So last night I went to an SCA meeting. Specifically, an archery practice. I brought my medieval English longbow I had had custom made 8 years ago and had never used. I decided that, despite my stroke, I should see what I could do. Fortunately, I shoot left handed, so all my right hand had to do was hold the bow.
Keeping in mind the last time I shot a bow at a target was 14 years ago, I think I did pretty well! I was able to aim downrange, and get most of the arrows on the target, though I have poor consistency. But hey, it shows that I can still do it, disability be damned!
Next week there is no practice, but I fully intend to go back the week after next to keep practicing! I shot all night, my fingers are sore from loosing the string without gloves, and my right forearm is bruised from the string slapping it, but I’m happy!
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I did a lot of archery in scouts and had a youth bow as a child.
I’m glad your getting connected back to the SCA. I remember how much joy they brought you.
Congratulations on being able to still shoot.
I’ve been rubbish with a bow… but I used to love my fencing lessons.
It’s nice to hear that your getting out and enjoying some old pursuits as well.
The local shire seems really nice! There’s no drama, everyone gets along, it just seems like a really good place.
I’ve never been any good at fencing, archery was my thing since I was little. The shire does have fencing practice every Thursday, but I have other obligations to my friends that night so I don’t go to that.
I love my bow, it’s very old fashioned, nowhere to rest the arrow shaft except on my hand, so I do get bitten by the fletching a little bit, but it’s not a big deal. I’m thinking of setting up a target in my yard and practicing on my own, though maybe not today, as I came down with a cold… I actually had a fever on Sunday when I was shooting!
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That’s awesome. My only experience with archery was brief and so long ago I only vaguely remember. It’s cool to have a hobby like that though.
I did however build a wiffle ball bat launcher at one point in my late teens, more of a ballista type weapon than a bow but did need to be aimed as it was on a swivel mount. Quite accurate that amusement device was and had some range. We’d try and hit particular trees in the apple orchard next door. Fun.
That sounds like so much fun! You must be a very creative person then, to build something like that!
How cool that is that you have an old designed long bow like that? good for you @RowanAmethyst
I do medieval reenactment stuff, so I knew someone who made historically accurate bows. It’s a 6 foot long English longbow, based on a style used in the 1300s. Unstrung, it’s taller than I am, but strung it’s about my height, maybe a bit shorter. It only has a 30 pound draw, because I’m not that strong.
A fellow archer! Right on!
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When I was a little kid I read Robin Hood and I used to get slim branches off of trees and some string and make a bow. My arrows were pieces of scrap wood.
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Here are our bows. I tend to buy two of each since the brat and I shoot together. Mom isn’t that interested in it…
Cartel Fantom riser with Cartel limbs. Generic stabilizer and cheap sight. Have upgraded her (and myself) to a better stablizer and sight. Will have to string my bow tomorrow to take an up-to-date pic. I have the same setup, but mine is red. These are for Olympic style target archery.
We also each own one of these for shooting barebow…
Samick Sage Takedown Recurves. Mine is #40 and the kid’s is #25. Finally…
We each own a Genesis compound. These are the standard issue bows in the National Archery in the Schools Program. This will be my daughter’s first year competing. I’m a certified instructor.
I’d love to shoot a longbow someday.
Hope to hear more archery talk.
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Oh wow, you’re definitely a lot more advanced than I am! Those bows make mine look like something a caveman would use, lol! I just do it for fun, I’m not at a competitive level at all. That’s really cool, though, that you and your daughter shoot competitively! And you’re an instructor, very cool!
Polite disagreement. Longbow archery is not only the most venerable form of the craft, but also one one of the most honourable, requiring considerable skill on the part of the archer. If you can bullseye at a distance with a longbow, you can accurately fire any type of bow.
If you want to amuse yourself, watch a compound shooter trying to use a recurve. It makes them crazy that there is no letdown and nowhere to clip their trigger release. Heaven forbid they should learn how to perform a clean release using their fingers.
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I always thought using a trigger release was making things a little too easy. I mean, I don’t even use gloves, though that’s more because I’m too cheap to go out and buy them, lol. I do have a recurve, but I like the longbow better, it’s a very visceral experience.
I either use gloves or a finger tab. I’m a wuss. 
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