h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I see this entry has been recommended and is on its way to the front page, so someone got there before me!

Congratulations on a really good entry!

Thanks so much for your help. I see you've evidently also incorporated the required headings so I presume it might not be a good thing for me to tinker with it further at this point.

Again, thank you for your encouragement and support. I look forward to seeing it properly published as a testimonial of excellence not so much for the designated author but for all who have so diligently participated in bringing it to fruition at this auspicious time and place.

dipdipdip... good one... haven't read all of it yet, will, am very interested in archery... one little thing: I have been told, and I do believe it's right, that this thing about english longbow heartwood-sapwood-compression-tension goes only for yew, whereas for other types of wood it can be very different. Some sorts have it the other way around, some no difference, some unusable sapwood and so on. but one can always solve the problem by gluing different sorts of wood together (such as elm and hickory - they make a good bow ' cause that's what I've got). But this is a mere detail and I'm not even pro enough to know for sure. But I know some very pro guys I can ask, if you'd like?
Oooh I think my first ever entry will be made about medieval archery. Maybe I'll even write it soon?????
Good Work, thumbs up!

I think you may find that the issue is more about what one notices about performance as well durability. Historical selfbows have been produced both ways, as you note. Obviously, someone thought the ones produced with the sapwood on the face worked well enough, however, the issue is not simply with Yew, although that wood might be more susceptable to reversing the wood types than hickory, that is hard to break under any circumstances but is also pretty dead in terms of springiness.

That is why one very often finds hickory backed bows but few solid hickories other than what one might give to a child. Hickory is also particularly susceptable to following the string.

In America Osage Orange or Lemonwood were rather common substitutes for Yew, just as Red Elm is often substituted for it in Europe. Osage Orange very nearly duplicates Yew performance, by the way, and is perhaps a little tougher as well. It was the preferred bow wood among native tribes in the Great Plains region.

In any event, I hope you'll participate further in these discussions. Your input regarding medieval archery would be most welcome. I anticipate there may be a university project starting shortly on the subject of archery. I hope you'll participate in that as well if it gets off the ground.

Oh no just saw this on the most neglected list. This has to stop!!! Hiya, if you were looking for the link for that archery uni thing it is here http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A770104

very early on at the moment, contributions are most welcome.

SallyM

What are these university projects?