bowstrings-msg - 11/16/99

Medieval bowstrings. Making bowstrings.

NOTE: See also the files: bow-making-msg, arrows-msg, crossbows-msg, 
arch-supplies-msg, quivers-msg, p-archery-msg.

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NOTICE -

This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that
I  have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some
messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.

This file is part of a collection of files called StefanŐs Florilegium.
These files are available on the Internet at:
http://www.florilegium.org/

I  have done  a limited amount  of  editing. Messages having to do  with
seperate topics  were sometimes split into different files and sometimes
extraneous information was removed. For instance, the  message IDs  were
removed to save space and remove clutter.

The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I
make  no claims  as  to the accuracy  of  the information  given  by the
individual authors.

Please  respect the time  and  efforts of  those who have written  these
messages. The  copyright status  of these messages  is  unclear  at this
time. If  information  is  published  from  these  messages, please give
credit to the orignator(s).

Thank you,
    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  Stefan li Rous
    RSVE60@email.sps.mot.com              stefan@texas.net
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Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 20:18:50 -0400
From: "Nick Sasso (fra niccolo)" <grizly@mindspring.com>
To: sca-arts@raven.cc.ukans.edu
Subject: Re: tablet woven bowstring?

> Has anyone heard of using tablet weaving for a bowstring?
>
> I thought it was a somewhat interesting concept and I thought I would
> share it with the list.
>
> Ailene ingen Aedain
> Shire of Shadowdale, Calontir

I have in my possession a board with sundry masterfully placed nails (I
hope so for the cost) used to make a 'Flemish twisted' bowstring.  It
involves laying out (weaving it around the nails)  the string on the
board and cutting it at the appropriate length.  Thereafter, it is
twisted and sort of braided to get a closed loop at either end and a
spitaled length.  It is quite period as you noted above, and takes no
mean skill to pull off.

niccolo


Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 22:00:41 -0400
From: "Nick Sasso (fra niccolo)" <grizly@mindspring.com>
To: sca-arts@raven.cc.ukans.edu
Subject: Re: tablet woven bowstring?

mtech@cybertours.com wrote:
> >> I have in my possession a board with sundry masterfully placed nails (I
> > hope so for the cost) used to make a 'Flemish twisted' bowstring. It
> > involves laying out (weaving it around the nails)  the string on the
> > board and cutting it at the appropriate length.  Thereafter, it is
> > twisted and sort of braided to get a closed loop at either end and a
> > spitaled length.  It is quite period as you noted above, and takes no
> > mean skill to pull off.
> >
> > niccolo
>
> Could you describe it in more detail or tell us where you acquired this
> wonderous device :^)
>
> Ken

Well, I acquired it from 'Dreamstorm Archery", Michael Twadell
proprietor---(205)837-6574.  He is a masterful bower and archer from
Meridies who lives in Alabama.  He sells handcrafted bows, arrows and
accessories for traditional archery, and teaches the skills needed to
use and care for them: a merchant with a generous heart.  He has won
several state archery open shoots with a lemonwood (I believe) bow he
made from his own hand, ditto the arrows.  He teaches the technique as
well as selling the strings and boards.

The device is simply a 1"x6" board.  it has a row of nails running up
the center from the bottom to about 8 inches.  Then, there is a series
of paired smaller, headless nails up to the top.  I will post a better
plan or even a graphic layout tomorrow.  I'll get it out and put the
plan out there.  The board simply lays out the lengths and counted
strands of the string. Once you have cut it, it is the beginning of the
work.  You need the jig to get started, though.  I believe he sells them
for around $10 or so.....reasonable for a hard to find item.

The true skill is in knowing the procedure to twist them.  I cannot hope
to describe the technique here as it took me several sessions of
watching to figure it out for my own lefthanded brain :o)  Michael used
to sell a video that describes the whole process as well.  Feel free to
mention me if you call him.  I told him I would spread his wares as far
and wide as I could.  He is a kind and generous man who is happy to
teach what he knows.  Which also includes "tuning" your equipment for
precision shooting.

fra niccolo difrancesco


Date: Sat, 13 Sep 1997 13:24:25 -0700
From: Robert Schweitzer <robs@ionline.net>
To: sca-arts@raven.cc.ukans.edu
Subject: Re: TW bowstring

> >I have in my possession a board with sundry masterfully placed nails (I
> >hope so for the cost) used to make a 'Flemish twisted' bowstring.  It
> >involves laying out (weaving it around the nails)  the string on the
> >board and cutting it at the appropriate length.
> 
> Where did you (can I) find such a board?
> 
> Franz

The "jig" to make a flemish bowstring is really just a piece of wood with a 
series of nails spaced so as to get a tapered end to the string (so all of the 
ends don't terminate at the same place).

Although you can also have more complex variations which can be adjusted to 
different string lengths etc.

It isn't a very difficult task to learn (if you have someone to demonstrate)
the strings are twisted one direction and then combined with other groups of 
strings by twisting them in the opposite direction.  The opposing twists lock 
the threads together.

By the way, as a tablet weaver and an archer, it is extremely unlikely that a 
bowstring would be tabletwoven - it could work, but it's unlikely due to the 
amount of time making such a string would require.

A flemish twist string could be made in an hour; a tablet woven string would 
take a day to weave.

The tablet-woven string would also be heavier (due to the additional weft 
thread) and decrease the cast of the bow (lower transference of energy).
This is why thinner strings are used for greater cast.

The reason why thinner strings are said to require greater skill, is that they 
are more susceptible to being "plucked", pulled sideways by flaws in the 
archers technique and consequently affecting the flight of the arrow.
Heavier strings have more momentum, and being thicker are easier for the archer 
to handle/control.

Rufus of Stamford.

<the end>
Edited by Mark S. Harris	bowstrings-msg	3