RICHARD
HEAD LONGBOWS have over 30 years experience in making and selling English
Longbows and arrows. Richard is a founder member of the Craft Guild
of Traditional Bowyers and Fletchers and together with his son Philip Head
have built up a world wide reputation for providing quality archery equipment.
Founder Members of The Craft Guild of Traditional
Bowyers and Fletchers
WE ARE NOT A HIGH STREET
SHOP, PLEASE ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT
MAY
2008 CATALOGUE
In the UK Richard
and Philip can count amongst their customers members of The Royal Toxophilite
Society and the Royal Company of Archers. However no Royal connection
is required to ensure that your commission receives the same care and attention
to detail to ensure that the finest bow or set of arrows possible is crafted
from the best materials available. Whether they be for Victorian
style target, clout or field shooting or Dark age/Medieval re-enactment.
Bow making
demonstrations, lectures and seminars are undertaken, contact us for details.
LONGBOWS
All our Longbows are carefully hand made in the time tested traditional
manner using the finest materials that we can obtain. Timber for the best
Longbows is becoming more difficult to source, however we take great care
and considerable time in selecting timber that we are confident will make
excellent bows. The stock is then air dried and using our many years of
experience is seasoned to ensure the finished bow has good cast and guaranteed
reliability,
all our bows come with a 12 month guarantee. Tournament
quality Longbows made in the Victorian style and complying with the rules
of the various Archery Societies. CURRENT WAITING TIME FOR BOWS IS
APPROX 3 MONTHS
Hickory/Bamboo backed Lemonwood Longbow
£310
Lemonwood has for many years found favour as a bow making
timber because of its excellent cast and reliability. It has a pale creamy
yellow colour when first cut but as it ages the colour deepens to a richer
gold. Some Lemonwood staves have such a perfect grain that backing is not
required however in the majority of cases we back the bow with a thin layer
of Hickory or Bamboo to resist the tension forces present in the back.
We subject each strip of Hickory/Bamboo to a careful examination and test
before gluing it to the Lemonwood, we discard many strips of Hickory (so
we tend to use Bamboo now!) as not coming up to our required standards.
The bow is fitted with polished horn nocks carved to the later Victorian
pattern from black Water Buffalo horn. The horn is drilled and fitted with
a string retaining ribbon. The bow handle can be covered with material
to suit the customer but our standard handle on this bow comprises woollen
braid, colour choices vary, this gives a much more pleasant feel than the
usual Nylon braid used on so many of today's bows. Leather, as shown,
can also be fitted. Each bow is fitted with an arrow plate made of mother
of pearl or exotic shell. After the bow has received its final tillering
check it undergoes a thorough sanding using progressively finer grades
of paper culminating with boning and three coats of hard glaze varnish.
Each bow is fitted with a single loop Flemish string made from Dacron.
CURRENT WAITING TIME FOR BOWS IS APPROX 3 MONTHS
ALL OUR BOWS COME WITH A 12 MONTH GUARANTEE
Triple laminate Longbow with
exotic hardwood core, click image to see more..
£395
If Lemonwood has any failings it is its tendency to follow
the string. This tendency can be overcome to a large extent by the addition
of a centre lamination sandwiched between the Hickory or Bamboo and Lemonwood
we taper the centre lamination to ensure the ratio between the different
woods remain the same throughout the length of the bow. The timbers used
for the centre lamination can vary with availability but tends to be either
Purpleheart which has a striking purple/red colour or Greenheart, one time
used for making fishing rods. The handle can either be woollen braid or
leather, both are trimmed with leather decorated gold leaf in a variety
of patterns produced from original Victorian pattern wheels. Click
above image to see more. CURRENT WAITING TIME FOR BOWS IS APPROX
3 MONTHS ALL OUR BOWS COME WITH A
12 MONTH GUARANTEE
Triple laminate with Yew or Osage Orange
core £455
Any league table of bow wood would have Yew and Osage Orange
vying for first place. We can include either of these in our triple laminate
bows as a centre lamination. CURRENT WAITING TIME FOR BOWS IS APPROX 3
MONTHS ALL OUR BOWS COME WITH A 12 MONTH
GUARANTEE
Self Yew Longbow click image to
see more..
£ (call
for availability, price in the region of £750)
Yew has long been regarded as natures most perfect bow
material having natural elasticity, sweetness of draw and cast second to
none. Bows are made from matched pairs of billets, spliced together at
the handle, perfect pairs of billets are extremely rare, consequently no
two self yew bows will look the same as the skill of the Bowyer is used
to follow the undulations of the sap wood and the heartwood, raise pins
as necessary and produce a bow of character and beauty. We import all our
Yew from Oregon where it is harvested from the Cascade Mountains for us
by one of Americas leading traditional archery experts. click
image to see more.. Materials are becoming
increasingly difficult to obtain for this type of bow, therefore delivery
times and availability can vary, we are curently not taking orders for
this type of bow at present.. ALL OUR BOWS COME WITH A 12 MONTH GUARANTEE
Backed Yew
£ (call for availability,
price in the region of £550)
From time to time we obtain Yew billets that has damaged
or brittle sapwood and thus unsuitable for self bows. We back this with
suitable Hickory or Bamboo to make excellent bows. These make good bows
for field shooting as the Hickory/Bamboo backing does not dent as easily
as Yew sapwood when lent against trees, targets etc. The bow can be made
slightly shorter than a self bow, useful in dense woodland and of course
the bows have tremendous cast. Materials are becoming
increasingly difficult to obtain for this type of bow, therefore delivery
times and availability can vary, please phone if interested in this bow. ALL OUR BOWS COME WITH A 12 MONTH GUARANTEE
Backed Osage Orange
£550
Osage Orange is indigenous to the southern part of the
USA, is a very tough wood, one old timer even made a set of false teeth
out of it. Considered by many people to be at least the equal if not better
than Yew. It is a very heavy dense wood bright yellow in colour when first
cut but on exposure to the air turning a golden brown colour, eventually
a chocolate brown after many years. Because of its density it makes a heavy
draw weight bow for slimmer than usual dimensions with very good cast.
CURRENT WAITING TIME FOR BOWS IS APPROX 3 MONTHS
Materials
are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain for this type of bow, therefore
delivery times and availability can vary, please phone if interested in
this bow. ALL OUR BOWS COME WITH A 12 MONTH GUARANTEE
Other bow woods
If you require a specific species of wood incorporated
in to your bow please give us a call to discuss the possibility.
All our Longbows come complete with a cloth bag
and 12 months guarantee.
Arrows
All our arrows are made from the best pine or cedar (as available)
shafts.
We are currently using shafts made by Boyton Archery, these are of Red
Deal used by the Victorian Fletchers and recommended by the remarkable
Horace Ford, 12 times champion of England between 1849 and 1867. The shafts
are pale in colour when first cut but with the passing of time darken to
the rich shade associated with the Victorian arrows.
The raw material comes from the vast Northern European forests which
are well managed with the timber being grown at a greater rate than it
is being harvested. Using high rejection rates both in the selection of
the timber and in the production process, top quality straight grain shafts
with smooth finish are the result.
We hand straighten the shafts as necessary, fit nocks checking for straightness
of fit and proper alignment and then apply two coats of polyurethane varnish.
Arrows are fletched with the best quality Trueflight feathers with the
leading edge of the quill trimmed and glued. The arrows are then cut to
length and brass piles fitted (using Araldite).
Our deluxe and footed
arrows have hand applied fine line accentuated cresting to add that touch
of distinction. We recommend a Tassle
to keep your Arrows clean when in the field. For details on keeping
your new set of Arrows straight see our F.A.Q.
page
Sets of tournament quality arrows are supplied in purpose made cardboard
arrow boxes.
Target and field arrows
STANDARD TARGET ARROWS
With no frills,
varnished shaft, 21/2" feather fletches, plastic
nocks and brass piles.
Set of 12 £50
STANDARD FIELD ARROWS with no frills,
varnished
shaft, 4" feather fletches, plastic nocks and brass piles.
We recommend a Tassle
to keep your Arrows clean when in the field.
Set of 12
£55
TOURNAMENT TARGET ARROWS
Selected shafts crested and with your choice 21/2" or 3" feather
fletches,plastic nocks and choice of brass pile weight.
Set of 8 £47
Set of 12 £68
TOURNAMENT FIELD ARROWS selected shafts
crested with and your choice of 4" or 5 1/2" fletches, plastic nock and
choice of brass pile weight
We recommend a Tassle to keep your
Arrows clean when in the field.
Set of 8
£50
Set of 12
£72
Prevent Pile Loss
in modern bosses, have then pinned on for an extra
75p per arrow on any of the above
sets
DELUXE TOURNAMENT ARROWS Shafts are carefully selected for grain and accurately matched for
spine and weight, your choice of fletching colour (price based on 2 1/2"
fletch), shafts are crested with a complimentary colour to a Victorian
pattern, Bhoning Classic nocks are fitted and there is a choice of brass
pile weights, the piles are pinned on with brass pins to prevent them coming
off in the target. Click picture for more. For details on keeping
your new set of Arrows straight see our F.A.Q.
page
Set of 8 £62
Set of 12 £87
FOOTED CLOUT ARROWS if you are having difficulty
reaching the clout particularly with a light weight Longbow you may find
that our clout arrows will give you those vital extra few yards. The arrows
are footed, barrelled and fitted with 1/4" diameter 20 grain piles, the
fletches are hand Cut to a low profile to reduce drag.
CLICK
HERE FOR PICTURE
Set of 4
£80
Set of 8
£160
THE B.L.B.S. STANDARD MEDIEVAL ARROW Made
to match the B.L.B.S. (you only need these if you intend to shoot in a
BLBS heavy arrow competition) specifications with a 3/8" diameter Poplar
shaft, horn insert nock 6" hand cut fletches bound on with linen Thread
and fitted with type10 hand forged Bodkin
head.
Each
£24.99
Re-enactment bows
Medieval style Longbow Made from Lemonwood
and Hickory for reliability and performance. The bow works through the
handle and is made to "come round compass" the handle is left bare but
with the arrow pass marked with the Bowyers mark. The bow is fitted with
simple cow horn nocks, a string and comes with a protective white bag.
CURRENT WAITING TIME FOR BOWS IS APPROX 3 MONTHS
These bows are intended for Re-enactment. We cannot
be held responsible for the conduct of the customer in the field or in
Re-enactment battles/public displays. Bows/arrows must be used safely.
Re-enactment and collectable arrows
GENERAL SHOOTING QUALITY and suitable
for many different periods made with a quality pine shaft fletched with
5" white fletches, self nocked and fitted with steel bullets shaped piles.
CLICK
HERE FOR PICTURE
£50 doz
FLU-FLU arrows, with plastic nock
and rubber blunt.
Please be aware arrows should not be shot
at or in the direction of people/animals, all arrows can kill/injur.
PINE BUDGET ARROW SHAFTS large diameter, almost 3/8 inch, 32" long, ideal for self nocking for
medieval re-enactment use, budget price but not budget quality Boyton
Pine.
£11.99 a doz
from Boyton,
13/32 diam (just over 3/8) English Ash, 33" long, perfect for Medieval
type Arrows and heavy Arrow shooting (out
of stock)
£1.80 each
AMERICAN ASH SHAFTS
23/64" diameter, approx 32" long, medium spine rating so suitable for
medium weight bows.
£1.80 each
POPLAR Boyton
shafts
shooting quality great finish, just over 3/8" for Medieval
arrows etc...
(out
of stock)
MEDIEVAL ARROW provided with 6" hand cut triangular
shape fletches goose Grey and white, bound on with linen thread, horn reinforced
nocks on a 3/8 Poplar shaft. Click image for more...
£11.99 each
Hector Cole headsfollow
the link below
WANT
TO PLACE AN ORDER?...CLICK
Longbow making materials
DIY LONGBOW KIT, comprising of a Hickory
backed Lemonwood stave cut to the correct tapers, taper drilled and shaped
horn for nocks , handle braid, mother of pearl or exotic shell for arrow
plate, Flemish string, full instructions and a cloth bag to put the completed
bow in. All that is needed is some basic hand tools (rasps, spoke shave/draw
knife, scraper and sand paper) and some experience of what a Longbow is
and how it works.
BAMBOO STRIP planed surface
78" long approx and 1 1/2" wide approx, thickness varies, phone for
details.
£25
LEMONWOOD STAVE for one
bow,
1 1/4 " square approx, 80" long approx (our wood is carefully
hand selected at the timber merchants by us, from the stock we are currently
using to make our bows and is seasoned!)
£30
BLACK BUFFALO HORN TIP
£3 each
BLACK BUFFALO HORN TIPS drilled, ready
for you to carve as you wish, picture shows end of bow with end taken down
to fit in drilled hole.
£8 pair
HORN MIDSECTIONS ideal for knife handles
£2.50 each
FULL COW HORNS approx 12 " long, we
DO NOT sellect this item based on your requirements, they are picked `as
they come`
PREMIUM SHAFTS 1/4+9/32 + 5/16 + 11/32
inch diameter 32 inch long in spine weights from 15 to 65lbs in 5 lb increments.(Up
to 50lb in 5/16) Boyton Pine,
we also stock cedar shafts.
£16.80 doz
Matched shafts spined +/- 1lb and
weight matched within +/- a silver 3d (25 grains), stock permiting, we
will obviously inform you on ordering if this is not possible, 5/16
ONLY
£23 doz
PINE BUDGET ARROW SHAFTS large
diameter, almost 3/8 inch, 32" long, ideal for self nocking for medieval
re-enactment
use,
budget price but not budget quality,
Boyton Pine.
£11.99 doz
ASH SHAFTS from Boyton, 13/32 diam
(just over 3/8) English Ash, 33" long, perfect for Medieval type Arrows
and heavy Arrow shooting.
(out
of stock)
£1.80 each
NEW IN!!!
AMERICAN ASH SHAFTS
POPLAR Boyton
shafts
shooting quality great finish, just over 3/8" for Medieval
arrows etc... (out
of stock)
.
£1.80 each
POPLAR BOBTAILED
Boyton shafts
shooting quality great finish, just over 3/8" at one
end up to 1/2" at the other for Medieval arrows etc...(out
of stock)
£3 each
`SHOOTING BOARD` make your own shafts with these handmade shooting
boards, approx 40" long, 3/4" wide grove, with `stop` at end of groove
as seen in the picture.
£25
(tools and shaft material
not included)
HORN INSERTS for self cut nocks, 1
1/2"-1/2"-1/16" approx.
PLASTIC NOCKS all regular sizes 1/4"
9/32" 5/16" 11/32", various colours
£1.50 doz
2 ½ INCH PARABOLIC FLETCHES Available in PINK,
ORANGE,
YELLOW,
BLUE,
PURPLE,
RED,GREEN,WHITE,
BLACK
£1.25 per doz
3 INCH SHIELD FLETCHES Available in GREEN,
ORANGE,
YELLOW,
BLUE,
PURPLE,
RED,
WHITE,
BLACK
£1.60 doz
4 INCH SHIELD FLETCHES Available in YELLOW,
BLUE,
PURPLE,
RED,
WHITE,
BLACK,
GREY
£2.75 doz
5 ½ INCH SHIELD FLETCHES Available in WHITE
and
GREY
£3.30 doz
FULL LENGTH TURKEY FEATHERS WHITE,
`GOOSE
GREY` and new colours RED,BLACK,
BROWN,
BLUE
£0.35p each
BRASS AND STEEL PILES
ARROW PRODUCTION
SHERWOOD FLETCHING JIG 4" model (target) £20
SHERWOOD FLETCHING JIG 6" model (field) £25
The BIG
jig This handmade jig is perfect for fletching large feathers, Medieval
arrows etc.. Will do 8" feathers with ease, made of wood and brass, looks
perfect for RE-ENACTMENT use, yet still accurate
£25
TAPER TOOL for wooden shafts, 5/16-11/32-23/64
£3.95
FLETCHING CEMENT quick set H.M.G.
£2 per tube
ARALDITE RAPIDtwo part epoxy ideal for
piles
£4.50 per pack
UHU glue
£1.50 tube
ARROW MAKING BOOKLET from Richard
Head Longbows, describes the Making of target and medieval style arrows
