[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Feather Curiosity… #13594

Normally I shoot the feathered shaft first. But I switch it up enough to rule out a pattern. Doesn’t seem to matter which arrow I shoot first.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Robertson 'Primal Styk' #12440

If the string moves up and down easily, it indicates that the limbs are whippy. This means the bow will cast a light arrow, but not a heavy arrow. It also indicates that the bow will be sensitive to heel pressure and maybe more sensitive to a poor release. At least that’s been my experience.

I figured with so much backset the limbs would be whippy. I don’t suppose you’d measure the backset for me would you? Hold the bow up to a door frame and measure the distance from the back of the grip to the wall?

I was just getting ready to make a new form. Now I’m thinking that maybe I should add just a little more backset to it…

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Robertson 'Primal Styk' #11319

Smithhammer wrote: Thanks, Steve. I’m liking that grip more than I ever thought I would. Not sure what you mean by pulling the string up and down when the bow is strung?

Hold the bow vertically by the grip. Hold it so that the bow is sideways in front of you. Take your other hand and grasp the string like you were going to try and pull yourself up it. Then pull the string up toward the top limb and down toward the bottom limb. Is it easy to move the string and inch or more?

I’m just curious how easy it is to move it… Maybe compare it to some of your other bows?

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: New books #11305

Great article! I like the question at the end:

“And, as the wolf still sculpts elk evolution, in what landscape today reside the forces that yet hone the human mind born of wildness?”

Gary Snyder takes a wider view if the term “wild”. In his view, we are part of the land, same as every other critter. As such, we are wild too. Wilderness has no care or compassion for it’s membership. Live or die, it doesn’t matter. The story goes on.

Somehow humanity has gotten the idea that we are not part of the wilderness, that we are not wild, and thus not subject to its rules. Those goons in DC are the result of this narcissism.

I think the answer to Peacock’s question is that the limits of our biosphere and the vacuum of space are the landscape that will hone the human mind. Either that, or extinguish it. What we don’t understand is that in the end, it really doesn’t matter except to us. The universe will go on, with or without us.

When it comes right down to it, the only “power” we have that the other wildlings don’t is the power to make ourselves go extinct. Hopefully we won’t use it 😯

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Robertson 'Primal Styk' #10314

Welcome to the world of “real” longbows! Although that bow has some serious backset!

I build about 2 inches of backset into my 66″ hill style bows. I figured that was about the limit to keep it from getting whippy at the tips. When the bow is strung and you are holding it, can you pull the string up and down? Just curious.

Sure is pretty! That dished grip will grow on you.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Primitive archery #10304

The cats scattered faster than I figured they would…

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Road trip with Elkheart #10297

Thanks for the report! I had heard rumor’s of the trip and am glad it happened as you described. That yeller stone is quite the place, eh? Too bad so many people know about it.

I wish I had known about all the drinking though, I’d a bought up some booze commodities, as they likely went up 😯

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Faith in humanity restored! #7897

Times two!

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: noisy recurve #57657

Hmm. I think we do need a theme song though… And instead of the “stump the chump” segment of the show, we can have the “chump missed the stump” segment 😀

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: Watch covers #57654

I’m sort of retired too, sort of… but I still like to wear my watch. I like to pattern myself.

When did I go for a walk yesterday? When did I work in the garden? When did I split wood? When did I take a nap? If I keep myself from doing these things at the same time every day, it keeps everyone on their toes. This way my wife doesn’t necessarily know where I am when she thinks of something for her honey-do list. And the kids don’t know when it’s safe to come out and use the computer, lest they be caught and put to work.

This is an important lesson to be learned from our sacred deer brothers.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: noisy recurve #56574

This is like cartalk 😀 Instead of Click and Clack, we could have Slap and Twang the bowtalk brothers 😯

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: cutting carbon #54502

R2 wrote: Steve, I found this awhile ago when snooping African tribes. Can you use for support of theory? 😀

Now that’s what I’m talking about! 😀 Maybe this could be a new business opportunity… 4 or 5 ft long carbon arrows to go with Joe’s tuffheads.

I think somewhere in Ashby’s body of work there is some info on using long arrows. He talks about the tribes of New Guinea using long arrows without fletching and shooting critters 30 or more yards away.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: noisy recurve #53295

I am assuming the creaking sound is coming during the draw…

Thumbs up to what R2 said.

Additional things to check:

– do you have a quiver on the bow? Look to that too.

– Leather tab/glove can make creak too if new. Sound can seem to come from string.

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: cutting carbon #52246

Smithhammer wrote: Steve –

Just curious, why are longer shafts better?…

Whoops, I may have stepped into one of those controversial area’s again. Dang it! 😳 What follows is strictly opinion…

I find I shoot better with a longer shaft. I think it’s because it gives me something longer to look down. With my aging eyes, it seems to help to have an extra inch out there.

I think longer shafts are also more forgiving of poor form. The only explanation I can give is that the center of mass is farther from the string and is thus less sensitive to torquing. As an example, balance a stick about a yard long on your finger (vertically). I don’t mean find the center of mass and then balance it like a cantilever on your finger. I mean hold the stick vertically with the end of it on your finger. Now try the same thing with a pencil… This is an extreme example, but it gets the point across.

There are disadvantages to longer shafts too:

-Less FOC possible

-More affected by wind

-longer in the quiver

But for me, in the deer woods, they are better. For elk, a bigger slower target I can get closer to… I would use shorter arrows that gave me maximum FOC. (this is fantasy talk as I’ve only been in the woods twice with traditional arrows in the presence of elk)

[Stephen Graf]

in reply to: cutting carbon #51145

wahoo wrote: as said above why do you have to shorten arrows if you load the front end and it flies good ??? Whats wrong with a long shaft?

IMHO, the longer the shaft, the better. But no matter what length shaft you use, it needs to be tuned to the bow. Not too stiff, not too weak, just right.

One thing I’ve noticed about using really heavy points is that they stabilize the arrow quickly. This is great, except that if you are not familiar with EFOC arrows you might think you have achieved good flight.

My experience is that a fletched EFOC shaft will fly well whether it is stiff or weak. The problem is where it goes.

Bare shaft tuning will tell the story hidden by the feathers.

In general, and in conclusion, by shooting bare shafts you will learn that EFOC shafts will need to be a bit shorter than standard weight pointed shafts to achieve good flight.

Which is a bit of a bummer. That’s why folks talk about using really stiff arrows when doing EFOC setups. That way they can get the longest shaft possible.

[Author]

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