Old longbow questions

[Stone Knife]

My friend has this old york longbow made by woodcraft equipment co. It is stamped what looks like FEH 60 it is 67.5 " long. it does have some issues like some of the backing is missing, it looks like some kind of paper? someone drilled a small hole in one of the limb tips, and there is a crack in the riser. My questions are would you shoot it, is it repairable or just use it the way it is, and how long of a string. I would like some idea of when it was made if anyone knows about these bows.

   

   

[Pat B]

I have an old lemon wood longbow made by York (Woodcraft Equip. Co)in the 1940s. It makes a nice wall hanger. It would probably shoot with a little exercise but I don't want to take the chance of it breaking. I have enough bows to shoot so I don't need to shoot this one...I just enjoy owning and admiring it.     Pat

[mcgroundstalker]

Hey Jim! Keep it as a wall hanger as stated above. I've got one just like it.

... mike ...

[SCATTERSHOT]

I've seen a lot of questions about that hole. It's there on purpose, to hang the bow in an ascham(bow closet).

[Mike Byrge@home]

The hole in the tip was used to tie on a string keeper.  The paper backing is most likely something called Fortisan (sp) that was used to back bows back in the era.  Is the crack in the handle and actual crack or has it come unglued?   If it has come unglued, gently pry it apart and reglue it with titebond, etc.

If you rebacked it with something like linen or rawhide and were very carefull exercising it before it to full draw you may be able to shoot it.  

BTW...those old all wood bows show up on the big auction site regularly and some are in excellent condition.