With the (sometimes) heated discussion about BOM and all, as a newcommer I would like to have someone explain the 'official' definitions for the 2 categories.
I always thought a selfbow was a bow without any added backing, tips, handle materials. Just a piece of wood that the bow maker tillered into bending.
Believe it or not, I had a NIMROD I used to know try to tell me a selfbow was a bow you made yourself.
Shouldn't there really be 3 categories? Selfbow, Backed, and Laminated/Composit for example. (Although after what has been said in the other thread, may also a Polished TB class)
I do not make selfbows (my definition), I make backed flatbows. Usually backed with hickory -or- bamboo -or- some type of cloth. I do not concider snakeskin a backing, only a decoration or a way to hide something.
To me, a self bow would not even have a skin on it. Backing by Air & Prayer only.
I also would not class wood backed bows as laminates. To me laminates means multi layers (more than 2) of material making up the limb. Be it layers of wood, some animal materials like horn & bone, or fiberglass.
Anyway, I would like an 'official' clarification of the class determinations.