Any Archers out there??

Jasper Kade · 07-09-2008, 04:10 PM

Hey everyone,
Apart from Straight Razors, I'm slowly getting into archery too - my dad has done it his whole adult life, starting with bow hunting and now only field archery - I don't condone hunting though, being vegetarian and all.. But I recently got an Oneida Eagle Tomcat compound bow which I've completely reworked and resprayed and made custom wood grips for - a lot more work than dealing with razors I'll tell you that...

Anyways, was just wondering if any of you guys are into the sport too?

Between Cutthroat razors and archery, I'm kinda feeling like I was born in the wrong era...

Bruno · 07-09-2008, 04:22 PM

I've done archery for couple of years. Barebow only, and none of that fancy stabilizer stuff.
My bow is wood and fiberglass, and is older than I am.

I used to be quite good too. I was very good at aiming. Partly because I had the knack, and partly because I can aim with both eyes open and focused. My trainer told me I would do well in the national competition if I started competing. But I never could be bothered to travel around in the weekend and sacrifice my entire weekend.

And NOTHING is nicer (archery wise) than shooting the X ring 3 times at 25 yards with an old bare bow, when the competition archer next to you shoots 9-9-8 with his expensive compound bow

When I moved and then got kids, I stopped going but I still have my bow. And if they get older I'd like to start in the local club again.
If I go through with that idea, I'd like to buy an old fashioned English longbow. I've always considered that to be the ultimate in archery. That is where the men are separated from the boys. Using your own instincts and judgement to hit a target, instead of using a bow with stabilizers, triggers, clickers, sights, ...

But I make no complaints about being born in the wrong age. Unless I would be a lord or other type of rich bugger, I'd have to work like a slave, and most likely die at a young age due to extremely unhealthy work conditions or being used as arrow fodder in one of the wars that raged throughout europe for the last 1000 years.

All things considered I choose here and now vs there and then.

jockeys · 07-09-2008, 04:46 PM

I've got a nice old Shakespeare bow that I shoot sometimes, just for fun, I still use a rifle for dear season.

JohnP · 07-09-2008, 04:49 PM

I have a self longbow older than perhaps myself and my grandfather combined that I shoot from time to time. I've had to re-glue the horn nocks once or twice. It pulls approx. 60# according to the shop that made me my first string for it.
I also have a stave of yew I've been shaving on and off for quite some time, which, eventually, I plan to turn into a fairly heavy longbow (120-130 lb @ 31 " if possible, but not sure if my skills and the stave I have will allow this).
I enjoy shooting in general, but shooting a bow is especially therapeutic.
I haven't owned a compound bow, although they do have impressive performance.
My bow before this one (the longbow) was a Bear Kodiak Super Magnum 48". A recurve drawing 55#@28" that I bought used, when I was too inexperienced to realize that the extremely twisted limb was going to make my shooting suffer...

John P.

Hawkeye5 · 07-09-2008, 04:51 PM

I've been an archer for years now. I'm not a competition archer, 3D or olympic, but I practice quite a bit and bow hunt.

Jasper Kade · 07-09-2008, 06:29 PM

Glad to see there are fellow archers here. I've also got an old olympic hoyt recurve, but it's just too demanding to set up and use compared to the compound. I've customised the Oneida I've got quite extensively, and am quite proud of it - I'll post some pics once its done if you guys are interested. I've just got to spray it with this satin polyurethane spray I use.

Again, thanks for checking in guys.

Kees · 07-09-2008, 10:08 PM

I have once sat for hours in a tree top cabin with a professor of anesthesiology of Salt lake University waiting for an elk that he had a licence to kill with bow and arrow on his own private 1/2 square mile an hour's drive from Salt Lake City. We did see some female elk with young ones but not the stag he wanted to kill. He did have a freezer full of elk meat and one night he invited us all to an elk steak party. I do remember the single malts more than the elk steaks I am afraid. Needless to say that by the end of the party we were s**t-faced as the Houstonians amongst us described our mental state.

gblacksmith · 07-28-2008, 04:26 AM

I have built a couple of Ohlone stick bows from Bay laurel wood, very nice shooters. I like primitive archery but stick to the '06 or front-stuffer for making meat.

Hav eyou ever checkeed out thewebsite for "Rabbitstick rendezvous" Its all about primitive skills and bows, slings and atl-atls figure prominently.

Check it out!

Grant

Makar · 07-29-2008, 11:02 AM

I am just about to take my first lessons in field archery at our local club. They have a patch of forest that they use. Three evening lessons with all the kit supplied for £21 - very reasonable taster. I hope I'm not crap at it as it is something I really quite fancy doing and the site is so close to me (not very much is close to me!).

JohnP · 07-30-2008, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makar

I am just about to take my first lessons in field archery at our local club. They have a patch of forest that they use. Three evening lessons with all the kit supplied for £21 - very reasonable taster. I hope I'm not crap at it as it is something I really quite fancy doing and the site is so close to me (not very much is close to me!).

To the contrary, you'll be crap at it.
At first. Which is why it is so enjoyable. Kind of like this whole straight razor experience...one is typically very bad at the thing at first, then keeps getting better, and better....of course then it becomes an addiction. I guess archery would too if I were a bit richer, but I only have the one bow for the moment.

Enjoy your new club.

John P.

onimaru55 · 07-30-2008, 01:56 AM

Jasper ~ I have owned a couple of recurves and a longbow but I shoot a small (50" ) traditional Korean bow atm. You should try some bare bows as well as your compound. You might like them as much as Straights.

kevint · 07-30-2008, 01:59 AM

I love archery. I did it as a kid, outgrew it for a time.
Then in my mid-20's discovered traditional soon went primitive. Now I don't shoot- just don't have the time. For about 6-7 years I spent most of my free time either making or searching for my materials and shooting it. Well come to think I spent a lot of my free time searching for my arrows

I tried to restart but I haven't done so yet.

I hope you have a great time with it.

foundlingofdollar · 07-30-2008, 03:27 AM

He doesn't post here much, but tecate is an archer and used to make and collect classic archery equipment.

churley · 08-02-2008, 08:36 PM

I have no idea when the last post was on here.....I just so happen to have a whole hour all to myself so I'm surfing around....when I stumbled across this thread.

I LOVE archery! ....and happy to see some other gentlemen here who are interested as well. I have a recurve and a compound. Currently the recurve is for fun. I love the entire style of traditional archery....from the bows, handpainted arrows, quivers....just everything! The Compound is for Hunting....or at least it's supposed to be

It's a Matthews

I'm proud....

Soapmistress

JohnP · 08-02-2008, 09:07 PM

Colleen,
I seem to recall from a previous discussion (longer ago than it should have been) that we're members of some of the same archery forums, also. I have to admit though that I've not visited them in some time, something I need to remedy. I still have the same longbow as before, although I've since made a few bowstrings for it of Irish linen.
I'm stalled on my big stave of yew. I broke the one I was working when I talked with you about it last (huge knot in the center that apparently, my skills did not allow me to work around properly)
and now this one has a similar knot that I hope will cause less heartache.

Yew is a beautiful wood for a bow, though.
Happy shooting.
BTW I've been enjoying the shave cream (bay rum and orange) thanks!

John P.

Makar · 08-02-2008, 09:45 PM

I'll let you know just how bad I am after Tuesday - first trial night. Good to know that I'll likely be bad at it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnP

To the contrary, you'll be crap at it.
At first. Which is why it is so enjoyable. Kind of like this whole straight razor experience...one is typically very bad at the thing at first, then keeps getting better, and better....of course then it becomes an addiction. I guess archery would too if I were a bit richer, but I only have the one bow for the moment.

Enjoy your new club.

John P.

JohnP · 08-02-2008, 11:58 PM

Enjoy your shoot!
It is one of those few things that can be enjoyable, calming and frustrating at the same time. Kind of like honing problem razors.
Lot of tie ins I think. Field archery should be quite fun.

John P.

churley · 08-03-2008, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnP

Enjoy your shoot!
It is one of those few things that can be enjoyable, calming and frustrating at the same time. Kind of like honing problem razors.
Lot of tie ins I think. Field archery should be quite fun.

John P.

Days pass when I don't shoot......and I think " Man, I really need to get out there and shoot" .....and then more time passes.....lol. Then I get it in gear and go out and shoot. I can only say that people who shoot a bow know what I'm talking about when you first draw back.....that feeling, like a calm focus when you aim....then release, and when you hit your mark.....it's just the best.....

Soapmistress
I think it's time for a little target practice

JohnP · 08-03-2008, 01:19 AM

....then there's the inner cursing, when the arrow misses that mark, goes beyond, and expertly weaves itself under the grass so as to be completely invisible....forcing one to mutter expletives to oneself whilst carefully feeling for the arrow, pace by pace, with one's feet....

John P.

Fortytwoblades · 08-03-2008, 12:54 PM

Awesome to see so many fellow archers! I'm a NAA Level 2 instructor, and while I haven't made use of the certification for a few years, I used to teach at a summer camp. Tons of fun. Just like shaving it gives you some good time for introspection and self-searching. If you've got a busy mind it's damn well hard to shoot.