With all of my bow fooling around over the years, and having shot the most radical hybrid longbows and recurves, to Hill style longbows with a bit string follow, my preference is for a longbow that shows no influence of reflex when strung; a true "D" shape bow. They just feel right to me, and I shoot them very well. I like they way they look, too; the energy in the limbs looks balanced and symmetrical.

Let's hear why you prefer D bows!  

One of my favorite styles as well!

Contrary to what I'd heard before trying them, I also find them easy to match arrows to.

There's just something about the feel of the shot with them.  And of course they're dead quiet when set up correctly.  I love not hearing even a dull "thump," just a whoosh...

Now, I'm obsessing about "D" shape bows with reverse risers.  Super pointable and accurate for me.

The analogy I keep returning to with their shot feel is the torque of a cummings turbo versus the fast and furious feel of a high performance 'curve.

I think they're more forgving of draw length variations and release errors as well.

They are simple, tough and quiet. Will also last for generations.
Cutty47, can you give me an idea of who currently makes a reverse riser D bow?
Thanks!

Cutty,
You struck a nerve. After nearly 40 yrs in heavy truck parts it still gets to me. It is Cummins not cummings. As for D shaped bows they are the  bow of choice for me 66-68 inch. All the others a broken or bent. Too many bowyers trying to reinvent the recurve.

Steve Turray of Norhthern Mist makes a reverse handle "D" shape longbow called the Whisper.  They are great shooting bows.

I like the smooth, quick way they come to draw when you're swinging on moving targets. They like heavy arrows, they're whisper quiet, light in the hand, and elegant to look at.  What's not to like? (I'm even fond of that little thump in the hand on release)

Howard Hill makes one also, I dont know if it is in their catalog but they do make it.

DITTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

I like my kern river d shaped flatbow

Lol...sorry 58winters...I should know better, I drive one.

I just picked up an older Black Swan Forester that's "D" shaped with a reverse handle.

Acadian Woods offers a reverse handle D bow too. I have only seen pictures, and it sure looks nice.

Light in the hand.Rugged,hard to twist a limb,easy to string up.Quiet and dependable.Sreamlined.Dampen out vibration quickly.Have a certain feel thats pleasing when you get the shot of cleanly.And last but not least have a timeless classic shape that harkens back to days of old.If I was relagated to one bow I would choose a narrow, deep cored longbow with a D shape.I do love all the other different style of bows nonetheless.

I shot wheel bows and recurves for years before I bought a Howard Hill Wesley Special last year. Contrary to what I've heard, I'm more accurate with it than any recurve I've ever shot. As has been said before its whisper quiet. I really like shooting it more than any bow I've shot. That's what it really comes down to is the bow that you most enjoy shooting and for me from now on its going to be longbows.

To answer Bob's question I like mine because: It looks good,is quiet,forgiving,no handshock,is light weight,& likes heavy arrows. Frank

They're simple and very quiet.

I hear the phrase "forgiving to shooter errors and releases", referring to longbows. Would this be referring to a r/d longbow as well? Even a radical one? Or would you say the true D-shaped longbows are what this is applying to?

Mike

It has been my experience that a radical R/D is more critical to release, and other human frailties, than a D shaped longbow. In my experience I shoot a D bow with greater accuracy and consequently greater confidence. And personally, I have never enjoyed a lot of pre-load in a limb, which is a factor of radical R/D longbows. I like a smooth draw from start to finish. It just feels right to me.    

In addition to all the positives already mentioned, I've found some of these D-shaped bows, particularly those with bamboo limb cores, to be no slouches in the speed department, faster than I expected.

How many of you who like the style were hooked from the first shot, and how many had the style grow on them?

I'm in the first group.  One session with a Wesley Special is all it took.  And I was shooting a very good recurve at the time...

Cutty, one session with my Cheetah and I knew I loved it    


Joe