How to Make an Old English Longbow

The English longbow was one of the most important weapons in European history. It lead to a profound evolution in medieval warfare during the Hundred Years War and remained in use in the British army until 1595. Traditional longbows were made from Yew. That wood is now rare and expensive. Lemonwood, ash, and elm can be used as modern alternatives. While medieval longbows could launch arrows more than 100 yards, later Victorian longbows were substantially less powerful.

Things You'll Need

  • Wood stock cut to 1 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inch
  • Cow horns
  • Bow string
  • Band saw or jigsaw
  • Wood shaper
  • File
  • Rasp
  • Sandpaper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a piece of your chosen wood into a stave a little bit smaller than your height, or the height of the person who will use it. Find the middle of the stave's length and draw lines across its width to mark the grip of the bow.

    • 2

      Draw straight lines from the corner of the handles to the opposite corner of each side, forming the outline of a trapezoid. Cut the stave into this shape with a jigsaw or band saw.

    • 3

      With a wood shaper, round off the edges of the stave into a D-shaped profile with the rounded side on the front of the bow. Remove progressively more wood from the width of the stave as you move toward the end so that it forms a gradual taper.

    • 4
      Cow horns can often be purchased from a full-service butcher.

      File grooves into the tip of the cow horns that will catch a bow string, then cut the tips off the horns to about 3/4 of an inch. Glue the tips onto the ends of the stave with epoxy and allow to dry.

    • 5

      Test the bow to determine how easily it can be bent into shape to be stringed. Slowly remove wood from the back of the bow with a wood shaper or rasp until you can curve the stave enough to string it. Attach the end of one string to the bottom notch, then rest the bottom notch against a solid surface and bend the middle of the bow with your knee to string the top notch.

    • 6

      Slowly remove material from the back of the stave until it can be fully drawn "to the ear." Sand the longbow until it's smooth and can be comfortably held.