June 2005

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Looks like I’ve found the limitation for thirty meters of fletching thread, and it’s about nine arrows. So before I can finish all twenty-four, I’m going to need to re-stock on thread. But before that, I’ll be selling the first batch of six on eBay within the next few days. The only thing stopping me now, is postage and packaging details, which I’ll be researching within the next few days.
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The materials for my first eBay experiment have arrived. While these are the cheapest prices I’ve been able to find from a supplier, I still need to spend some time finding cheaper raw-material suppliers.

I’ve purchased enough materials to complete twenty-four arrows, I’ll be selling them off in batches of six, currently I’m thinking of putting starting bids on the batches at £15, and Buy It Now values of ~£25.
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I was reading quite an interesting article in Volumes 13, Issue 2 of Primitive Archer. The article touches on the apparent renaissance for Archery in many parts of the world, Tibetan and Chinese traditional archers, re-creational Mongolian archers, Islam’s relationship with the bow, and of course the rise in popularity of Kyudo. For me personally, I think that some folk are valuing the link with their ancestors that the bow can provide, not only in it’s creation, shooting, competition and social mechanics, but also as a spiritual metaphor and aid.
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So, already a year or so in, and I start blogging. I’ll need to fill you in on the details to date. The primary reason I decided to take up Traditional Longbows and all the disciplines that that encompasses, was to get away from computers (he says whilst writing a blog entry). My hobbies have been computing, my work heavily involves computing. It can’t be a healthy combination.

Traditional Shooting will get me out, and keep me exercised, keep me practical-minded, and should allow me to develop my art and craft side, once again. Better still, what if I could actually earn a living this way? And in many ways, this is — of course — connected with the Druid Path that I’m walking.Can a person shirk that rat-race? Drop the most advanced toys in Silicon-Technology for the most advanced toys of Twig-Technology? I’m game to find out.

I completed my first Do It Yourself Longbow kit, a few weeks ago. Whilst not ‘perfect’, I’m still very impressed with the outcome. I now have a spanking Hickory-backed Lemonwood Longbow. I’ve showed it to a couple of friends and work colleagues, and already, three people have asked me to make them one! Well, first things first… I need to cut costs down by using more raw materials, and earn cash in the mean time, via that panacea of the bring-and-buy sale, eBay.

Before I begin creating commisioned bows, I’m going to experiment with selling Longbow arrows on eBay. I’m expecting some raw materials to arrive next week, enough for twenty-four arrows. Once they’re ready, I’ll be selling them in batches of six on eBay.

Hello world!

I don’t do blogs, everyone knows that. But, a possible need has arisen, and who am I to keep information learnt, to myself? The Budding Bowyer, will hopefully become a journal of my exploits within Traditional Archery, and the long road to becoming a decent Fletcher, and Bowyer.