Disclaimer:  In no way am I bashing any bows in this thread.  I need to clarify something with the rest of TradGang.  The pictures posted in this thread are all pictures that have been posted before on TradGang.  If there are objections to the use of any of the said pictures contact a moderator by whichever means necessary and what will be done will be done.

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I have made several posts in the past about what exactly constitutes a forward handle bow be it recurve or longbow.  I have always gotten mixed responses on this matter.  I have included pictures from past threads to get a visual and to hear all the opinions and/or comments on the different bow designs presented here.

The first set of pictures are what I would classically call reverse/forward handle as seen here:

     

     


     

     

Note the distinctive bulge of the riser to the front of the bow and how the limbs fade into the back of the riser.

The next few pics are of bows that I believe to be of questionable forward handle physicality.  If you define a forward handle as the grip being in front of the fadeouts of the riser then I would agree that some of these qualify as forward handle.  But some shown have no more of a forward handle than a Bear Grizzly which is shown here.

 

But I think that it could be simplified as saying that they have a deflexed riser.(same thing?)


     

     

     

I leave it up to the experts here as I may not know as much as I should about this topic.

Eater,

I hope you don't think I was questioning your knowledge earlier today.?  I agree with your above assessment.  

I feel that the bottom bows shown (Black Swamp,RER?,and Black Creek)although highly deflexed, are not true forward or "reverse" handle longbows.

I agree that the three up top ARE in fact reverse handle bows.  

Anyone else care to chime in?
Brett

I can understand why nobody wants to touch this one.  I guess I was the one that said something when everyone else was only thinking it.

ttt

I agree true forward handles have the limbs fade into the belly. Highly deflexed handles look similar but the fades are still into the back of the bow. Different geometries.

Is there a particular reason why anyone would care?

Piper.....just for accuracy's sake....maybe?  We hear some many terms used in error nowadays, it doesn't hurt to clear things up a bit.

The best photos would be of unstrung bows to illustrate the forward riser.

George, you always have great advice. I agree, pics of the bows strung and unstrung, and maybe a pic of the fadeouts, belly and back.

Thanks

2nd and 4th picture, anyone know who made them?

Second pic is a Black Swan that resides in Vermont.

QuoteOriginally posted by vermonster13:
Second pic is a Black Swan that resides in Vermont.

Cool looking bow.  

4th pic is a Stoney Point Illusion

QuoteOriginally posted by WidowEater:
4th pic is a Stoney Point Illusion

Never heard of them but yet another cool looking bow.