillered if I want to use them again? Thanks for a continued excellent set of ongoing videos.

[@longbows]

Hi, glad you like the videos, much appreciated. The short answer is yes, we talk about this sort of issue in this video here... kzbin.info/www/bejne/f52TgqSfmsRsr9U

[@phillipsmith2443]

I have a Ben Pearson longbow that he gave my father before he was a big name. It is still a straight shooter but the draw weight isn't quite as heavy as it originally was.

[@longbows]

Glad to hear its still going.

[@brianwilcox3478]

I have my fathers 1939 Ben Pearson 45 lb bow. I have never fired it. And I have no string for it. but I remember my father shooting it in the mid 60s. His father bought it for him when he was 10. I dont know if it would be ok to shoot it

[@CrimeVid]

Do you know, I find the idea that your old bows still maintain their draw weights very comforting ! Question; do your archers maintain their drawing power and speed as well as their bows ?

[@longbows]

I doubt the human body fares as well as some of the bows!

[@mickusable]

Another interesting video chaps, one question ( which I think I know the answer to 😢) is there any way to reduce set/string follow?

[@longbows]

Thanks. Yes, genrally choosing and using well seasoned woodm to begin with and using a former when glueing to create some set back. If you mean after the fact, then not as such, some peole will say to steam it straight etc, personally I do not so that sort fo thing for many reasons, we may do a video on that subject.

[@mickusable]

@@longbows Thanks, yes I meant after the fact, I should have been clearer in my question 🤘

[@longbows]

No problem, overall set isnt always a problem.

[@Graywolf116]

Question on weighing: if you measure drawlength from the front ('back') of the bow, how do you ensure consistent measurements? Different bows may be different thicknesses, or 1) do you make sure every bow you make is the same thickness; 2) since the difference is likely less than half an inch it's not a big deal?

[@longbows]

Handles rarely differ more than a mm or two, so it makes no difference

[@ianmycroft6979]

I think that the longevity of a bow has as much to do with the owner and how they look after it, as it does with the bowyer. You guys obviously look after your bows and store them properly. 👌

[@longbows]

I would like to say we store our bows correctly, but as you see behind us, we do not.

[@ianmycroft6979]

@@longbows I did notice, but thought that might just have been during the making of the video. 😂

[@anthony99900]

Do you have to Oil the bows or can you just leave them on display . If it’s not for shooting

[@longbows]

I never oil bows.

[@williamjhunter5714]

I still have the first self bows I made, no change in them. I noticed at an archery shoot, particularly when i let someone try my bow... What kills a longbow is long anchoring when aiming. The person who tried my bow anchored 4 full seconds on my self bow and from the one shot, it took 1/4" of set. I aim on the way up and release as soon as my hand contacts my cheek. Other harm includes overdrawing past the stated tiller, wrong bracing across the leg, sudden shooting with no warm up, dry firing playing with the bow with no arrow and leaving in a hot car or in the rain, (among other forms of poor care.) Also, asking too much from a stave when building causing chrysals and frets, imbalanced limbs, not raising pin knots, & poor craftsmanship in general.

[@longbows]

All interesting points, thanks. The bows you mentined making, what type of English Longbow are they?

[@TheAngryAstronomer]

You mentioned one of them has taken a set. How much curve is too much?

[@longbows]

Too much for what?

[@CrimeVid]

This is a question that has often occurred to me. So how long do you think a bow taken to France in the wars,if in the hands of a skilled archer would have lasted ? A year ? two years ? more ? Thinking about re-supply here.

[@longbows]

I have no idea, sorry.

[@TimberGeek]

My first longbow, an old well used second hand bear of unknown age, broke right at the handle; the upper limb went over my shoulder and the lower just skimmed past my side leaving me holding the arrow and string. Quite frightening in the moment and it was a definite sign I'd outgrown the bow. 🙄🤣

[@longbows]

ouch!

[@John_Malka-tits]

...did you guys "warm up" your old bows before you test them?

[@longbows]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/omPHgGOtgqqpjac

[@gianfrusaglia85]

Sorry, how much does the length of long bows vary?

[@longbows]

as much as the draw length of the person

[@dbottesi]

did he say put down his coffee.. thought you guys drank tee lol

[@longbows]

Richard never drinks tea.

[@bienyamientoefy1923]

which is easy available

[@longbows]

Sorry, not sure I understand the question.

[@bienyamientoefy1923]

Thank you sir.i love the way you teach the guys through your videos.i will stay in touch.God bless you

[@grahamwelby]

According to "Deep Thought," the answer is 42!

[@M45t3rJ4ck]

2095?? It's because he didn't get to finish his coffee!!

[@longbows]

lol