Spine for Howard Hill's 172lbs bow

[atatarpm]

I just watched a video of Howard Hill shooting a 172 lbs bow and was wondering what kind of arrow you can get that would weigh enough and spine high enough for a bow that strong?    
    I am finding it hard to find wood arrows for an 80lbs bow.  

[Terry Lightle]

Probably 3/8 shafts

[Bud B.]

Forrester shafts has some advertised up to 130lbs.

[RETARMY06]

I think a mop handle might be about right.
BTW that bow must be fun to string up!

[Bladepeek]

Either that, or talk to your utility company. They might have some used telephone poles.

172#? Wow.

[Paul_R]

English war bows were around that weight so I suppose the arrow specs would fit. They weren't too concerned about spine in those days..

   War Bow Arrow Specs

[RETARMY06]

True the war bow archers didn't care about spine, because pin-point accuracy wasn't required. They shot at a group of soldiers (moving if they had any sense)and they just needed to punch through that armor.

[Orion]

Did Howard ever shoot the 172# bow?  I've read that he pulled one to full draw, but can't remember if he shot it or not.  If not, any arrow would have done to measure his draw. Didn't he also take two very heavy bows and draw them together?

[nineworlds9]

I'm curious what length the bow was?  Warbows of that high of poundage would have been at least 74", possibly even as long as 80".  This would make the weight feel not nearly as much as it sounds as those long limbs would spread it out and keep the string angle real low and let you use your whole body.  I have owned a few real long bows of high poundage 90-100# and you definitely make it a full body flex LOL.  I would think that wood arrows for a 172# bow would be 31" or more and 1/2" at the point end possibly taper to 3/8" at the nock end, or 3/8" at both ends with the center section at 1/2" depending.

Shooting big long heavy bows is fun.  I actually spent a few months last year getting proficient shooting a 76" 90+# bow accurately at 10-15 yds, its a humbling experience but lots of grins and laughs when you see your target get hit that hard with an 800+ grain arrow.  Overkill of course for NA game but still a hoot.

He used it to set the flight record.  If I remember right, it was shorter and shot at a shorter draw.  There was also a heavier draw story with another bow, where Hill drew a full length arrow past the bow and let it down with arrow on the other side of the bow.  It said that he had to have drawn over 200 pounds on that bow.  I also either was told about flight arrow or read it, but it was not a broom stick or a fence pole.  It was a barrel tapered shaft and probably not all that stiff, perhaps bamboo.

[gringol]

I'm getting a hernia just reading this.

Perhaps a hemroid as well.

[atatarpm]

Lol lol lol          

When someone ordered a heavy bow from Hill and then could not pull it back, Hill would say, "I could cut washers off your butt."  I know what he meant by that now.

[Caughtandhobble]

Originally posted by Bladepeek:
Either that, or talk to your utility company. They might have some used telephone poles.

172#? Wow.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST POST!!!

I watched several of the H Hill clips at work the other day. He actually shot apples off of peoples heads. I would not even do that to my ex SIL.