"Longbow" Rant ...

[Rob DiStefano]

For years and years I keep seeing Everyone using the silly ASL reference that makes no sense.  This is longbow identification terminology that was wrong from the get-go and really should change, but unfortunately it never ever will.  I get it.  But yet, I'll be absurd and fly in the face of "acceptance" ...

ASL = American Style Longbow - Yes, it's true that when Americans such as Howard Hill created self and backed longbows that were not ELB "D" shaped, it was an American innovation of sorts.  But "style" is not a defining word.  This ASL acronym makes little sense for such an important bow design.

ASL = American Semi Longbow - What's "semi" about it?  Absolutely nothing! This makes no sense!

ASL = American Straight Longbow - NO longbow, even the highly touted ELB is "straight".  Again, a nonsense meaning.

AFL = American Flat Longbow - THIS is what Howard Hill created.  It's an ELB that has had its "D" belly FLATTENED.  Both back AND belly are flat.  The resulting stave is left plain or backed, Howard eventually went with glass fiber cloth.  The limbs can be dead straight, or with string follow, or with slightly reflexed tips.  THIS is an American Flat Longbow.

OK??? 

Well, I can tell by all of yer pissin' 'n' moanin' I guess not ... so rant over, sorry for the interruption, carry on folks, time for me to crawl back in my cave and take my meds ....

[Bowjunkie]

Ahhh, a good rant is a beautiful thing! 

I have never, not once, used the ASL acronym, and won't, for reasons such as you stated. I'm not gonna use AFL either. Jes sayin' 

[Roy from Pa]

Cabin fever has different effects on different folks:)

I frequently need to lookup the meaning of ASL, seriously I do....

I make r/d longbows, or hybrid, or Roys style bows.

I never did pay attention in school or to what others were saying:)

Morning Rob, carry on...

 

[Roy from Pa]

How about a forward handle longbow, Rob?

LOL

[Eric Krewson]

We do need a better designation, I have people ask me what kind of bow I make and it gets confusing. I usually say an American all wood longbow like they made in the 30s or 40s, vastly different from the English longbow. Of course they probably don't know the difference between an English longbow. American longbow or a football bat but at least I gave them a correct answer..

[Crooked Stic]

Yer all wet everbody knows it means Arm Shaking Longbow 

[Flem]

Unless you have better, more concise definitions for all the various styles that are included under the umbrella of "Longbow", what exactly are you complaining about?
If you do your homework and look thru the historical evolution of the "longbow" you will discover the terms we use evolved over a long span of time, parallel to the evolution of the Bow its self.
You are simplifying terminology, to suit your rant.
ASL is a semi Longbow because it is not as long as the ELB it evolved from.
"Flatbows" are wider and not as thick as an ASL, hence the term "Flat". Maybe we should call them "Widebows"
Straight means no curve; no reflex, no de-flex, no recurve

[monterey]

Agree, Flem. 

American Flat Bow suits me just fine and I've used that term but most people don't know what the h%*l I'm talking about.  They understand ASL though. ASL also distinguishes from the R/D "longbows".  Love those R/Ds but to me they are not longbows.   

Your challenge, Rob, is to change an entire culture but that may not be a project worth undertaking IMO.

I thoroughly appreciate your rant though. 

[jsweka]

My longbows are straight when unstrung. 

[Bowjunkie]

Of all the stickbow shooter's and bowyers I know personally, I'd be very surprised if a single ONE of them could tell me what asl 'really' meant. Well, besides Roy... maybe.

[hunting badger]

I say call it what you want, the American Semi Longbow never made any sense to me but neither does a R/D longbow, if anything it should be D/R because the reflex starts at the handle then reflexes. I doubt if either will ever change now, so i'm not losing any sleep over either but I do understand your frustration.

[Flem]

A; American, conceived in United States of America
S; Semi, not as long as the English Longbow, the Bow of prominence in the early part of the 20th century
L; Longbow, so designated because it was originally meant to be long (Man size)
 
Better known as a "Hill" style Bow.

[Bowjunkie]

Still nondescript and vague enough to be practically meaningless. Most all of my bows fall under that huge umbrella, but not one of them is a 'Hill style' bow. If Hill-style-longbow is what is meant and there's a need for an acronym, then shouldn't it be HSL?

[Roy from Pa]

Shredd, what's you think?

[Flem]

Those of you who are too obstinate or just cannot make the connection for whatever reason, here is what the vague and elusive "ASL" looks like;

If you still find this acronym distressing to the point of consternation...... Well you are going to have to take that up with the dead guy who coined it. I'm sure Howard can set you straight, if you can discorporate to have that conversation.

[Roy from Pa]

Clem, ya gotta stop using all them big fancy werds..

I'm gonna have to splain em to Kenny.

[Flem]

I thought I liquified all my brain cells back in the 70's, but the lone one that survived seems to have an affinity for the dictionary.

[Crooked Stic]

Darn it Elroy we dont need everybodys thoughts   

[kennym]

I'm just glad I like D/Rs or R/Ds or whatever you wanna call em…  It depends on if I hit the target or not what it gets called...

[wood carver 2]

I don’t stress or even care what people call them. I just like shooting trad bows! 
Dave.