HomeADVICE FOR BUYING AN ENGLISH LONGBOW ON EBAY
I have been selling bows on ebay or a number of years now and over that time I have seen some dreadful examples of English longbows that have been sold to unsuspecting customers. Here I have used my experience and comprised a list of suggestions for those who may be looking for a bargain and may be considering buying through this medium. You are spending a considerable sum buying the bow and it is only fair that you get what you pay for. Many bowyers have a waiting list or lead time and buying through ebay can get you a good bow quickly but you must be careful.
Ensure that the picture in the advert is the same as the item you are buying. This seems obvious but some people use a generic picture to represent all of their bows. Every bow is unique and deserves its own picture. If they are not showing you a picture of 'your' longbow ask yourself why not.
The pictures should be clear and should show in detail the handle, each nock, a side view of the bow strung and the bow unstrung. Whilst unstrung the bow should be relatively straight with very little set or string follow. When strung, both limbs should look evenly bent or correctly tillered. On English longbows, the lower limb is up to two inches shorter than the top and this may make the bow look slightly out of tiller. There is no need to see the bow drawn to the maximum draw length as a bow with uneven tiller will easily show on a picture of it when is strung.
Ensure that there is returns policy or a warranty with new bows. You may have to pay extra for this but is definitely worth having. English longbows are made from natural materials and as such, they cannot be guaranteed 100% free from defects. I get approximately 2-3% breakages on English longbows. Every bowyer has breakages, some admit the fact and others do not. You really are taking a gamble if you do not take out the warranty.
Don’t be afraid to ask the seller questions. Most bowyers will love to bore anyone who will listen about how the bow was made.
Insurance for postage is up to the individual but can be worthwhile although I have never had a problem with a bow going missing in transit.
English longbows should be between 71” and 76” long for a gentleman's bow. Ladies' bows can be down to 66” for a bow with a short draw length. eg 24", Heavier bows i.e. over 70 pounds, may be slightly longer than this. The bow should be measured between the string nocks and not the total length of the bow.
The best bows have tapered centre lamination(s) that reduce towards the nocks and are in keeping with the profile of the bow. Some advanced specification bows have been set back (see FAQs) at the handle to increase cast and compensate for string follow. There should be no glue line showing between the laminates. Also ensure that the transition between the limb and the horn nock is smooth and seamless.
There are many woods used in the construction of laminated English longbows. Some have better properties than others. The backing must be good in tension and should only be hickory, maple, bamboo or ash and possibly elm. I can think of no other timber that is suitable for the backing. The best wood for the belly is yew with osage orange coming a close second but these come at a price. The majority of modern English longbows use lemonwood as an economic belly wood but there are many other timbers that can be used, some more successfully than others.
Ensure that the longbow fulfils the British Longbow Societies definition of an English longbow ie the 5/8th rule, or you will not be able to use it in their competitions. Also be aware that some English longbows have been recurved by the makers. These may possibly not be English longbows that may be used in GNAS or BLBS competitions. Some set back in the handle is permissible but recurved limbs may not be. The regulations are currently being revised by the governing bodies but be assured that the regulations will come down on the side of less radical profiles and not more. English longbows are traditionally straight limbed. Also be aware that competitions that come under the auspices of the International Field Archery Association (IFAA) rules do not allow wrap around grips.
Did the seller make the bow? How many bows do they make? Is the bowyer a professional bowyer or an enthusiastic amateur? Many amateurs built superb bows and some professionals build mediocre bows. Do not assume that a bow made by a well known bowyer is going to be better than that made by someone you have never heard of. This goes for new bows as well as second hand ones.
Second hand bows will probably have taken a set to varying degrees but this should not be excessive. Three inches is excessive. To find what the set is, ask the seller to lay the bow on its belly with the nocks on the ground and measure the distance between the ground and the handle.