flight shot

Adam Karpowicz · Post by **Adam Karpowicz** » Tue May 17, 2016 5:13 pm

Another test of a classic Turkish bow, 120lb at 27 inches draw. Dacron string, shot with a machine.

724m (790 yards). 13.5 gram arrow (208 grains), parchment fletching. This is the best so far and shows the potential of these bows, although there is still some rubbing on the guide of the machine, since the bow is not center-shot. Possibly a good archer can do better than that.

A lot depends on the weather and wind conditions - the same bow gave around 600m on other days, with a silk 3xweight string about 20-30m beyond Dacron. A flax string would probably do better still, but the ones I made keep breaking on the first shot.

The test field is at the sea level (actually I shoot a few meters from below sea level).

Adam

Markus · Post by **Markus** » Wed May 18, 2016 9:48 pm

724 meters, that is fantastic.

roland · Post by **roland** » Sat May 21, 2016 7:26 am

ausgezeichnates Ergebniss,grosses Kompliment

Kviljo · Post by **Kviljo** » Sun May 22, 2016 1:05 pm

Wow! Congratulations! This is just fantastic!

Did you incorporate some twisting of the bow grip on the machine? - or some other solution to prevent the arrows from shattering?

Pat Menzies · Post by **Pat Menzies** » Sun May 22, 2016 8:33 pm

Why oh why is a person not shooting these bows?

Adam Karpowicz · Post by **Adam Karpowicz** » Mon May 23, 2016 1:10 pm

Ivar,

The bow is rigidly mounted horizontally in the machine at an angle, similar to a crossbow. As the bow is drawn (the arrow rides in a grooved "stock"), the limbs are torqued. The arrow clears the groove (it is still bent on the way out, since the bow is not centershot) until the last few centimeters, where the nock rubs on the groove.

I think a skilled archer may be better than the machine in avoiding the rubbing on the groove (or siper) and the arrow should fly farther.

Adam

Kviljo · Post by **Kviljo** » Mon May 23, 2016 4:56 pm

Good solution. That conforms well to the "grip crushing" technique I suspect.

It's really quite encouraging to see that these arrows actually can stand the punch from a 120 pound bow - although with the rigth technique. I must say I had my doubts at times.

Would you share some stats on the bow? Mass/type of shape/length/conditioned?

And approximately how much wind speed was there at the best shot?

With some further tweaking you might even risk outshooting the old masters

Adam Karpowicz · Post by **Adam Karpowicz** » Tue May 24, 2016 1:36 am

The limb twist helps, but for the heavy bows the arrow should still be stiff. Shafts deflecting 1/2 and less under 2lb weight (22in span) should be OK. The machine is more tolerant of weaker spine arrows - this one was 11/16in.

The bow is typical Turkish, about 42in ntn. Never conditioned, but I keep it at 35-40%RH in a dry box.

The wind speed was 15-20km/h, steady with no gusts. I find steady wind, even when strong, is good.

Adam

Jenes · Post by **Jenes** » Tue May 24, 2016 1:11 pm

Congratulations it is amazing succes. You really achieve to make a bow very close to the best of old ones.

You are inspiration to us all.

Adam Karpowicz · Post by **Adam Karpowicz** » Tue May 24, 2016 8:50 pm

Thank you Jenes. Bear in mind a successful shot is a combination of the bow/arrow/archer/weather/luck all working in tandem and all equally important.

I forget about the mass for Ivar: it is 319 grams and the length ntn is actually 41 inches. Dacron string 9.4 grams (145 graina).

Adam

Kviljo · Post by **Kviljo** » Thu May 26, 2016 6:42 pm

This is just brilliant! The spine is very similar to what I have gotten out of my arrows. Getting only 1/2" deflection demands very rare material.

Achieving this as a bowyer/fletcher is the ultimate. Never mind the missing archer behind the bow. This is a sport for craftsmen. Adding 164 meters to the past comparable record is no small thing! - especially when the numbers are already this high (Don Browns shot of 560 meters with a Harry Drake bow in 1995)

- and all this with something that sounds like a "standard" Turkish bow. Very encouraging.

...makes you wonder what would happen if a similarly heavy "pishrew" type bow was strapped to the machine. Could it be that these seemingly later and lighter cresent-shaped bows were "maxed out" speed-wise at a somewhat lower draw weight? The bow vs. arrow weight-ratio is already rather extreme, so perhaps there would be little to no gain by making a pishrew type bow of unusually high draw weight?

PAZUZU · Post by **PAZUZU** » Sat May 28, 2016 6:57 pm

impressive! big worship from me! the bow is there any finish coat or cover?

Adam Karpowicz · Post by **Adam Karpowicz** » Sun May 29, 2016 2:27 am

Here is a picture of this bow and arrow.

Adam

mikekeswick · Post by **mikekeswick** » Sun May 29, 2016 9:16 pm

Congratulations on these results Adam - they give real fuel to the fire!
When you mentioned the shafts deflection are you measuring the 22 inch from the nock end or positioning the shaft centrally?
What diameter are your arrows at the point and at the nock also the maximum diameter? I made a batch of split cane arrows and would like to compare your arrow stats to mine to see if i'm in the 'ballpark'.

Kviljo · Post by **Kviljo** » Wed Feb 08, 2017 6:49 pm

Looking back at this bow, I'm encouraged by how mundane this record-breaking bow looks - if that is a term that could ever be appointed to a Turkish bow. Makes me wonder what distances might be had from a more extreme looking bow.

Was this bow made with a "regular" design in mind, or did you tweak the design in directions you feelt would be advantageous for flight shooting? It's hard to imagine how the Turkish design could be improved. Perhaps working with the bows over all the years have given some pointers?

I've bent some cores that I hope will resemble the red flight bow in Dr. Graysons collection, with an 8" radius for the sal sections. Wonder what that design might do.