take down Limbs attached to the belly Adv / Dis Adv.?

[Joey V.]

Does anyone have any ideas why a few guys attached their bow limbs on the belly side of the riser such as Black Widow bows? I am wondering since the limbs are actually behind the bow hand what the difference would be.  B/W bows have a cult like following so they must have something right...  Anyone Know why that started in the first place with B/W?
Thx

[Andy Cooper]

I don't know why that is done, but I prefer the looks of a forward riser. I suspect shorter bows can be used by so locating the limbs...but I may be, once again, showing my ignorance. Good question!

[Swissbow]

Since the riser is placed forward to the limbs i think it may have the same effect as the deflex in a d/r-design. That is that the bow is more forgiving and less sensitive to improper shooting style.

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Andy

[Joey V.]

Swissbow.  I was thinking the same thing...  It looks like I will be experimenting this weekend.  I will post back my thoughts.

[jess stuart]

They look cool or at least in my opinion.  That is the reason I started building my longbows that way, and they are a little different than most others.  I do think they are more forgiving.  Mostly I build them that way cause I just simply like em better.

[Andy Cooper]

I've got a Habu on the way. It has a recurve riser with the longbow limbs on the belly like the Widows and like Jess's bows. Seems like the best of both worlds to me.

[Joey V.]

Andy I love the Habu bow look I know exactly what you are referring too.  Hope you got the exhibition grade Cocobolo it is amazing....  I was wondering how Habu gets away with the design without Black Widow trying to sue him.  I believe B/W put a suit against Samic for a bow a few yrs back that was almost identical to Habu and the B/W...  Anyway Enjoy the bow it is a work of art and I wish I could afore one....

[Allen Ziebarth]

I stopped by Black Widow just last week and was talking to them about this very subject.
They told me the reason they went to that style was for the bow to be more stable.
They had me draw a bow, then try to use my bow hand to twist the bow.
The limbs on the belly side makes it harder to torque the bow, than having the limbs on the back side. I tried it with their SAG, compared to one of the belly mount bows. There is a big difference.
It is more stable, but I sure don't care for the looks very much.

[Apex Predator]

Yep, a more stable shooting platform!

[Joey V.]

Well ok but from a draw standpoint wouldn't your actual draw be shorter???  It seems to me that is they put the limbs in the front you will have a longer power stroke right?  Well then again I guess it all depends on the limb tip orientation.....  Confusing for sure but I plan on trying to build one this weekend. I anticipate this getting expensive before I get it right LOL.