Hello, the last couple of days I've had a question rolling around in my head.  A few years back I had some shoulder issues do to work and had to go back to shooting a wheel bow just to shoot. Now thinking about the reflex design of the riser and the parallel limbs....... Is that possible per se with a recurve type bow. I doodled one today and am just curious as to if it would work or am I just having crazy thoughts if it were built in the style of a three piece takedown? Thanks      

I dont think so. I dont think you could get enough energy stored into a parallel recurve limb.

I don't think parallel limbs and a complete reflexed riser is possible on a recurve or 3 piece longbow. You might want to take a look at Kirk Lavender's bows though Bigfoot Bows. He's a sponsor on here and can do some pretty amazing stuff making limbs store energy differently and in the spots he wants them to. You wouldn't get parallel limbs but the limbs he designs and builds are top notch. Give him a holler and he'll definitely let you know what is and isn't possible. I can tell you one thing. He's a super nice guy and knows what he's doing. His bows store energy and shoot like no others.

Kirk and I have hashed this over time and again. We both believe it is worth trying but neither of us has had the time to do the r@d on it. Long riser and heavy curves with very short limbs and you could get close. I think that the limbs would have to be almost solid carbon and glass in order to handle the extreme stress and to be horizontally stable. Definitely would be a full working recurve because the entire limb would be a recurve. LOL

Actually the Oneida Eagle is nearly an example of it.


God bless, Steve

Hello Steve, I think your seeing what I envisioned. Just my pondering and wonderings...... God Bless  

Hello Steve, that is exactly what I envisioned. Just my pondering and wondering..... God Bless  

Hello Steve, that is exactly what I envisioned. Just my pondering and wondering..... God Bless  

Hello Steve, that is exactly what I envisioned. Just my pondering and wondering..... God Bless  

Hello Steve, sounds like you know exactly what I envisioned. Just my pondering and wondering...... God Bless  

Hello Steve, that is exactly what I envisioned. Just my pondering and wondering..... God Bless  

Hello Steve, that is exactly what I envisioned. Just my pondering and wondering..... God Bless  

Hello Steve, that is exactly what I envisioned. Just my pondering and wondering..... God Bless  

Hello Steve, I think your seeing what I envisioned. Just my pondering and wonderings...... God Bless  

Hello Steve, that is exactly what I envisioned. Just my pondering and wondering..... God Bless  

I have one drawn up, but the idea I had would require the use of a release.  What would happen, is the upper limb would flex down/lower limb flex up.  The sting would actually be pulled through  pulleys located at the belly side, ends of the riser, about 20" apart, and extending about 12" out from the belly side of the riser on the ends of some rods.  As the string is drawn, it comes back, and engages the pulleys, directing the upper limb to flex down and the lower limb to flex up. Due to string angle, a release and string loop would need to be used.

I drew it up on paper, after giving it some thought, I decided "what's the point?" Next big thing? Maybe, but it's nothing I'd want to use, so therefore, nothing I'd want to build, and I'd see no advantage in it over a regular recurve.

It's funny Sixby mentioned the Oneida that's exactly what I was thinking of.  To me the whole parallel limb thing on wheel bows is just to shave weight and have a channel for the pulleys to ride in.  

Otherwise just kinda seems like no point to it, there are bowyers like Kirk, Sixby, Abe Penner, Dryad, Centaur, etc that make bows that are so smooth that it will aid anyone with a musculoskeletal problem.  Heck try a horsebow like the Saluki Ibex I just picked up.  Probably damn near the smoothest thing I've ever pulled.

Had issues posting this morning I apologize  

QuoteOriginally posted by cmh:
Had issues posting this morning I apologize    

You ain't lying.    

Not many people mention Oneida. The only bows I owned until I went stick and string. I was always the odd man out when it came to bows... I still am.

What about something like a Saluki NORTH INDIAN HORN BOW / CRAB BOW?