How to Make Wooden Longbows

Building your own wooden longbow may be easier than you think. Long bows were traditionally made from a single piece of yew wood, from special cuts of the tree that would allow the front-facing surface to be of sapwood, with the rear-facing surfaces of heartwood, giving strength and compression forces where they are needed. Using modern techniques we can build longbows that are stronger, easier to construct, cheaper and more accurate than traditional types. Longbows, by definition should be roughly the height of the person using it.

Things You'll Need

  • 2-inch by 6-inch wood plank (same length as the archer)
  • Clamps
  • Band saw
  • Wood slats (2 inches wide, 6 feet long, 1/32 inch thick)
  • Wood glue
  • Sand paper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Draw the cross-section shape you would like to form your bow onto the flat side of your plank. This should be the outline of the unstrung bow. Trace an existing longbow if you are unsure of the particular design you want.

    • 2

      Cut out the bow outline creating a front and back mold you will later use to compress you laminated bow. Sand the surfaces smooth after cutting it out on a band saw.

    • 3

      Lay one half of the template on a table with the cut and contoured edge facing upright. Lay a wooden slat over this edge.

    • 4

      Apply a layer of wood glue over the entire upper surface of the wooden slat you applied to the template in Step 3, then add a second wooden strip on top of it. Repeat this step until the desired thickness of your bow has been attained along the length of it. Laminating wood in this manner builds incredible strength, while also allowing some flexibility without breakage. This is the only alternative in bow-making to using difficult to find flexible woods.

    • 5

      Place the other side of the template onto the top of your laminated wood bow stack and clamp in place to the bottom template. Allow the glue to dry for 24 to 48 hours.

    • 6

      Remove the bow form from the template and trim the sides of your bow by feeding either end into your band saw. Remember to add detail for the grip, arrow rest, string notches and any other features you wish. Sand the finished bow smooth, add a leather or rope handle by wrapping it around the center of the bow, string the bow with a suitable length string and test.