Traditional English Longbow by Jan Kašpar – Handcrafted Custom Selfbow

Traditional English Longbow by Jan "Kaša" Kašpar is a handcrafted wooden selfbow inspired by the historical English longbow tradition.

Each bow is individually created from one carefully selected piece of wood and made according to the requirements of its future owner.

There is no single standard bow length, draw weight or maximum draw length.

Every bow is an original.

Jan "Kaša" Kašpar – traditional bowyer

The bowyer is Jan "Kaša" Kašpar, an experienced craftsman and archer.

His longbows are not industrially mass-produced.

Each bow requires individual work with natural wood, careful assessment of the grain, progressive shaping of the limbs and tillering according to the intended draw weight and draw length.

The result is a functional bow designed for real traditional archery.

Selfbow – one piece of solid wood

These longbows are built as selfbows, meaning that the working bow is made from one piece of solid wood.

This distinguishes them from modern laminated bows using fiberglass or other industrial limb materials.

Natural material makes every bow unique.

Even two bows made from the same species of wood may differ in:

• grain
• colour
• dimensions
• physical weight
• draw weight
• maximum draw length
• overall shooting character

These differences are a natural part of handcrafted wooden bow making.

The historical English longbow

The English longbow is one of the best-known traditional European bows.

One of the most important surviving collections comes from the warship Mary Rose, which sank in 1545.

A total of 172 longbows were recovered. They are made from single pieces of yew, range from approximately 1.84 to 2.11 metres in length and are predominantly D-shaped in cross-section.

Royal Armouries notes that European longbows were often made from yew, while elm, ash and laburnum were also used.

Historical longbow making was therefore not limited to one single species of wood.

Historical inspiration rather than one standard replica

A Jan Kašpar longbow is inspired by historical English longbow construction.

This does not automatically mean that every bow is an exact replica of one archaeological object.

An individual order may consider:

• historically appropriate wood
• overall construction
• bow length
• draw weight
• maximum draw length
• bowstring
• nock design
• historical appearance
• intended period
• reenactment requirements

If a higher level of historical accuracy is required, this should be discussed with the bowyer before the bow is made.

Choice of wood

Depending on suitable material and the requirements of the individual order, available woods may include:

• yew
• laburnum
• Osage orange
• ash
• elm
• hornbeam
• dogwood
• cornelian cherry
• hazel
• cherry
• mulberry
• bird cherry
• other suitable species

The name of the wood alone does not determine the quality of a bow.

The actual stave, grain structure, condition of the timber and experience of the bowyer are all essential.

Yew longbow

Yew is particularly closely associated with the historical English longbow.

The surviving Mary Rose longbows are made from individual pieces of yew.

A yew longbow can therefore be particularly attractive to archers seeking a strong connection with historical English archery.

Suitable bow-quality yew must nevertheless be carefully selected.

Laburnum

Laburnum is another wood historically associated with European longbows.

Royal Armouries lists it alongside yew, elm and ash as a wood that could be used for longbow construction.

Its use for a particular custom bow depends on the availability and quality of suitable material.

Ash, elm and other woods

Ash and elm also have a place in the European longbow tradition.

Other woods offered by Jan Kašpar expand the possibilities of custom bow making and allow each bow to have its own natural appearance and character.

The suitability of every individual stave must be assessed by the bowyer.

Made for the individual archer

Before production, the bowyer and customer can agree on factors including:

• desired draw weight
• actual draw length
• intended use
• previous experience
• preferred wood
• overall appearance
• bowstring
• nock design

The bow can then be designed around the actual requirements of the future owner.

Individual draw weight

There is no fixed universal draw-weight range for this product.

Draw weight is agreed individually with the bowyer.

Choosing the highest possible draw weight is not automatically an advantage.

The archer must be able to control the complete shot cycle safely and consistently.

Individual bow length and maximum draw

Bow length and maximum safe draw length also depend on the individual bow.

They are determined according to construction, wood and the requirements of the archer.

Never exceed the maximum draw specified for the finished bow.

Bowstring selected for the bow

The material and construction of the bowstring are not standardized across every Jan Kašpar longbow.

The appropriate bowstring is agreed with the bowyer for the individual bow.

This allows the bowstring to match the construction and intended use of the finished bow.

Individual nock design

Bow-tip and nock design may also vary from one order to another.

The appropriate solution is agreed with the bowyer.

This allows both functional and historical requirements to be considered.

Traditional and instinctive archery

Depending on its individual specification, a Jan Kašpar longbow can be suitable for:

• traditional archery
• instinctive archery
• historical archery
• 3D archery
• field archery
• recreational shooting
• historical demonstrations
• reenactment

The intended use should be considered when ordering the bow.

Choosing arrows

Arrows must be correctly matched to the individual longbow.

Important factors include:

• actual draw weight
• draw length
• arrow spine
• arrow length
• total arrow mass
• point weight
• shaft material

Wooden arrows are commonly associated with traditional longbow shooting, but their exact specifications must match the finished bow.

What is included?

The order includes:

• handcrafted Jan Kašpar longbow
• appropriate bowstring

Safety and care

Never dry-fire a wooden longbow.

Before shooting, inspect:

• the wood
• limbs
• bow tips
• bowstring
• arrows

Never exceed the maximum draw length specified for the individual bow.

Protect a natural wooden bow from prolonged moisture, excessive heat, rapid drying and mechanical damage.

Follow the individual care recommendations provided by Jan Kašpar for the finished bow.

Frequently asked questions

Who makes the bow?

Jan "Kaša" Kašpar.

Is it handcrafted?

Yes. Every bow is individually handcrafted.

Is it a selfbow?

Yes. It is made from one piece of solid wood.

Is every bow identical?

No. Every bow is an individual original.

Which woods are available?

Options may include yew, laburnum, Osage orange, ash, elm, mulberry and other suitable woods according to availability and agreement with the bowyer.

What draw weights are available?

Draw weight is individually agreed with the bowyer.

How long is the bow?

Bow length depends on the individual order.

What is the maximum draw length?

The maximum safe draw length is specified individually for each finished bow.

What bowstring is supplied?

Bowstring material and construction are selected in agreement with the bowyer.

What type of nocks does the bow use?

Nock design depends on the individual order.

Is it an exact historical replica?

Not automatically. The required degree of historical accuracy should be discussed when ordering.

What is included?

The bow and an appropriate bowstring.

Traditional English Longbow by Jan Kašpar – summary

The traditional English longbow by Jan Kašpar is a handcrafted wooden selfbow inspired by historical English archery.

Every bow is made from one carefully selected piece of wood and individually adapted to its future owner.

Wood species, dimensions, draw weight, maximum draw length, bowstring and nock design are determined according to the individual order.

The result is not a standardized mass-produced bow, but a unique handcrafted traditional longbow by Jan "Kaša" Kašpar.