CRAFTSMANSHIP
View a bow in the building process in the shop.
BOW CONSTRUCTION
Each of our bows is handcrafted on a "one off" custom basis. The customer is asked to choose the, style, bow length, the draw weight, and the preferred riser wood.
We are happy to work with a customer on the construction of a truly custom fitted grip using measurements, drawings, photos, or descriptions. We build a standard radiused shelf and sight window cut 1/8 in from center, however this can also be modified at a customers request.
Tip overlays are made of black phenolic with a wood highlight to match the riser wood. The handle overlay will also be of the same wood as the riser.
We often have a small number of "off the shelf" bows on hand. We also do limited edition runs at times. If you are not interested, or cannot wait for a custom bow, please inquire as to what we have available.
CLASSIC AND THREE SHILLING LONGBOW LIMB WOODS
The source of a longbow's power is the core laminations in the limbs. We use Hard Maple, Red Elm and Osage exclusively.
RISER WOODS
The riser of the longbow is the platform onto which the powerful limbs are built. It needs to be strong for stability. It also needs to have sufficient mass and weight to absorb the recoil developed in the long, narrow limbs. The riser is also the focal point for the beauty and artistry of the bow. For this reason exotic woods such as Cocobolo, Bacote, Padauk, Shedua, or Zebrawood are offered. Functional and good looking risers can also be constructed from Black Walnut, Maple, Osage, Purpleheart, or Red Elm.
BAMBOO
We use Action Bamboo exclusively in the Mark 1 limbs. A single tapered lamination and a parallel lamination provide a consistent and even distribution of force over the length of the limb. The Mark 1 Limb is very light, thin, and stiff. To compensate, the uniform structure of the ActionBoo also provides a high degree of lateral stability in the limb. The Bamboo is available in natural colour or tan.
GLASS
Fiberglass, though not as integral in the longbow limb as a recurve or compound, still plays and important role. It provides the outer stability to the limb and evens out the forces of compression and tension as the bow is drawn and released. Clear fiberglass is the most popular choice as it highlights the wood in the limbs, though black and brown glass is also popular.
CARBON FIBER
Carbon fiber, as used in the Mark 1 has a similar structural function to fiberglass, however we can use a thinner piece of carbon to do the same work as a thicker piece of fiberglass. Carbon also loads differently than glass. It resistance loads, which means that it becomes stiffer in relation to the amount of force applied to it. This translates to a smooth, even draw and a very quick recovery which results in a fast and flat cast. The carbon is available only in natural colour which results in a pleasing simple silver-gray limb.
DRAW WEIGHTS AND BOW LENGTHS
All of the bow styles are offered in various lengths of 62 to 68 inches measured from nock to nock. The Mk 1 is offered at 62 inches only.
General draw weights of between 35 and 70 pounds are offered on the Classic and 3Shilling models, measured at 28 inches of draw. We can however, construct the bow to whatever draw weight a customer desires at a specific draw length. The Mark 1 comes in a variety of draw weights from 45 to 65 pounds also measured at 28 inches of draw.
We can usually be very accurate when adjusting draw weight however a variation of one or two pounds is often unavoidable.
FINISH
Each bow is finished with a very durable, two part epoxy finish. The bow is then hand rubbed to a semi-gloss satin finish.
View a bow in the building process in the shop.
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Craftsmanship
Each of our bows is handcrafted on a one off custom basis. We offer three different styles of longbow.
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Our Bows
Classic Longbow - As a weapon the classic longbow is a study in simplicity. Long straight limbs and a simple riser bend to a graceful D shape when braced.
Three Shilling Longbow - Similar in simplicity of form to the classic longbow except that the limbs are reflexed slightly away from the shooter.
Mark One Longbow - Carbon fiber and bamboo limb construction and a compact riser result in a very fast, flat cast, with a total weight of just over one pound.
Contact
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Blog
Enjoy our weekly editorial on topics of interest to traditional archers and hunters, feel free to comment, or just read and ponder posts from other traditionalists.
Ordering
Each of our bows is handcrafted to the specifications supplied to the customer. We offer four different styles of longbow.
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About Us
Mississippi Lake Longbow came into existence on my retirement after 27 years in the Canadian Army.
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Image Gallery
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FAQ
Q.What poundage of Bow should I use?
A. This is the most FAQ. An age old question and a source of hours of conversation and argument.
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