How long can you keep a bow strung?

[lanl]

My boys each have a trad long bow and was wondering how long it is safe (for integrity of bow)to keep the bows strung instead of unstringing after shooting?  due to back problems I need to keep them strung.  I do store them hanging vertical.Thanks for any info.

leo lantz
fargo,nd

[Joseph]

If they are wood core/glass front and back you can leave them strung indefinetly.  Joseph

[WidowEater]

some say to unstring longbows every so often, but i never do.

Bob Morrison says this about his bows: "It doesnt matter if you keep it strung during the season or if you shoot it regularly.  If its out of season or you stop shooting it for awhile it doesnt matter either".

[jhansen]

The idea that you should unstring a bow began back in the days when all bows were made of wood or natural composits.  Such bows would "take a set" if left strung for long periods.  Glass-backed bows don't have this problem.  It can be argued that there is more danger to the bow in stringing and unstringing than in leaving the darned thing strung all the time.

John

[Larry247]

I hardly ever unstring my bows, they stay strung up all year long...

I unstring mine (glass or carbon-limbed) when I travel on a hunt.  They stay strung rest of the time.

[Blackhawk]

The question was asked over on the Widow site and someone wrote that the longbows should be unstrung because of their thicker core.

Ken Beck responded with:

"Denny is correct. See page 12 in the Owners Manual. Leaving a longbow strung will not cause serious damage (our showroom bows are left strung all the time),but this will cause them to loose a pound or two over a period of time. Besides,unlike a recuve, there is virtualy no risk of damaging a longbow in the stringing or unstringing process. Therefore, we do recommend unstinging your longbow between shooting sessions."

[scriv]

I owned a black widow recurve that I kept strung for 15 years.  I kept it hung in a cool spot away from sunlight, hung horizontally from two hooks a foot from each end.  No issues.  The only time I instring them is when I change a string or am going to travel and feel they are safer unstrung.  When I hunt locally I put them in a case strung.  

[AdamH]

I unstring everytime when Im done shootin, takes about 5 seconds w/a $12.00 Sel-Way Stringer..

[lilbobby]

Unstrung once in 5 years on one of my bows, all my other bows have never been unstung.

[Van/TX]

I don't know much, but I do know that an unstrung bow is safe and under no stress.  I also know that if you are not 100% confident in your stringing/unstringing ability then you are probably better off stinging the bow and leaving it strung forever.  Except for changing strings when they become worn...Van

[Ken Taylor]

I always unstring my longbows between practices during the off seasons.

Also, where I keep them, I find it easier to store them unstrung.

Like someone already mentioned, It is quite easy and safe to unstring longbows with a proper stringer and I think that the risk of damage is minimal.

Len Cardinale once told me that I didn't have to unstring them and I believe him, it is just that I feel more comfortable having them unstrung when not in use for a while.

[Bill Tell]

If you leave it strung all of the time how much stretch will you end up in your string?  I first left it strung all of the time but kept having to twist the string up to make up for stretch.  My BH was always off.

[Otto]

I've got laminated bows that have been strung for over 15 years.  No issues to report.

[Don Stokes]

More recurves have been damaged by improper stringing than anything else. It's better to leave them strung than to risk damage by stringing or unstringing.

A recurve that has been abused somewhere along the line and has some limb twist benefits from staying strung, and may correct itself with time, especially if you help it along by twisting the strung limb in the opposite direction from time to time. My brother rehabilitated an old Bear that way.

[Stringdancer]

I have an old Bear that, I have had strung for the past 30 years with no problems so far other than it's lost about 3# draw weight in that 30 years.  The only time it gets unstrung is to replace the string.  

Mike

[Shawn Leonard]

As Van said, leave them strung forever. I have a Pearson that has been strung since 1966, the only time it has been unstrung was to replace the string. 42 years and it has not lost a pound! Shawn