Im fairly new to traditional archery and i find myself always looking at used bows on the big auction site. i am seeing alot of sellers have their bows they are selling strung backwards for storage. is this safe to be doing or can it damage the bow?

Being from the old school, I say NO to stringing a bow up backwards for storage.  Many on here will so it will cause no harm.  The string for a recurve is 4" shorter than the bow and with the bow strung up backwards there is a certain amount of reverse pressure being put on the bow limbs.

I say why not hang the bow, unstrung on  the wall or lay the unstrung bow on a couple of pegs on the wall.

Never lean the bow in the corner.

I agree with the thought of pressure being applied the opposite directions can't be good for it.they were designed to bend a certain way is how I see it

this was pretty common back in the day.  They did it as a way to secure the string and keep it with the bow.  

Personally, when someone asks me what length string to use on a recurve I would suggest they measure that same distance for a start.  As long as the string is snug but not way short i can't imagine any damage to the bow.  I am not a bowyer, however.

CHuckC

Chuck is spot on..............

When I have a re-curve bow without a string I measure the reverse side (back) of the bow tip to tip and subtract 1/2". As a rule of thumb this will get you pretty close using B50 after it stretches in.

James

I think many of the sellers on the big auction site have absolutely no clue how to string the bow correctly and that's the only way they can get the string on. They will also misrepresent them as far as right hand/left hand because the string is on backwards.

I have bought several bows there and pretty much got what I thought I was buying, but not because of a knowledgeable description of the bow.

Never mind storing the bow that way . I saw a guy trying to shoot a recurve that way !!!!

I have found a few over the years stored that way and they were fine. I am not saying its good for the bow or they would all be fine, but if they bow was in great shape, I wouldn't be scared off by it.

Well thanks for the info everyone! I was just curious if this could damage a bow and now k have !y answer.I still rather not store mine that way...