Tällainen artikkeli (linkki alla), sinänsä kiinnostava mutta on seassa outoakin tarinaa. Bickerstaffe muun muassa toteaa seuraavasti:
“The result of this is that you can make a D-section bow from wood that is almost green and still quite wet. The wood will be supple at this time, but as it dries it becomes harder and stiffer. The bow will gain weight and, as this process, continues the bow will become more brittle. If the bow survives without twisting out of shape as the wood continues to dry, then it will start to lose weight again, and then become kindling as it finally breaks into useful-sized pieces.”
Outoudet jatkuvat vuorijalavan kohdalla:
“They [Wych elm] were made in the same way as English yew bows from unseasoned green wood, with the same short working life and final outcome.”
Mutta, jostain syystä saarnen kannattaa antaa kuivua ennen jouseksi veistämistä:
“Ash, unlike yew and wych elm, benefits from being properly seasoned and air dried over several years, giving a stable hardwood that will work reasonably well with sharp tools.”
Kiinnostava on myös väite:
“So while English yew will make bows, they would only be fit for purpose as a temporary hunting bow. Bows made from English yew are not either target archery bows or war bows, and never were.”
Bickerstaffella on varmasti paljon kokemusta mutta miksi hän väittää, että marjakuusta ja vuorijalavaa ei olisi kuivattu tai niitä ei kannata kuivata ennen jouseksi veistämistä?