Couple Questions for English Longbow Makers

[Prometheus]

Hey, ELB Bowyers - maybe you can help me out with this:

I've got materials to make glass recurve and longbows, and I know where to get more, but I'd like to try making a tri-lam styles EB. Do any of you guys go to something like a 3 rivers or bingham kinda place for your ELB lams?

My second question is: I've got some glass bows from the 60s that still shoot and appear to be fairly durable. Is there a massive difference in longevity and durability between glass bows and all wood longbows like a tri-lam ELB?

Thanks for the help, folks!

[Pat B]

You'll probably have to cut down the glass and lams to get the right width for an ELB.
If a wood bow is handled properly it can last as long as a glass bow. Some of the 1930's-40's all wood bows are still around and shooting as well as the Mary Rose war bows from 500 years ago.

[Prometheus]

Thanks for the reply!

Regarding the lams: i apologize for not being clearer - basically i just want to know if there's a nice easy place to just order some thicker lams from to make a trilam all wood ELB style bow.... The folks i know of who make these guys on the regular seem to cut and dry and age their own wood u til its at the right moisture level etc, and i'm hoping to find something simpler to just try out building these guys at least.... I dont realy have access to the trees and land that some of these ELB bowyers do....

Thanks.

[Pat B]

Members here like kennym and others grind lams. You could contact them to see what your options are. You'll want to use hickory, maple, elm or boo for a back and a good, compression strong belly wood like osage, ipe or other appropriate tropical hardwood.

[Bowjunkie]

No. I make my own.

Massive difference? No.