Im not much Help,in the pics department as im just a desert rat.LOL
But,,,I can describe the differences,as i see them often missrepresented.
In my descriptions,i will use them in the context,of the archer holding the bow,as if to be in a shooting posistion,to avoid any further confusion.
1..Reflex,is when the riser and or limbs,sweep foreward of the riser and away from the archer.
2..Deflex,is just the opposite.The riser and or limbs sweep rearward of the riser,toward the archer.
A reflex/deflex bow first reflexes at the riser and then the limbs deflex,in the outer extremities.A very common style among Native people,especially in the Plains and southwest regions.
Deflex/Reflex,is an opposite design,it deflexes at the riser and reflexes in its outer extremities.A common design in modern F/G hybrid bow design.A modern style recurve fits this dicription as well,but to lessen the chance of confusion,they have been designated as recurve and the distinction between the 2 is that the "Recurve has enough bend in the outer limbs,that the string has contact with the limbs below the nocks,when braced.A recurve,by this description,can have different limb designs below the recurve,such as Reflex,Deflex or straight limb,provideing it has contact with the limb below the nocks.Some makers,slightly set back their outer limbs,in reflex for increase speed and or string angle,without the string haveing contact,with the limb.This,is refereed to as set back limb tips or as it is often refered to as,"Flippin the tips".While there are long bows ,medium length bows and shortbows,A "Longbow"by its true definition,is an English longbow.It is often as tall or taller than the archer and works through the handle slightly and has a radiused or rounded belly.In some Societies catering to this style bow,there are strict definitions regarding length and correlation,between width and thickness for them to qualify as such.What is often considered a longbow in the north american continent,which is long like the ELB but lacks the high crowned and radiused belly,is actually a "Flatbow."Flatbows can have many limb shapes,that distinguish them as subs of the flatbow,such as a pyramid or a Paddle bow or a Holmgard.Ill use 2 that i often see used interchangably and incorrectly.They are the Pyramid and the Paddle versions.
1..The Pyramid is designed so the widest part of the limb,is in the area,directly out of the handle.Its limbs go from there,in a straight taper to the tips.Often associated with the Osage people of the plains as well as the Modoc people of the west.
2..A paddle bow has its widest part of the limb,center of the limbs and narrowing in both directions toward the handle and tips.this is a style,most commonly associated with the native people of the west coast,but is found among people,in the Great Basin and Plateau regions as well.
Another one i see often is "Selfbow"
A selfbow is a bow made from a single piece of wood or 2 pieces of wood spliced at the handle in some fashion.If the bow has any other material used on the back or belly,to aid in its performance,or otherwise make the bow usefull,it is a backed bow or composite.These are some of the terms i see used that lead to some confusion.Im shure there are others,that some can contribute.
