What exactly is a Flatbow ??

[WestTnMan]

I hear about them but have never had my hands on one. What exactly is a flatbow? Are there any particulars about them that make them better or worse than a regular longbow? From what I can tell it is a longbow with wider limbs but what is the benefit of that? Any help appreciated...as Mark Twain said "we are all ignorant, just about different things."

[vermonster13]

The benefit was they were able to be made from a wider variety of woods than a longbow. Today with glass and laminations it is more a choice of what one likes.

[R H Clark]

FYI in most places overseas,they call all our longbows flatbows.I think for them a longbow has to have a deep D cross section.

[WestTnMan]

So a real flatbow would be a type of selfbow? Wider limbs would make it easier to use different woods without breaking or cracking?

[Steve B.]

A flatbow is a bow with non-recurved, flat, relatively wide limbs that are approximately rectangular in cross-section. Because the limbs are relatively wide, flatbows will usually narrow and become deeper at the handle, with a rounded, non-bending, handle for easier grip. This design differs from that of a longbow, which has rounded limbs that are circular or D shaped in cross-section, and is usually widest at the handle. A flatbow may however be just as long as a longbow. Traditional flatbows are usually wooden selfbows (bows made of one solid piece of wood), though laminated and composite flatbows have been made in ancient and modern times.

Wikipedia

[Pat B]

When I think of a flat bow I think of an American longbow style with a rectangular cross section. That was the traditional style developed  from the Native American bows as compared with the old English longbow style which has a deep, rounded or arced belly. These early bows were mostly made of wood as selfbow or simple backed bows. There are also versions of flatbow styles from other parts of the world. Some of the most anchient designs were flatbows; ie, Holmsgaard in Europe and the Sudbury bow of the Northeastern US(Sudsbury Mass).
  In modern times, like Vermonster said it is a matter of personal preference. The glass flatbow style (shorter length with wider non-recurved limbs)seemed to become popular in the 80's as another option for the glass bow builders to broaden their markets.

[SELFBOW19953]

Examples of modern flatbows:  

Thunder Mountain Coyote, Stotler Game Getter/Game Buster, John McDonald Flatbow, just to name a few.

[WestTnMan]

Any idea where I could get a good book about building a flat bow? I would like to try it. Never built a bow before and really have a strong desire to try. Not much of one to go home and watch TV and can't afford motorcycle parts right now so I need something to work on. I have a Percimon trunk (sp?) I cut about 4 years ago that is straigt, about 6" diameter and 6" long I would like to try to build a bow from. I have kept it in the garage all that time so it is dry.

[Dick in Seattle]

I got interested in flatbows as opposed to Hill-style bows awhile back due to involvement with the lemonwood selfbows that were so common back in the 50's and 60's.   I decided I wanted to see how that design would translate into modern fiberglass layup, which I think it does fairly well.

My thinking went something like this:  I like longbows (thinking Hill style longbows) but I do seem to shoot recurves a bit better, and I'm getting old and my shoulder hurts and the recurves, with their thinner limbs seem to draw more smoothly... so, why not a straight longbow with thin limbs?   As a theory, it seems to work.   My flatbows are nice, pleasant, smooth shooters.   I kind of alternate between building them and building Hill-styles.

Here are a couple of pix of one of my flatbows...

 

 

 

[Pat B]

Paul Comstock's "The Bent Stick" is an excellent, inexpensive book with lots of good info about building wood flatbows. There are other books too but this book will tell you what you need to know. If you decide to go farther into wood bow building other books can be suggested.

[WestTnMan]

Nice looking bow Dick in Seattle. I think I will order Paul's book today. I have seen it for years but never looked at a copy. Thanks for the tips fellas.

[SELFBOW19953]

Hopefully, you debarked your persimmon log.  I had a nice one several years ago that left the bark on-borers got to it and it was firewood.

[bayoulongbowman]

Casecade archery, Steve Gorr , makes one of the best!!!!! you wont wear it out either!!!