Your idea of the perfect longbow

[Mike Mecredy]

Hi All,  without mentioning the bowyer, the company ect. Describe to me the characteristics of what you think is the perfect longbow.  

(and there's no such thing as a perfect longbow isn't a good answer, I already know that, I just want your opinions as hardcore trad bow hunters)

[JEFF B]

for me its got to be short 60" re flex de flex and thin tapering limbs oh and 45 to 50# @27 to 28" draw and have a core of  bamboo and skins of osage with osage riser

[dnovo]

For me it has to be a longbow as in long. Minimun 64" mild r/d design or straight limb with straight or very slight semi dish grip. No recurve handles or deep locator grip. I like bamboo core although that isn't a sticking point

[red hill]

With my short draw the bow won't be very long. But it does need to be light in the hand, draw smoothly, and have no hand shock upon release. I really like osage, but other materials are okay, too. It should have a strait profile or maybe a little reflex.

[Mudd]

Minimum 66-68" 46-48@28  long elegant look with narrow limbs, deep core, shorter riser, grip at least 2" front to back, straight or very mild dish.

Limbs trapped and a small amount of string follow.

Limb cores would be a combo of bamboo, yew divided with a thin piece of white glass sandwiched in. Brown glass on the front and ivory glass on the belly. Riser wood... what else but mytrle.

No limb tip overlays but wedges.

When I put my hand to it, I end up in "Sherwood".

God bless,Mudd

[awbowman]

The grip fits and the arrows are tuned.  After that it doesn't matter... Unless you need to shoot pretty bows too!

[ron w]

I like'm all, well almost all, straight, string follow, mild R/D, reverse handle. Not a real fan of the short hybrid forward handle type. I like bamboo cores and nice grainy lams but will buy a bow with black or brown glass if it meets my specs. I like 64-68", 45-50# @ 29".......and that's that!  

[ChrisM]

Quiet (supsonic arrow speed so this is the only way to lessen jumping the string), Stable or forgiving.

[BOHO]

Id say it depends on its use. a hunting/scouting bow will be a lot different than a practice/form bow. for a hunting bow I like 58" and upper 50# range at 28". Its got to be quiet and shoot where Im looking. for me 58" seems to be long enough to be smooth but short enough to be maneuverable. for a form bow Id like something around 64-66" and in the upper 40 to 50# range at 28. Great for working on form and not fighting draw weight.

[Ric O'Shay]

Originally posted by Mudd:
Minimum 66-68" 46-48@28  long elegant look with narrow limbs, deep core, shorter riser, grip at least 2" front to back, straight or very mild dish.

Limbs trapped and a small amount of string follow.

Limb cores would be a combo of bamboo, yew divided with a thin piece of white glass sandwiched in. Brown glass on the front and ivory glass on the belly. Riser wood... what else but mytrle.

No limb tip overlays but wedges.

When I put my hand to it, I end up in "Sherwood".

God bless,Mudd

X2!!

[monterey]

66 to 72 inches.  1.5 inch at the fades, low tip weight, longish riser (17 to 18 inch).  Limbs narrow at the tips.  1/2 to 1 inch reflex starting about four inches beyond the fades in a continuous even arc.

Pretty much the Bingham design.

I know, it's not a "hill", but it has less hand shock.

[Pat B.]

Mudd did just fine, except make mine closer to 60#

[Gen273]

A short forward handle longbow, at least that is what I like.

[lueger]

Just joined and this discussion caught my eye right away. I absolutelly love my h.hill but like monterey alluded to, that hand shock will jar you, if a little off on form.
 Especially at 75#. 72" length helps some. I'd like to try some other performance longbows for comparison.

[threeunder]

60"-62" R/D

Light as a feather.
Quiet as a mouse.
Hits like Thor.

52#-54#
Leather or Beaver grip.

Think MOAB.

[LongStick64]

American Straight limb D Bow, 68" Green Glass with back set

[The Whittler]

A good grip like on most hybrid. The number 1 thing is no too very little hand shock.

[RecurveRookie]

Lightweight, quick, no shock, super quiet, efficient, graceful form, FORGIVING.

[ironmike]

for ground hunting a 68" narrow limbed laminated yew[4lambs]narrow hill handle,a little bit a r/d/,small shelf.  for brush hunting 62" or less.

[Horserod]

It has to be smooth shooting with little to no handshock.  Forgiving. Able to launch an arrow with some authority and beautiful to look at and pleasing to hold in your hand.  At a reasonable cost!  That should do to start with.......Horserod