Author Topic: Longbow Handle lengths?  (Read 3838 times)

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Offline tomthumb

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Longbow Handle lengths?
« on: March 18, 2015, 12:41:32 pm »
Hello Folks,

1" up, 4" down.. These are the standard handle dimensions for a longbow, right?!..

Shooting 1" above the centre seems to make sense to me with a symmetrical bow, as I can see then you are pulling the bow back through the centre into the top of your hand, as opposed to over the top.

4" down; Is this for people with people with big hands?!.. My hand is just under 4" across; A 5" handle seems unnecessary then. This has been particularly evident when working shorter staves and having limited working limb length and trying to achieve standard draw lengths.

So, a handle 1" up, 3" down would presumably be better suited for myself, right? OR... Is there some specific reasons it is 1" up 4"down?

I'm sorry if this seems like a stupid question, but I thought it was worth asking the question before marking up a limb taper.


Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Longbow Handle lengths?
« Reply #1 on: March 18, 2015, 12:56:30 pm »
My arrow passes are 2" above center on every bow.
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Offline crooketarrow

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Re: Longbow Handle lengths?
« Reply #2 on: March 18, 2015, 01:07:19 pm »
  I also uselly make mine 2"s for a selfbow. If the person has big hands, where I make my handle 1/2 inch longer. I'll make my self 1/4" higher.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Longbow Handle lengths?
« Reply #3 on: March 18, 2015, 01:28:17 pm »
The way I learned was 1 3/4" up and 2 1/4" down from the center line.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Bryce

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Re: Longbow Handle lengths?
« Reply #4 on: March 18, 2015, 02:07:58 pm »
From center. 1" up
From center. 3" down

4" handle
Clatskanie, Oregon

Offline bubby

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Re: Longbow Handle lengths?
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2015, 02:59:33 pm »
I just find the center of the bow and go two inches each way for a four inch grip, on occasion i will go 1-1/4" up and from that mark measure 4" down but not often
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Offline huisme

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Re: Longbow Handle lengths?
« Reply #6 on: March 18, 2015, 03:19:39 pm »
From center. 1" up
From center. 3" down

4" handle

+1, and I usually do 1.5" fades for stiff handles, 3-4" fades if they're necessary in bendys.
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