Longitudinal specimens from human compact bone were tested in a pendulum type instrumented tensile impact tester at a strain rate of 133 sec−1. The recorded load time histories showed marked nonlinearities in the stress strain behavior of some specimens including plastic deformation and strain hardening effects, thus emphasizing that the fracture energy alone is an incomplete representation of the tensile impact behaviour of bone. Mean tensile impact strengths and impact energy capacities were 126·3 ± 33·1 MN/m² and 18790 ± 7355 J/m² for 49 fresh human specimens. Quasi-static tensile strengths for 13 fresh human samples were 34% less than the tensile impact strength. Statistically significant correlations were found between elastic properties, ultimate stress and impact energy capacity. Tensile impact strength also correlated negatively with the percentage area of secondary osteons in the specimen.