who shoots a selfbow?

[Justin Falon]

how short can you make them, safely without backing??

[razorback]

Depends on design and draw length. PatB had a posting for a all wood recurve on here a few weeks ago and I think it was about 48".

[Pat B]

A good rule of thumb is twice your draw length plus 20%. If you are more experienced add 10%. An old rule of thumb for a self bow says...a bow fully drawn is 9/10th broken...so a bow that is just twice your draw length is almost broken. The extra 10% is insurance!  
  Tony, it is 60". I have built shorter bows but sinew backed them or shortened the draw length.

[AKmud]

I do too.  I recently started building bows and now have about 10 under my belt (only blown up 3   ). I haven't killed anything other than paper yet, but the moose I got with my compound last year was only 14yds out so I could have easily done it with one of my stick bows!

[Asafan]

I started to make bows with glass the last autumn, but also now bows of a stick - my favourite toys. Each such bow is done by magic - superfluous wood is removed only. I made hundreds, and itself I shoot with pleasure!
 

[Eric Krewson]

I have made 122 so far, been shooting them exclusively since 96.

[Big Dave]

Started making them last year and their nearly all I shoot anymore  :D    :D

[frank bullitt]

I love mine and yours! Why don't you send more of yours to shoot?

[Frank]

I've been building and shooting selfbows since 95.  Currently shooting an osage recurve that my good friend Allan made me.  First time since 95 that I've hunted with a bow other than mine.

Boy, he makes a nice bow.

 

[Wyostikbo]

I make and shoot them. There isn't a bigger thrill than shooting an arrow with a bow you just made youself.

[yalobusha]

I've been building and shooting self bows for the past 3 years. They are really addictive,     and lots of fun .    
Ken

[gordonf]

I make them and shoot them.

[lablover]

I make and shoot them, osage my favorite but ash, and maple right up there.

[frank bullitt]

Frank, that is a beauty! Allan who? Man I love them curves!