Designing the ultimate wooden bow - revisited 8 yrs later

[onemississipp]

Back in 2005, bowyers were asked about what their ultimate wooden bow would be. Let's hear from those that participated and changes if any!

2005 link

  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=40;t=000051;p=1

[Roy from Pa]

I really miss Mickey...

[Pat B]

"OK Mickey, Here goes....
Osage, 62"-66"T/T, bulbous handle,rigid to simi-bending,4" handle, 1 1/2"-2" fades,either straight taper or full out to 6" then taper to 3/8"tips,1 3/8"-1 1/2" at fades,asymetrical (but lately I've been trying symetrical, slightly rounded belly, air backing, no arrow rest or small glued leather rest,usually overlays(bone,antler,hardwood),Tru-Oil, straight or slightly reflexed(to start with),Rattan wrap or leather handle wrap, and a B-50 Flemish string.
Just a good old stick bow!!! Pat

ps. I use the same bow for everything!"

  That is what I wrote in 2005. I've changed a little but not much.
Still osage, now 60" to 66", limbs bend into the handle at full draw. I use a floppy rest along with cordage wrapped handle, I like overlays although they are mostly for cosmetic purposes. I have started also using leather saturated with super glue for tip overlays. All of my bows these days are symetrical with the middle of the bulbous handle the mid point of the bow. I've been building more recurves lately but in this case I'd stick with a straight limbed bow with slight reflex. And I'm still happy with B-50 and a Flemish twist string.

[onemississipp]

I hear ya Roy....there are a few in that forum that are missed.

[onemississipp]

That's pretty amazing Pat,  I have a suspicion there will not be many changes from most.

[Bowjunkie]

I miss a bunch of them guys.

My answers, on page 4 of that thread  haven't changed... except now I'd use Thunderbird instead of Fullerplast.

Though I have made and shot many since, the bow I have pictured in that thread is still my #1 hunting and target bow today. We have history :^), it's 9 years old now, and still stands quite straight unstrung after many thousands of arrows shot.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[John Scifres]

Here's what I wrote in 2005:

(1) material - osage
(2) 66" NTN (I have a 27" draw)
(3) handle design: rigid
(4) handle length: 3.5"
(5) fade length: 1.5"
(6) limb design: full width to 8" past fades - approx 1/3 of working limb
(7) limb width at fade: 1.5"
(8) Limb length: top limb is 1.5" longer than bottom
(9)Belly type: rounded flat belly
(10) backing: air
(11)rest type: floppy
(12)overlays: no
(13)profile: straight, turned tips
(14)finish: polyurethane
(15)handle covering: leather wrapped
(16) string type: B-50 flemish

Here's where I have "progressed". Basically shorter with a flat belly:

(1) material - osage
(2) 62" NTN (I have a 27" draw)
(3) handle design: rigid
(4) handle length: 3.5"
(5) fade length: 1.5"
(6) limb design: full width to 8" past fades - approx 1/3 of working limb
(7) limb width at fade: 1.5"
(8) Limb length: fulcrum is at center of bow.  Limbs are equal length from fulcrum.  Lower limb has more of the handle in it than the upper.  i.e. it has more rigid handle in it.
(9)Belly type: flat belly
(10) backing: air
(11)rest type: glued on leather wedge
(12)overlays: no
(13)profile: straight, flipped tips
(14)finish: polyurethane
(15)handle covering: leather wrapped
(16) string type: B-50 flemish

[Black Mockingbird]

Whewwee!!!! That's a tough question to answer and needs some serious thinking...I'm in the well over a hundred bows made club of all kinds of differing designs and woods,and I still can't come up with a quick answer..except its gonna be osage without a doubt,and that I can answer in a heartbeat..that hasn't changed in years for me and never will....gimme a second..or two..or three etc.....lol.

[PEARL DRUMS]

64-66" osage flat bow for me.

[2treks]

Man Chris, That surprised me. I thought you liked a tad shorter. Hard to beat that bow right there tho.
I would have to stretch the length a bit for my draw length, but yes, Osage Flatbow.
Or,
A nice ELB made of.....

[Pat B]

This is the original criteria from Mickie..."YOU ARE BUILDING FOR YOURSELF, THE ONLY BOW YOU WILL HAVE TO HUNT WITH FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS"
...so durability should be at the top of the list. A long, slightly overbuilt flat bow of osage would fit into that category.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Chuck most of my bows fall into that range. Even the statics are all in there. I have kept a few 50 something's as well, but most are going to be 64-66".

[The Gopher]

The more things change the more they stay the same!