Differences between Hill-style longbow and flatbow?

[Benny Nganabbarru]

What are the differences between these bows? Have only ever seen small pictures - and not many - of flatbows.

Thanks in advance for the education.

Ben

[Hud]

Generally, wider, thinner and shorter than most American Semi-Longbows.  There is a new post in this forum titled Flatbow with a picture of an Elburg flat bow.  A number of bowyers have, or are making this bow although the R&D bow is more popular. Ted makes a few you can see at Raptor Archery.

[damascusdave]

There is probably as much difference between individual Hill Style bows as there is between some Hill style bows and some flatbows...after having over 50 bows without owning a true Hill style longbow I recently got a HHA Robin Hood thinking it would have very different shooting qualities from any other bow I have ever owned...in short order I have learned to really like the shooting qualities of that bow...just another bow in my rota of great shooting bows

DDave

[ChuckC]

As hit above, a Hill bow or ASL is generally narrower side to side with thick limbs.  A flat bow is wider side to side with thin limbs.  Although just a quick description, not technical, but something most can imagine, think what a long recurve bow would look like if you cut off the recurves and made the ends into nocks.  Wide, thinner limbs result.  A flatbow.
ChuckC

[starshooter]

Flatbow shines where closed in hunting is called for. Originally used by Native Americans for shooting buffalo on horseback.
The further west one went ,the bows were shorter as the tribes were more peaceful and agrarian . In the Easte however ,there was much war between Indian nations and the bows were longer esp suited for warfare.
Flatbows supposedly deliver more energy due to its wider limb .harder hitting at short distances but not that great in cast when compared to longbows ELB or ASL.
The worms are crawling out of the can . Sorry

[two4hooking]

ASLs are also only backset, straight, or string follow.  Flatbows can have any range of Deflex / Reflex to them. The classic gull wing shape when unstrung. I have a Earl Hoyt Sky longbow that is very thin and deep but I do not consider it a Hill style ASL. It is not really a flatbow either but a R/D bow.

[meatCKR]

The Elburg Flatbow that I have is 1 & 7/16" wide at the fades and 8/16" at the tips.  While the limb core is thinner than an ASL (like my Wesley Special) it is in no way as thin as a recurve.  Still a pretty thick limb core.  You'd certainly be hard pressed to twist it like you can a recurve.  This, combined with the reverse handle, makes it one heck of a solid and stable shooting bow.  My Elburg just sits there in the hand when shot.  No hand shock - no nothing.  It's the most stable bow I have ever shot without a doubt.  Here's the pic of it.

 

Steve

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Thanks for the education, fellows.

Stotler made two different flat limb longbows.  The one that was more Hill like, with all of the balance, pointing abilities and as far as I could tell, forgiveness of a Hill style bow.  The one with the larger riser was slower to point and if the grip was one with a deeper pistol grip required a straighter wrist and bow arm, but on the whole a super forgiving and stable bow.   To a degree the shape of the grip dictates usage and form possibilities more than the final shape of the limb.  In use for myself, accuracy was not an issue, feel and handling were the primary differences, one was better at static situations and the other better at varied situations.