My name is John McCluckey and i am an engineer of over fifty years experience in engineering, including thirty two years running a small business. My qualifications are:

• Chartered Engineer,
• M. I. Mech. E.,
• B.S.C,
• and five years engineering apprenticeship.

During my career I have worked with wood extensively. On my retirement I decided to expand on my hobby of making carved wood bowls (not turned). After someone saw one of my pieces (made as a wedding present) he inquired if I made longbows. This was the start of my odyssey into making longbows.

It took me six months to master the basic craft of making longbows. Then I was able to link up with an archery equipment dealer and make longbows on request. I have been making longbows for      several years under the nom de plume of Branthwaite.

Through my engineering training I have developed step by step techniques for how to craft traditional tri-laminated longbows, in the range 30-60lbs.

The existing published information on longbow making is very general and it became obvious to me that this is not enough for an enthusiast to craft a longbow.

I hope and believe my Longbow making CD-Rom will rectify this situation.