• Registered: 2010-10-20
  • Posts: 14

Topic: Hornbows use

Hello,

I imagine a small fraction of the korean archers still use the Korean hornbow. It's hard to string it and to keep it braced. My question is about the failure possibilities. I know if the bow isn't balanced, especially if the string in relation to the bow center is located to the left, then there's a chance the bow would unbrace at release. It's advisable the string to be centered or located slightly to the right. Now, if a bow is perfectly balanced and centered, is there a possibility that the bow still could unbrace and break at release?

Thumbs up

  • Registered: 2010-10-15
  • Posts: 860
  • User Karma: 82

Re: Hornbows use

Korean horn bowyers make their bows slightly tillered towards the arrow side.  If a person tries shooting it on the other side, there will probably be a problem.  A good example is the bow Dr. Bert Grayson got from me many years ago; it was tillered for a RH person, but he was LH (I didn't know it at the time), so it ended up as an expensive failure.  He had me ask the bowyer to fix it up as a display model, which the bowyer did.

Thumbs up

  • Bede
  • Bede
  • New member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-10-20
  • Posts: 6

Re: Hornbows use

This would explain many of the problems Bert had with Korean bows. However, he never lost his love of them.  I knew the details at the time, but never connected them with his problems with bows breaking. I thought the offset would only cause problems for the arrow rather than the bow. The one composite bow I have with an offset string had increasing problems as the angle of the limbs increased with use. Since the limbs were not perfectly in line, unskilled users could put stress on them with the bow hand causing increased string deflection. People used to modern bows are not aware of the effect the torsion of the bow hand can have on the limbs.

Thumbs up

  • Registered: 2010-10-20
  • Posts: 10

Re: Hornbows use

I can veryfi what Bede and Bluelake say. Because i am 3 years Korean horn bow owner. This "live beast" is more nervous and trouble tiler bow from all. Evan from 3 years practice / not everiday ...more....not every month / i feel litlle shame  only 3 weeks ago.
I was like "Korean horn bow presentator " invite in first SlovakKorean and Puta shooting meeating in "Pacovské Lukobranie" . Presentation was in big army tent and smal wind and temperatur aroundwas not very friendli for head treating vith small elektrik stove. From start was people very interesting , but about 20 min. when i fight vith mi litlle Korean beast and still wasnt setisfi vith his tiller, archers  slowly go out and start shooting training... Mi bow was not in cool shape , and i must unstrung him and continue vith another bow...
If i do it in home day before- everithing was ok. But mi plan was show people how nice curvature in big C  haeve this Korean snake...

Thumbs up

  • Peter
  • Peter
  • New member
  • Offline
  • From: Pacov
  • Registered: 2010-10-20
  • Posts: 2

Re: Hornbows use

Only little ilustration of Dusan words...


http://img.janforman.com/th/koreanskq.jpg

Thumbs up

6 Reply by Dusan (edited by Dusan 2010-10-20 11:16:48)

  • Registered: 2010-10-20
  • Posts: 10

Re: Hornbows use

Well, i must say that organizator of this wonderfull meeting was  Peter  .We started vith puta tardgets in 95 m and Korean was original- 145 metres .
Some pics from shooting :

http://img.janforman.com/th/putaakorea2l8d.jpg

http://img.janforman.com/th/flajtovanietdu7.jpg

http://img.janforman.com/th/j7ycfm.jpg

http://img.janforman.com/th/putaakorea1h9mx.jpg

Thumbs up

  • Registered: 2010-10-20
  • Posts: 14

Re: Hornbows use

Korean hornbows seem to be the most difficult to keep strung. The small limbs, reflex handle, etc, all contribute. But they are probably the fastest hornbow design.
Also, the brace height is short. The one I've seen has a 5" BH from string to bow (not counting the elevated grip, measured from string to bow body). Is this measure ok or they should be strung higher?

Thumbs up

  • Registered: 2010-10-15
  • Posts: 860
  • User Karma: 82

Re: Hornbows use

That's probably fairly close José.  The laminated version has a brace height of about 5-1/2"

Thumbs up

  • Registered: 2010-10-20
  • Posts: 14

Re: Hornbows use

Thomas, that's the same BH of my laminated bow. I guess since the Hornbows are shorter, they require a shorter BH.

Thumbs up

  • Bede
  • Bede
  • New member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-10-20
  • Posts: 6

Re: Hornbows use

José,
That deduction does not necessarily follow. The horn bow is shorter because of the difficulty of using modern materials to reproduce the bending that horn and sinew is capable of. The optimum brace height is a negotiation between the movement of the limbs and the flexibility of the arrow. The bowstring is moving so fast on a Korean composite bow that 5 inches might be too small. Every reduction in brace height increases the angle of the arrow at take off to the plane of the string.

Thumbs up

  • ~HUN~
  • ~HUN~
  • Administrator
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-10-16
  • Posts: 116
  • User Karma: 5

Re: Hornbows use

Of course it will depend on the point where brace height is measured or is intended to be measured. String to belly, string to back, top of grip or to the bow centre. None of this will matter when it comes to maintaining brace height because one can measure the same point each time. What needs to be clarified is where the brace height is intended to be measured. Personally, I measure from string to belly at a point at the top of the grip.

Thumbs up

12 Reply by jbl

  • jbl
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-10-20
  • Posts: 115
  • User Karma: 11

Re: Hornbows use

I have a quick question regarding the Korean horn bow.  I own a Magyar style horn bow and what I have noticed as I brace and shoot it everyday it has become trained and the balancing process has become less and less.  Is the same true for a Korean composite meaning if it is braced and shot everyday will it become easier to brace and balance?

Thumbs up

  • Registered: 2010-10-15
  • Posts: 860
  • User Karma: 82

Re: Hornbows use

To a certain extent, yes.

Thumbs up

  • Registered: 2010-10-20
  • Posts: 10

Re: Hornbows use

I dont meet this forum long time.Well, this year Slovak and Czech archers meet again in "Pacovské lukobranie" besides 3D and roving we shoot tradition puta, Korean target /in original distances/ and second time  flight . Pacovské lukobranie  was first and unique competition in Slovak and Czech rep. vith flight shooting.
We have  in fligft 2 original hornbows.Egyptian 65 lb  was from Lukas Novotny an  mi  45-50 Korean hornbow from Kim Bahk Yeonk.

http://img.janforman.com/th/dvajakrasavci2uwn.jpg

This time i have mi hornbow in good condition /not like last time  smile /. From Egyptian bow shooting two man- Mychal Sodja and owner Dawsa. Vith  Korean hornbow shoot i and mi frien and fantastic organisator of Pacovske Lukobranie - Peter.Here is very clear visible how diferent can be shooting technik and how big diference is in result.

http://img.janforman.com/th/Evkavakciijaponej..hc7b.jpg

Me and mi daughter in shootin ( I am that big vith blue/green  shirt , daughter in light green )

http://img.janforman.com/th/KimaElevadawsa1hve.jpg

Peter vith mi Korean hornbow, and Dawsa vith Egyptian

http://img.janforman.com/th/michalaEgyptanarges.jpg

Michal vith Egyptian hornbow

http://img.janforman.com/th/Kimzvysovaniebracehighabjo0.jpg

litlle adjust needed.. smile

http://img.janforman.com/th/MysaanNovotnyshibrid75lbckt5.jpg

Michal shooting vith his Turkish 75 lb .hibrid bow from L.Novotný

http://img.janforman.com/th/Davids...aqdfq.jpg

17 years old David vith girlfriend .This young guy is very talented bowyear- He shooting vith haevy yew or ash 90-120 lb bows ! Not only in flight but all competition he shoot vith 90 lb yew bow !

http://img.janforman.com/th/yumivnasadeniatjjt.jpg

There was  one vith Japanes yumi too  smile

Michal shoot vith Egyptian hornbow 213,1 m /wood turkish bareled target arrow/
Dawsa Ovner  183,7m- same arrow

I shot vith Korean hornbow 163,9m vith bamboo light arrov /see mi arrows  in another thread/
Peter 175 m -arrow from same group.

Thumbs up

  • Registered: 2010-10-20
  • Posts: 10

Re: Hornbows use

I forgot- mi Korean have silk string and Egyptian  dacron string. And- interesting  but not counted / because competition is only for natural materials bows /shoot from Novotnys Turkish hibrid -370 m... fast flight string.But target wood bareled arrow.

Thumbs up

  • Registered: 2010-10-20
  • Posts: 10

Re: Hornbows use

One of this forum member - Jchocz- in his "Korean" look vith Hvarang

http://img.janforman.com/th/Pacov2011ekorejecdhnp.jpg

Thumbs up

17 Reply by Dusan (edited by Dusan 2011-10-10 07:00:26)

  • Registered: 2010-10-20
  • Posts: 10

Re: Hornbows use

nice part of competition was beatiful hanmade damasc knives presentation from knive master

Post's attachments

Pacov 2011onože.jpg 122.3 kb, file has never been downloaded. 

You don't have the permssions to download the attachments of this post.

Thumbs up

  • Registered: 2010-10-15
  • Posts: 860
  • User Karma: 82

Re: Hornbows use

Thanks for the pictures, Dusan!

Thumbs up

19 Reply by jbl

  • jbl
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-10-20
  • Posts: 115
  • User Karma: 11

Re: Hornbows use

Great pictures thanks for posting.

Thumbs up

  • Registered: 2011-08-31
  • Posts: 150
  • User Karma: 1

Re: Hornbows use

Great post.

Thumbs up