Flat Bows ( what are they)

[Brianlocal3]

I just read the book "Flat Bow" which goes into detail about making a flat bow.  But with the exception of Mahaska I dont see Flat Bows for sale. And I was just cruising around Great Northerns website looking at the Bush Bow and per its description I would call it a Flat Bow. Am I correct to assume this?
    Im also under the understanding that there are the English Longbows, which are of the "D" cross cut shape, the Hill Style Longbow (American Semi-Long bow) which takes into account the supieriority of utilizing woods per the design of the bow. And I think of flat bows as what the Native Americans where making.  Can somebody enlighten me on this subject and possibly point me in the direction of some reading material so that I may study up on it.
   I am a fan of History which is why I am interested in this. This is not to cause debate among the members, again just for informational purposes.

[Warren Cowen]

Kohannah makes a Flat Bow.

[Brianlocal3]

Thank you for that. Ill look at them. Pictures speak loudly.  I am not in the market for one right now, again more so just a reference

[J. Holden]

Brian, I'm no expert but I believe a flat bow has wider limbs from the handle out to the last third or so of the limb then they fade to the tips, width wise.  I also think the limbs are maybe skinnier from back to belly.  A longbow has more narrow limbs that taper from handle all the way out the tips, evenly, and are a bit more beefier.  Again, I think...  You may pose this question on the Bowyers Bench forum and get better answers/pictures.  Good luck with your search.

-Jeremy  

[Brianlocal3]

Thank you

[owlbait]

Jeremy gave you a great description, Flatbows are wider limbs with less depth, longbows typically have narrower limbs with more depth. My first custom bow was a Flatbow from Windstorm. I really liked how smooth it was, and shot my black bear with it. After that I switched to R/d longbows and have never gone back.

[Brianlocal3]

Owl bait, did you go aggressive r/d or mild that braces up "d" and why?

[Biathlonman]

I had a Kohannah and it was a real nice bow.  The description of thin wide limbs above is a good description.

[gringol]

Thin wide limbs seem like the mark of the flat bow to me.  That said, there is sort of a continuum between flat bows and long bows.  A lot of modern longbows look just as much like flat bows as long bows.  I shoot a 60" long bow that has very thin but wide 2" limbs.  If it didn't have any reflex I think I would call it a flat bow.

[owlbait]

Brian, I shoot them all EXCEPT Hill style bows. They just don't work for me. Mild or aggressive, D-shaped or not, it is all about the grip, the smoothness of draw, the lack of recoil or shock, and how they perform with the arrows I want to use. A huge factor to me is the bowyer also. I'm fotunate to have shot thousands of bows and I still get a chance to shoot many different bows a year so I get a chance to see what works for me.

[Brianlocal3]

That is great owl, I have had the opportunity to shoot about 6-10 customs, out of which I could really only afford 2-4 or them.  It is nice to see how different bows feel. But to me, they all feel nice in the beginning, so I think I would have to own them to really get the feel.

[ScouterMike]

Steve at Northern Mist will make a flatbow. He calls it the Huron. I have a 62in Huron and it is a smooth, quiet shooter.

[Dave Thaxton]

I really like my flatbows...see sig line

[SELFBOW19953]

Flatbows are made by Stotler, ChekMate, John McDonald, Northwind, Northern Mist, Thunder Mountain, and Great Northern, just to name a few.  I own or have owned all of the above and liked them.

[ripforce56]

I just got this Osage Great Northern "Bushbow" 60in Flatbow in a trade! I also have 2 D-Styles Bama Longbows and a Bama Royal Expedition R/D! The flat bow does have the wider, flat limbs, much differant than my other bows, also has a very straight handle with hardly any locator! Bow is a real nice shooter but is a lot differant from anything else I have!

 

[Brianlocal3]

Thank you all for the definitions.

[Brianlocal3]

Reviving my thread. I am now the owner of a 62" Northern Mist Huron Flatbow. It's a mild D/R that shapes D when strung. I'm getting used to the shortness of it.  I still prefer my longer bows.
   I have found it to draw really smooth. Shoots very nice and has a straight grip that narrows into my pal and widens out by the knuckles.  I don't know if I'll keep it or not yet.  Trying to decide.  The Superior I own is amazing and the Huron is no slouch but I think I prefer the stiffer draw from the Superior.
   Sometime this week I am going to get the calipers out and take some measurements and post them up between the two.