Handle shape??

[mikkekeswick]

Me and a friend are just getting started on making a bow for his son's christmas present. It's going to be a 64 inch r/d longbow
The only 'issue' is that he uses a thumb draw. He is left handed so the arrow will be on the left of the bow.
My question is would you guys cut out a shelf and what shape of handle would be best for a thumb draw shooter? He has only ever shot a bow with no shelf and that's what he is comfortable with (at the moment!).
Ideas anyone?!

[KenH]

I'd make it shelf-less, Mike.  Just narrow the handle from side to side so that it's not such a fist full.  I did that with my last short recurve build based off a design by JamesV here. Limbs exactly as designed, same length of riser, but I just narrowed both sides and left off the shelf because I'm accustomed to shooting off the hand.  I inlaid a walnut dot to mark the nominal arrow-pass for constancy sake:

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[monterey]

Kenh, I really like your bows!

[KenH]

Thanx Monterey.  Basically I build the bows I want that I can't buy without mortgaging my boat  - like my 48" Scythian, this 44" stubby and a 56" Warring States Chinese Bendy-handle flatbow.