modern string for Harry Elburg longbow?

[sticksnstones]

I think I'm good to put FF on this one, but I wanted to check in here just in case anyone could confirm.

Overlays seem to be some sort of horn that is smooth and almost translucent. They measure .2" thick over the fiberglass back. The groove cut into it is very smooth. This string is for the original owner and he confirmed these were on the bow the day he bought it from Harry if that helps anyone. Date of purchase was mid 90s.

18 strand B50 is what is on there today. I have the material and could just as easily stick with making an exact replacement if needed.

Anybody with any thoughts or experience to share? I can post a picture later if needed.
Thom

[TOEJAMMER]

I have a few of Harry's bows and a couple were supplied by Harry with fastflite strings.  To be honest though,I've always used B50 on them.  Just me, I guess.

[frank bullitt]

18 strand, wow. What weight is it?

I would'nt hesitate on putting a H.P. string on any longbow with proper tips!

Harry made fine performing bows, too!

[TOEJAMMER]

On Harry's bows with B50, he usually supplied strings that were three bundle 15 strands.  On two of my Condors, one 64 inch and 66lbs at 28" and  a 68" 65# Condor Elite again three bundle 15 strand.  All his strings were made by Mrs. Elburg.  I've never had a problem with 15 stands of B50.

[sticksnstones]

Thanks guys!

This bow scaled at 75# last week, and the replacement string on there currently is a two bundle.

I think I'll do up a 14 strand D97 and pad a few B50s in the loops. I'm betting those overlays are horn and it will be good with it.
Thom

[twigflicker]

By the mid 90's all of Harry''s bow were outfitted with fastflight... Some of his early bows... Mid to late 80's had wood overlays... So on those you might be taking a chance... I shoot padded 450 plus on all mine except his "Mongal". When I visited him about making a string for it (wild looking, with huge loops) he insisted on b-50 for that one...
Jonathan

[sticksnstones]

It's just crazy the amount of knowledge and experience folks around here have and are willing to share. Thanks all!
Thom

[twigflicker]

Thom...
I'd love to see a pic of your Elburg... Especially the limb tips... Sounds different from any I've seen... But Harry was always experimenting with something... Which model do you have...  Smokes... 75#. I bet that rascal shoots an arrow with authority!
Jonathan

[sticksnstones]

It's marked "Old Traditions", a very classy looking ASL. Yeah, it was putting some heavy arrows downrange with authority! I was shooting 860 grain arrows and drawing it about 1.5" further than marked. Probably puts that arrow just a bit shy of 10gpp. Very quiet and very comfortable in the hand.

I'll snap a few pictures this week when I twist up the string for it.
Thom

[twigflicker]

Sweet...

Love the Elburg's... that's a model of his that I don't have yet... I've been working on building a small collection of Harry's bows over the years...  still needing 3 or 4 models... Jaguar Express, Cherokee Special, Old Traditions and a Cherokee Mite... Get those and I think I'll have one of each model he made through the years...

I've known the Elburg family for better than 30 years now... was in school with his two youngest...

Jonathan

[foxbo]

I'll give anyone ten bucks more than twigflicker.

[twigflicker]

Ha!  Don't feel sorry for 'ole Ed... he has his share of Elburg's... and some (specifically a certain 50" mite) that I'd love to have!

Good to hear from you Ed!

Jonathan

[Moots]

Hi Thom,

I had one of Harry's bows, and I had B50 on it.

Hope all is well.

Rob

[vtmtnman]

I just made a B55 Flemish for one and was wondering this same question.Guess that clears it up.

A side note,I haven't shot many of them,but Harry's bows are some of THE finest smoothest fastest shooting bows I have ever shot.

[sticksnstones]

Thanks guys! Great to hear from you Rob, hope all is going well out your way!

Here are the pictures I promised:
   

   

   

   

   
 

Now I just need to serve that string and pack it up for delivery!
Thom

[frank bullitt]

Nice looking bow, Thom!

Packing it up? Sold it?

Is that cedar on the belly?

Need to look at my ole 3 rivers cat. for specs.
Thanks for posting!

[tom cunningham]

Happy Thanksgiving to all the Elburg fans......

[sticksnstones]

About 20 years ago this bow was ordered from Harry by Andrew Harper of Wild Things. The last time I was in camp we were looking at it discussing some new arrows for it, and he couldn't remember the true draw weight of it at 29" as he hadn't shot it in a while.

I packed it up and scaled it for him at my local shop as a favor.  While I was shooting my test shots I realized the string wasn't ready for the bush and I started this thread. Now it's been scaled, tested, string replaced, and sideplate has been reattached with fresh barge cement.

I'll deliver this longbow back to it's owner next week. I think it's really cool that he still owns his very first trad bow after all this time.
     
Thom

[frank bullitt]

That's cool, Thom!    

How did it shoot with the new string?

Good shootin to ya!

[twigflicker]

Neat story Thom... Love my Elburg's... and thanks for the pics...

Jonathan