Hand-Made Medieval LongBows
About Medieval Longbows - I have been in contact with a gentleman who makes traditional longbows. He has given me some information about them and this is what he has to say:
"The bows I make would fall under traditional archery. They are made of solid sapwood hickory, probably the strongest hardwood on the planet. Tapers are cut both lengthwise and widthwise, allowing the limbs of the bow to bend evenly through a process called tillering. To tiller a bow is to make it functional".
You can visit his website and purchase some of his beautiful longbows here: (Domain expired)Take a look at some of these beautiful hand made bows which include my favorite called "The Greenleaf". If you are interested in learning more about bows Ahmad, the maker of these bows, recommends these websites: (The longbow website has expired but here is a nice alternative site: http://www.medievalcollectibles.com/c-35-lotr-and-fantasy-bows.aspx)
Here are the three types of bows that Bowlegend makes. From left to right they are the Prologue, the Ranger and the Greenleaf. They are simply beautiful. Below are some closeup pictures of these Medieval Longbows.
  
Amazon.com has Medieval Longbows too!
  Rough and Ready English Style Longbow - Hunting Strength - 50 lb. at 28 in. This bow, made from linen-backed Red Oak, comes ready to shoot and is tillered to a draw weight of 50 pounds and a draw length of 28 inches. The bow is unfinished and needs to be sealed. This can be accomplished by simply rubbing petroleum jelly on the bow (including the linen backed side) twice per year. One might also opt to finish the bow permanently. This is an economical alternative to our already finished bows, offering the same abilities while allowing you to finish it in a fashion of your choosing.
  PSEŽ Legacy Longbow Robin Hood Special: Legacy Longbow by PSE is made of exotic hardwoods for traditional minded archers. SAVE BIG! Old school makes the grade! Ahh, the D-shaped Longbow, preferred by traditional archers like Robin Hood. Longbows have been used for hundreds, er, thousands of years. For hunting and warfare by ancient Nubians, Kurds, Arabs and Native American tribes. Today's wooden laminated Longbows (like this baby) are made by gluing together 2 or more different species of wood. Usually this is done because some woods can better withstand compression, while others are better at withstanding tension. Whoost! A Longbow has practical advantages compared to a modern recurve or compound bow... it is usually lighter, quicker to prepare for shooting and zings arrows more quietly. Seems an overstock shoots BIG BUCKS OFF! Details: Reflex / deflex-shaped bow is crafted in strict observance of tradition, setting high standards for stability and arrow velocity; Trapezoidal layout in the limbs; Fast-flite string; Shoots arrows at 180 F.P.S.; Laminated, reinforced tips withstand shooting stress; Black fiberglass finish on the face and belly of the limbs; Black walnut and cherry riser; Comes with a soft genuine leather grip; Measures 68" l. Brace height: 8" h. Weighs 1 lb., 13 ozs.;
  The Traditional Bowyer's Bible, Volume 1
An in-depth coverage and analysis of the traditional bow that goes from construction to correct use. The emphasis is on history and methods for building them from scratch.
  Longbow: A Social and Military History Hardy is a well-known character actor in England and an acknowledged expert on the longbow and its history. Here he traces its evolution from its appearance at the dawn of recorded history, its arrival in the British Isles, its central contribution in the battles of Crecy, Agincourt and Bosworth, to its decline as a military armament and its current status as a hunting and sporting weapon. The profusely illustrated text includes minute descriptions of the equipment, training and way of life of the bowmen who made up the formidable archer corps of medieval times, then goes on to tell the story of American longbowmen and hunters and includes an engrossing chapter on the making of a longbow from the selection of wood to field testing. Hardy's enthusiasm for the longbow, its technology and capability, and his appreciation of fine craftsmanship, are infectious.
 
The Medieval Archer -
It is a delight to read a book which recognises the importance of warfare in medieval times...also...discusses the changing role of the archer in medieval society.' SIR STEVEN RUNCIMANThis book traces the history of the archer in the medieval period, from the Norman Conquest to the Wars of the Roses. From a close study of early evidence, Mr Bradbury shows that the archer's role before the time of Edward I was an important but rarely documented one, and that his new prominence in the fourteenth century was the result of changes in development of military tactics rather than the introduction of the famous `longbow'. A second thread of the book examines the archer's role in society, with particular reference to thatmost famous of all archers, Robin Hood. The final chapters look at the archer in the early fifteenth century and then chronicle the rise of the handgun as the major infantry weapon at the bow's expense. JIM BRADBURYwrites and lectures on battles and warfare in England and France in the middle ages.
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