Question Backward Recurve Damage

[59Alaskan]

Hello.  New to this sport.  I have not done this, but have seen bows for sale where people have strung a recurve backwards unknowingly.  What are the associated risks with this?  I would imagine whoever is doing this is also doing this without the aid of a bow stringer so there is all the of twist and damage with that, but if they got through that, and left a bow strung backwards for years (unshot) what are the risks?  Thank you!

[acadian archer]

RISKS - SCARS and antler marks on forehead, face, arms,

IMO not worth the risk

[poison arrow]

There are bows like that for sale all over d day. It is pretty easy to string it backwrds and does not require a whole lot of effort. It would be tough to use a stringer because the tips are pointing down basicly backwards and the stringer would just slide right off. Leaving it strung backwards is not good for it and especialy if there is a lot of tension. You can get one limb that is more recurved than the other and have some tiller problems. Could lead to twists if the bow is shrinking and expanding with the temperature over time. Twists sometimes go hand in hand with delamination. If it is a bow that has been strung backwards and standing in a corner you can imagine one limb is more recurved than the other, the one on the bottom that is supporting the weight tension and gravity.

[59Alaskan]

Thank you.  It makes sense there is fairly large risks.

[Lamey]

You also have to ask yourself,  if the bow is strung "backwards" what else has been done to it over the course of its lifetime in unknowing hands.

[ChuckC]

On the other hand... recurves were strung like that a lot "back in the day",  not to shoot, but to store.  It keeps the string in place, and a properly fitted string will just give some tension on the bow most times.   As long as it wasn't shot that way, or drawn,  I personally would have no problems buying that bow.
ChuckC

[SCATTERSHOT]

No risk at all, if you don't shoot it that way. We used to store bows that way all the time in the dim, distant past.

[reddogge]

I don't understand.  There are hundreds on here who never unstring their bows which puts LOTS of tension on the limbs but minimal stress created by backwards stringing will somehow damage the limbs and affect tiller.  What am I not understanding here?

[Bjorn]

Bows are made to be pulled one direction only. It depends on how much tension is created by the backwards stringing. Unless someone has tried drawing it backwards, and shooting it it is likely not a big deal.