most durable bow design?

[nightowl1]

No mudd you are correct. I intended this to be bow design. I guess I just have that style bow ingrained into my head as being a Hill.

I figured a recurve would not make the list due to limb twist and thin limbs. The "Hill style" limbs are thicker and I'm betting hard to twist.

So go ahead and explain your reasons for the bow you choose...

[Mudd]

Longbow 1st because of its feel, forgiveness(I need all I can get) and how it makes me fell shooting it. I could be Errol Flynn/Robin Hood... ok Not!

Recurve especially static tipped style just because the look so stinking cool.

Any of the far east bows because they give me an experience that the others can't and they also look soooo very cool too.

God bless,Mudd

[Jim Wright]

Hard to avoid sounding sarcastic but I've owned bows of just about every common bow design and with a little common sense they are all easy to care for. If you find me trying to figure out one that is "indestructable" rest assured I am considering something really stupid.

[nightowl1]

Not sarcastic at all... maybe a little rude though.

[Killdeer]

I have never owned a Hill, but Leon Stewart's bows are very substantial! That being said, when I look at the workmanship, the flowing lines, and the sleek tips, I cannot for a moment contemplate digging for arrows with it. It's a bow, not a Swiss Army knife, not an entrenching tool, not a clumsy club.

Killdeer~ now watch me slam the truck door on it...   :eek:

[Stone Knife]

Originally posted by Mudd.
   

 I actually thought the topic was intended to be more of bow design, not bow builders.  I was thinking along the lines of English style, Mongolian style,Native American Indian(they had several styles) The Huns... ect, ect.  I guess I was totally wrong. Sorry!  I'll back out of this one.. hopefully with some grace.  God bless,Mudd  

Sounds just like a Hill  

[TheFatboy]

Talking wooden bows, I'd say a long (68" plus), moderately wide straight-stave bow. But that's just what my logic tells me. I am convinced that if you want a bow that will last for a hundred years, then you should be getting a horn-wood-sinew composite.

[Diamond Paul]

Gotta be some kind of longbow, but I would say that Black Widow recuves (I don't shoot one, by the way) appear to be about as bomb-proof as a recurve made of wood can be.

[James Wrenn]

Straighter longbows are much better for using as walking sticks,pry bars ect than recurves.The toss down out of trees much better and don't turn inside out like a recurve can.

[RRock]

If you get one 66" or longer, you can use it as a fishing pole also.

[Mudd]

I think I've read about some bows that have not only been around for years(like lifetimes) that can still be shot.

I can see something like the Holmeguarde(sp?)design lasting. It is such an over built design it looks like you'd have to work at it to break it but if you used it as a bow instead of a pry bar it should hold up.(IMHO)

God bless,Mudd

[bmb]

im gonna have to go with...a metal riser ilf bow:) you can always find limbs and its hard to break decent aluminium

[Shaun]

Osage self bow with beeswax finish, no tip overlays, snake skins or sinew - just plane old stick of hedge apple. Its bullet proof, rot proof and close as it gets to indestructible.

[TheFatboy]

Are Mudd and I totally off topic? I thought we were talking about designs, not brands and bow woods  

[Bobby Urban]

The less highbrid or Hyper designed the limbs the more indestructable by design.  That puts any well built longbow with relatively straight limbs and little or not extras like fancy limb tips, etc.. into this catagory.  Then you get into designs within the group like a straight, D shaped limb is probably a little tougher than a thinner flat limbed bow but only slightly.  

As a point of reference I just throw my bow out of the tree at the end of a hunt and climb down to collect it when I am hunting with my Great Northern Bushbow or Northern Mist reverse handle but I am very careful to lower my recurves on a string.  I did drop a custom BigHorn curve about 15' straight up and down onto the bottom limb once and it bounced about 10' back up into the air.  I was real scared to get down and see it but to my surprise it was no worse for wear.  

My 2cents -

[Gerry]

Any Bear Bow assuming you are Fred Bear...

[Ragnarok Forge]

I was just going to mention Fred Bear.  He used his as a walking stick and killed a lot of animals.  I would say a hill longbow.  Very tough.

[kbetts]

The longbow I have waiting could beat up my Widow recurves without breaking a sweat.  And Widows are tough.

[nightowl1]

I like the way you think RRock... i can't believe I missed that one

[Shaun]

Toughest shape has to be narrow/thick Hill style limbs. The more like a natural round stick the better. I'll still take a good osage self bow for all around hog whackin', pole vaulting, spear chucking, fast stream wading and scream like a little girl self defense and keep on tickin' performance. Well worth the few FPS lost to glass and curvy limb designs.