Longbow?

[luvnlongbow]

I really do not want to start a mess. I am curious though, as to what the folks here consider a longbow. I see a lot of adds and posts about bows that I think are semi recurves, yet they are called longbows. My thoughts are that a longbow is a bow that is straight of limb or slight R/D that maintains the "D" shape. Of course there are bows with back set and there are bows with string follow. Mind you, I do not dislike Semi recurves. I am just curious.

[hawk4570]

Longbow String does not touch limb after it leaves grooves in the tip

[WESTBROOK]

Hill style (mostly)straight limb, mild R/D like Robertson or Mohawk, those are longbows to me. I got a couple Shrews and love'em like nobodies business but I dont consider them longbows, I guess technicaly they are but...they just aint.

Theres more to a longbow than cuttin' off the curve or bolting on a different limb.

Fire away

Eric

[Jerry Jeffer]

Give me a "D" that's how ya spell longbow.

[Killdeer]

[AdamH]

I think you've answered your own ?? All else are Hybrids ...

[seabass]

my widow is highly reflex\\deflex but it is d shaped when it is strung.it is the corvette of longbows.it is a longbow to me and i love it.you will probably get a hundred opinions on this one.like killdeer said you are beating a dead horse.she is full of wisdom.good luck this season,steve

[bornagainbowhunter]

the requirement at our club for a longbow is that the string does not touch the limb after the nock and there are NO string groves on the limb.
God Bless,
Nathan

[S.C. Hunter]

I am guilty of calling all of them longbow. The funny thing is I always tell others if it is a D shape when strung it's a longbow. I guess the majority out there are hybrids.

[Sixby]

What does it matter? Theya re a stick and a string. god Bless you and peace to you all, Steve

I really don't care what shape the limbs are as long as the bow gets on point without a lot of thought and does not react wildly to my release. I have a lot of faith in a bow that bends into a D when loaded, but I am always open to be impressed by anything that does its job well, whatever shape it is.

[Friends call me Pac]

To me a longbow is straight when unstrung and looks like a D when strung.  The rest are hybrids. Of course my selfbow that I made from a piece of hickory isn't straight when unstrung & I sure don't consider it a hybrid.

[luvnlongbow]

Thank you all for your opinions. Again, I was only asking for opinions on the style of bows.

[David Mitchell]

Well, it would be nice if we could all use the same terminology but that won't likely happen   :(  .  What today are called longbows were back in the 50s called semi-recurves.  Same style bow just different terminology.  I shoot all sorts of bows "real" longbows, hybrids, and recurves.  I like them all.  

[bentpole]

Slightly reflex deflex when unstrung.          D Shape when strung.     By the way you ever shoot a Mohawk?             bentpole

[luvnlongbow]

I too like them all David.

Still trying to find a Mohawk to shoot in this area. Have not had the chance to shoot one. Would love to though.

[Al Dean]

There are recurve longbows, RD longbows, straight longbows, self longbows ect..  Technicaly they are all longbows.  Traditionaly call them what you may.

[Butch Speer]

I call my Big 5 & my Shelton longbows but, they're really American style flatbows. A "longbow" is a deep core, narrow limbed bow normally associated with the English longbow. Just my $0.02