Your idea of the perfect longbow

[longbowray]

64 or 66 longbow in the high 50's boo limbs and brown glass on back and green on belly .

[Nativestranger]

64". Strong reflex deflex but braces to a triangle with straight limbs so that it's IFAA legal. Slim rigid outer limbs that improves the efficiency and stored energy. Lots of preload followed by smooth draw to 29". Carbon back under thin veneer and thick protective finish. Carbon composite instead of glass on tip overlays. Fast with little to no handshock even with light arrows. Shoots around the 200fps mark at 9gpp 28" and quietly. Medium wrist locator grip with pivot point placed well forward of limb fades for forgiveness. Long and larger than average riser with heavy wood, glass and phenolic for stability. IFAA legal V notch sight window but slightly concave shape. 2 pc take down with the socket system.

[Bjorn]

I'm old and can only pull 50-52# so I want 64" heavy R/D, carbon belly and back, the core is bowyer's choice, low grip. Either cut to center or past center, 3pc or 2 pc is fine.
Frankly I don't like to know too much-but rather trust the bowyer to handle the details, and see what I like; If I'm not familiar with his work I'll want to try it first.

[Bowwild]

I have no idea about this one. To me a LB is simply an uncouth recurve (sorry, I'm just joshing the LB folks).  They surely exist though because there are some strong fans of certain models out there.

[Gdpolk]

R/D design
dead in the hand
no stacking on draw
thin limbs
bamboo core
exotic riser (I like cocobolo)
exotic limb vaneers (maybe waterfall bubinga)
checkered or stippled grip
50lbs draw
shoots like a 70-75lb bow
SBD 6-strand string
dead quiet
add a touch of bling with some horn overlays and tips
shoots exactly where you want
2-piece lockit design
grip that fits like it was made for you
Bible verse on limbs
free

[Knawbone]

Appealing to my eye and my hand, light weight,forgiving of arrow spine, points quick with a feel that brings out the best in my hand/eye coordination. Just look.....and that's were the arrows going.          

[J. Holden]

One I've made myself with hand tools and around 55#'s at my draw.

-Jeremy  

[Blaino]

I think Howard figured out how to build the perfect longbow.

Long or short draws can be acommadated.

Smoothest drawing bows I have ever felt.

Throws a hunting weight arrow with good cast.

Quiet. Nothing else compares.  Look at all the Hill shooters that don't use string silencers.

Gotta be something to them.... Look at the Hill thread.

[pamike]

Quiet
Did i say ... Quiet
Shock free
Fast - 200fps
Good mass weight
Takedown - 3pc preferred
Exotic woods

I found a couple like that but not many!!!

[Nativestranger]

Originally posted by GDPolk:
R/D design
dead in the hand
no stacking on draw
thin limbs
bamboo core
exotic riser (I like cocobolo)
exotic limb vaneers (maybe waterfall bubinga)
checkered or stippled grip
50lbs draw
shoots like a 70-75lb bow
SBD 6-strand strings
dead quiet
add a touch of bling with some horn overlays and tips
shoots exactly where you want
2-piece lockit design
grip that fits like it was made for you
Bible verse on limbs
free

Sounds like flying Dutchman's Caribow.  Lol!

[Sixby]

Well after reading this I guess I better build one and then I'll tell you if it worked and how I did it LOL. Mike just go for it bud. You will get er done.

I really liked that expectation of 200 fps from PAMike.  Got to do that. I got the quiet part down, Shock free pretty much, Good mass weight ., Lead added.3 piece and exotic wood, thats a cake walk. Just got to work on the speed thing some more.Oh well maybe this whip cream and carbon combo will do it.

NOw seriously,

#1 performer, in 190s at 9 gpp.
2, shock free , dead in hand at shot
3 enough reflex to hold up good string angle to 30 inches with a 64 in bow.
4. 60 and longer in length , preferable 62 to 66
5. I love light to medium weight bows that are still shock free
6.Preferr 2 or three piece td but love one pieces too.
7. nice tips and overlays that are smooth to bow and shaped right.
8. ff
9. actionboo, foam or maple cores. Walnut and red elm will work too but have seen some probs with walnut
10. long fades that taper to 0
11. grip choices per customer
12. I like carbon used right
13. narrow limb deep core
14. 1/2 in tips shaped nice
14. good detail and finish work with a completely sanded and filled finish.
15. Perfect glue lines and fit. If a three piece limbs perfectly flushed to riser.
16. great limb stability both verticaly and horizontaly
17. Tillered and timed so that there is no vibration if the string is plucked or after the shot.
18, I like a sight window that has a couple of inches of parallel flat but if the bow is a classic notch type I like it cut just before center or at center.
19.To me strength of riser is extremely important and means pretty plain, straight grain, strong woods or a Phenolic or Bubinga or equivilant I beam construction. No sacrifice of strength of the bow for design or looks.
20. this is something I have had a couple of problems with and am now addressing. You may too., Shape of grip to fit customers hand and shooting style . This is possible to cover with a generic locator rounded on both sides or by having the customer send you pics from back and each side of him with bow drawn so that you can shape to hand angle. this along with trace of bow hand will allow to build a comfy grip that the customer will enjoy. This takes communication and time. However its better than having a customer sell the bow the day he gets it because the grip does not work for him.

God bless and good luck, Steve

God bless, Steve

[bamboo]

Originally posted by Mike Mecredy:
Hi All,  without mentioning the bowyer, the company ect.  

[PERUN]

Hi
62" long
Shelf cut -3/16
High pistol grip
Tiler 3 under
Smooth
Low shock in hand
Robertson quick-styk-hybrid-longbow
Thanks

[joe skipp]

A comfortable grip with no hand shock. I prefer 58" to 60" and I want the bow smooth and fairly quick when shooting arrows 8-10 gpp.

Speed in the high 170's, mid 180's is sufficient to take most game we hunt. Center shot allows for a wider range of arrow spine. My 55# longbow will handle wood in the 50-55# range and I can still shoot 2117's off it.

I still think the grip should be shaped or built to the customers specs. I can't stand the broom stick grips but like the palm swell and I had my bowyer build a small thumb ledge for me. Positive hand placement every time.

I'm going to plug my hunting buddy Bamboo's longbows. If your at Whittingham this weekend, stop by and shoot his bows. Has all the qualities a good longbow should have.

[The Hawk]

Without mentioning the bowyer or the company, the name of the bow is "PRONGHORN"!       Like recoil affects accuracy in rifle shooting, hand shock affects accuracy in shooting a bow (for me, maybe not you). I like the RD design, the smooth limbs, I like the way the grip lets me push straight away with an even wrist, not tilted up or down (makes the arm stronger, for me). But most of all, I like the way the bow just lays dead in my hand on release. The more steady I am with my bow arm, the more accurate the shot (for me anyway). Quiet, quick, smooth with little or no hand shock. I think the mass of the riser vrs. the limbs helps reduce the hand shock (I could be wrong).

[Butch Speer]

This is paraphrasing what Mudd said.
Minimum 66-68" 50-55@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 caramelized bamboo. Clear glass on the front and belly. Riser wood... something dark with lots of grain. Maybe Shedua, Cocobola or Bocote.

Above all, it must be quite.

[Zradix]

I'd like a bow with a perfect grip...like slipping on an old thin leather glove..just feels like an old friend. I like grips with a bit of a thumb rest.

I has to be a one piece.

Length in the 62-64" range.
weight around 45#

Very quiet and able to shoot 9-10 grains per pound without noise or handshock.

Very slender lightweight limbs.

...black glass so I don't worry about looks too much.
A pretty riser would be nice.

[VictoryHunter]

That ideal changes at least once a week for me, if not everytime someone posts photos of their newest toy.

[Stixbowdrew]

60" 55#  R/D , finger grooves cut to or past center , or in other words mine!  

[Sam McMichael]

My preference is 68" but 66" is also okay. I want a straight D shaped bow - the basic Hill type. As I get older I am moving to a lesser draw weight going from 65# to 55# this past year, and I am probably looking at 50# by next year.

I am a big fan of bamboo but also like elm, and I prefer a high gloss finish with either a straight or dished grip. Reinforced nocks are essential for use with FF and such newer strings.

None of my current bows have string follow, but that might also be desirable.

These bows are light in the hand and are very graceful and elegant. In addition they are very effective.