Bows in the movie

[elvenrocker]

It seems to me that the bows are round. Thats really hard to make cause it has to be perfectly balanced on both arms. One lump could ruin it, and you could end up sanding until its draw weight decreases.

Does anyone know whether they're round or not?

[Hobbit]

I've got little knowledge on bows so I can't help you out elvenrocker.

I replaced your thread to thye armoury for that seems to be a better place for discussions on weapons. (hopefully someone can answer your questions there)

[Quinton]

Bows with a rounded belly are like english longbows ,bows with flatter belly's shoot faster and are wider . They are called flat bows. Both types are long . rounded belly's can be drawn back farther .

[elvenrocker]

ah, excellent. i'll research that :D and one more thing... the bows that viggo and orlando use look like they could strip your finger off, but i haven't noticed a single blister on either of the actors.

[TrueSwordsman]

You are right about the blisters. If a bow is over 45 pounds after about 5 shots your finger tips get pretty sore. Also, the leading edge of the feathers must be sanded smooth when shooting off the knuckle like they did. I shoot the Lothlorien White Bow from www.armsofvalor.com and it is similar to the bows in the film because it does not have an arrow rest. If you don't sand the leading edge of the feathers it will slice like a razor!

By the way, the bows used in the movie were round, but they were made of rubber. Round bows are very weak and unless backed with something like bamboo are easy to break. Flat bows are much stronger and easier to make, therefore less expensive.
:ring:

[Nilion Elentano]

It all depends on the technique you use True Swordsman, a major mistake of archers is when they employ the same technique to manage range to basic hunting, only then you might get sore fingers.
Round bows are more difficult to handle, and require from you a lot of calculation to know where the arrow will land approximately, but the beauty of it is that it's the most traditional form of bows, even so the arrow rest can be flattened in the bow and keep the rest of the bow round, which enbales the best of both worlds:thumbs:

The flat bows on the other hand is born of the experiment with laminations of woods and bone, and a major advantage is the reduction of shock, and the whip effect that the bows delivers when it's released can't be matched by a longbow.

Sorry about my vague dissertation, it's lunch time that's why;)

[TrueSwordsman]

I was reading about the bows used by the Ancient Celts, one of which was found in a bog. It was almost 6 feet long flat and broad. When did round bows come into use?