70# BL Static w/ Natural Deflex

[leonwood]

Those are some serious hooks! Pretty good draw weight on a narrow (for bl) stave. But as Simon and Del say, it is more efficient if the string comes off at the last part of the draw. You can shorten them a bit and maybe heat them slightly to reduce the angle?
I just bent one hook of another black locust myself. I love how springy black locust feels!

[simson]

Those are some serious hooks! Pretty good draw weight on a narrow (for bl) stave. But as Simon and Del say, it is more efficient if the string comes off at the last part of the draw. You can shorten them a bit and maybe heat them slightly to reduce the angle?
I just bent one hook of another black locust myself. I love how springy black locust feels!

Mmh, sorry to disagree Leon, Jeff had underlays glued on. Applying heat there would attack the glue joint. Making them a bit shorter will be saving mass. Best would be learn to draw that thing a bit further like Del suggested.
Anyways, if you decide to shorten the hooks, try to get it chronoed before and after.

And make another BL bow, shorter but wider limbs and shorter hooks with 50 -60° angle and you will see the difference in performance.

[upstatenybowyer]

DuBois, the handle glue up wasn't perfectly flat against flat, but I used epoxy to fill gaps and since the whole section is wrapped with rawhide and hide glue I don't expect the yew will popping off. Thanks for checking it out!

I hear ya loud and clear Simson. Can't tell ya how much I appreciate the honest feedback. 

Thanks for chiming in Pat and Leon. 

[Parnell]

Very interesting the way it's put together.  Really like the recurve overlay work.

[burn em up chuck]

             Very very nice. Love the bend in the handle

                                                                Chuck

[upstatenybowyer]

             Very very nice. Love the bend in the handle

                                                                Chuck

Thanks a bunch Chuck! There's a lot I like about this bow, just a few quirks with the design. Glad I posted it cause I never would have learned the valuable info above.

Cheers!

[Aaron H]

Great advice given.  Always learning something following posts like this.  Nice work upstate