tonight i will get it to brace, and move from there, i understand what you mean. it is a stright bow, with no r/d or recurve. it will not bend in the handle. i have used the tillering gizmo before with great results, but am having a hard time getting even white pencil to show well on the limbs, so i am using a 6 inch straight edge and my eye, like what was stated above. I am at the office so i can't measure her now, ....but i do have the belly rounded about a third of the way on each side, with the center 1/3 of the belly flat from me scraping. i like the flat bows and am only rounding the edges to keep from having a place for a splinter to lift. this bow is for my dad, his first anythign but a racurve, so i really appreciate the help you guys are gioving me so it comes out nice. ill be in iraq starting may or so, so this is my last chance to get him something real to hunt with before i go. im a slow worker, and have been fiddling with it for 2 months already, now im at the scary part :} ill post more pics ansd such tiongiht. thanks again for all of you comments