Verily GNAS in their wisdom define a
longbow as follows:
206.
Longbow
(a) Bow. The bow shall be the traditional longbow made from wood, either ?self?, ?backed?,
or ?laminated? with cambered (stacked) belly and horn nocks. With the exception of the
?self? bow, each limb of the bow shall form a single simple curve from the handle to the
nock when at full draw. The bow shall be not less than five feet in length for an arrow of
less than 27 inches and; not less than five feet six inches in length for a 27? or longer
arrow, this being measured along the back between the string nocks. At no point shall
the depth of the bow, measured from back to belly, be less than 5/8 (five eighths) of the
width of the bow at the same section. The bow may carry no support for the arrow.
Bows of bamboo, constructed in conformity with the above, shall be permitted.
(b) String. Strings may be of either natural or man-made substance, and may, if desired,
embody a ?kisser? at any point as required to facilitate a consistent draw position, but for
no other purpose.
(c) Sights and Points of Aim. Sights, as such, are not permitted but one of the following
may be used:
(i) Marks on the bow limb.
(ii) Rubber bands of no more than 1/8? in depth and thickness.
(iii) Artificial points of aim on the ground, provided they do not exceed a height from
the ground of 6 inches or a diameter of 3 inches nor impede any other archer.
(d) Arrows. Arrows shall have wooden steles (shafts), shall be fitted with feather fletchings,
and may have either horn-reinforced, self or applied nocks. There is no limit to the
maximum shaft diameter. Piles shall not exceed the diameter of the shaft at the point of
fitment. Shouldered piles, whilst not disallowed, should be avoided because of excess
damage to targets. Arrows shall be properly marked, so that there shall be no difficulty
in claiming them.
(e) Hand Protection
(i) Finger protection in the form of finger stalls or tips, gloves, or shooting tab or tape
(plaster) to draw, hold back and release the string is permitted, provided that such
protection does not incorporate any device to hold, draw and release the string.
(ii) A separator between the fingers to prevent pinching the arrow and/or a platform
tab may be used. An extension so as to provide a greater angle, prior to release,
other than that achieved by the use of a normal tab, glove or other form of finger
protection, is not permitted.
(iii) On the bow hand an ordinary glove, mitten or similar item may be worn but shall
not be attached to the grip.
And yet I say unto you that also BLBS (and doubtless all other societies, world without end) have their own word of wisdom on this matter, with most subtle and learned differences, so beware of excessive lamination lest it cause mutterings of discontent causing your ejection from a shoot!