UuVareations

The Construction of Recurve Bows

In a recurve bow the bow tips are bent backwards towards the archer, giving a greater draw weight but this also increases pressure on the materials. It additionally increases the noise. Durable, strong construction materials are required for the limbs. In the past wood was the material of choice, particularly for bows constructed from a single material. Improved methods were developed to take advantage of the properties of various woods. For instance in Europe and particularly in Britain the most commonly used wood was Yew As various parts of the Yew tree have excellent strength and energy storage capacities.

The Construction of Compound Bows

In contrast compound bows use a combination of construction materials. Historically materials such as bamboo, horn and sinew were used in a laminated construction. Compound bows have a higher draw weight with shorter limbs but tend to be less sturdy than single material bows. Some use glue that can dissolve in water so have to be kept dry. Currently fiberglass, carbon fiber, laminated wood and metals are all used in compound bow construction.

The String

The string used should be stretch resistant and lightweight, not affected by water but still able to hold the necessary draw weight. In the past the guts, hair and sinews of animals were all used and also linen and hemp and other plant fibers. These plant fibers, although they added to the cost, had improved strength. Today synthetic polymers are usually used as they are resistant to moisture and have excellent mechanical properties. Bows made with these materials are less expensive to construct.

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