Recurve form question

[Randy M]

I've been building laminated longbows for years now and want to start building one-piece recurves, with the same type handle on my longbows.  To do this, it would be easier to essentially build the form 'upside down' compared to how most (like Bingham) suggests.  I'm not crazy about a forward style handle and it would be easier to get tight glue lines with the curves on the form pointing down instead of up.  Does this even make sense and any thoughts on doing it this way?

[Trux Turning]

You can build it that way- no problem.

[rmorris]

Unless you are building a Hill style longbow (you are building a recurve) the hardest part of a 1 piece form is getting the riser to fit to the form perfectly... With that being said, make your form so that it is most easy to get good glue joints along the riser of the bow. It does not matter if the tips  point up or down during glue up. My first one piece longbow form had a 24" riser with a constant curve to it so it would take me hours to get the riser to fit perfectly in the form on longbow version 2 I have only about 5" that curve and the rest is perfectly flat, I can now shape a riser to the form in a matter of minutes.

Here are some pictures and just by looking I bet you can guess which is easier to fit to the form...

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