Is this bow fixable?

[Trenton G.]

Hi guys. I was recently given a longbow by a gentleman who could no longer pull it. When he asked if I was interested I told him of course and he brought the bow out. I have never seen a bow that looks as twisted and out of wack as this one. I was almost scared to draw it back halfway. As you can see in the pictures, it is very twisted, and when strung the string does not line up with the riser at all. I'm wondering is there a way to fix this, or is it going to be a wall-hanger? The bow is 65# so I have enough to work with that I'd be willing to reduce a bit of draw weight in order to fix it. I've heard heating and bending could help, I'm just not sure with how severe this is. If there are any picture angles that would be useful, please let me know and I can take them. Any help or advice would be appreciated!

[Poultrygeist]

If nothing else, you could maybe try and make a 2 piece take down.

[Crooked Stic]

I would think that was built that way.
 with a bad centerline.

[Flem]

Is it fiberglassed? I'm thinking it is with the side grain runout. I wonder why the builder did that. Very strange. You could cut a shelf in on the opposite side at the bottom of the handle, at least the string would be more in line

[Pat B]

Most of the bend seems to be at the shelf/handle location almost like it was leaning against a wall with something pushing against it. That would be the weakest area of the bow, any bow.

[garyschuler]

Put the riser in a padded vise and use the wrapped string method with water filled milk jugs with or without hot water soaked towels to take twist out, start with worst limb. Generally one is twisted and the other is not. Happens with standing bow on one limb for long periods like years and possibly something was leaned against it. Worth a shot.

[Trenton G.]

Thanks for all the suggestions!
I find it hard to believe that the bow could deform like that at the handle, and like Crooked Stic I wondered if it was actually built that way. If it was I don't know how or why it made it out of the shop in that shape.
I guess I should have specified that it is a fiberglass bow. The guy who gave it to me said that it was a Martin, although I don't see any markings on the bow anywhere that tell what it is. Aside from the draw weight and the bow length, the only thing on it is ML 14 4337.
I don't have the tools or the ability to make it into a two piece, although it is a good idea! If I had the capabilities I might have given that a try.
Flem, if I was left handed I might try building a shelf out of that side and shooting it that way! Maybe I could turn it upside down and shoot it that way haha.

I might try heating it up and trying to slowly reshape it.

[Pat B]

I think the ML14 might be a Martin. I don't know why anyone, especially a bowyer would lay up a bow that far off.

[garyschuler]

Easily fixed with hot water and twisting the limbs back to correct set. Martin ML 10.s and 14's were stacking SOB;s and lots of hand shock. it is fixable. The problem is not at the handle but in the limbs. probably strung using the step through method which is a bow killer with recurves and narrow limbed lo longbows.