Maybe someone can answer this question for me.  I have measured both my 58" BW SAII and my brother-n-law's 60" BW PSAIII.  Both bows strung measure 2" shorter than what is printed on the bows.  I measured from tip to tip.  Why is this?  Both my longbows measure exactly what they should from tip to tip. Do they measure recurve bow length differently?

I own a PSA II and "unstrung" it is 60" as marked but strung it is 2" shorter as you stated and also if you play with the brace it can even fluctuate more.

Bow length is measured from nock to nock, not tip to tip.

So, is bow length measured strung or unstrung?  Both of my longbows measure the exact length marked on the bow when strung.  Just not sure why a bowyer would measure bow length unstrung. Thanks for the replies.

My understanding is that recurves are measured along the limbs, so you would have to lay a string along the limbs, and then measure the length of the string (or maybe bend a tape measure, if you have one flexible enough).

strung`on my bow

AMO length is based on string length when set to correct brace height not so much as measuring the bow itself.

McDave has it.  I believe you measure along the back of the bow along the profile of the limbs.  I measure with a "cloth" tape used for sewing...Mike

AMO bow length describes the correct AMO string length, not necessarily the physical length of the bow (although that was true pre-AMO).  Makes sense if you think about it; you can't do much about the bow length, it is what it is.

"The AMO prefix to bow lengths in inches means that the bow has been manufactured
to a length that properly uses a bow string designated with the identical
AMO marking. (i.e. A bow marked "AMO 60", 50 lb. will brace to the proper
string height with a string marked "AMO 60", 45 lb. to 55 lb.)"

Swamp,

I just re-measured my Widow strung.  Brace height is 8 3/8".  String measured roughly 54.5"(nock to nock).  So what gives?  How does a bow marked 58" have a 54.5" string length with an appropriate brace height?

T

That is just right for a 58" bow.String length for some recurves with higher brace can be up to 4" shorter.A 58" AMO string can be twisted enough to bring brace height to the right place on those bows.

Fritz, you are only measuring your string length when you measure it that way.  I've been trying to find the right way to measure it and what I've come up with is that you unstring the bow and measure from the string groove to string groove along the belly of the bow following the contour of the limbs, but straight across the riser section.  I'm not sure how to put it into words, maybe someone will be able to explain better...Mike

Maybe reading it will clear things up for you.This is the standard which bows were and should be built by.

http://www.archerysearch.com/publications/AmoStandards.pdf

Also i believe they make longbow strings 3" shorter and recurves 2" shorter. I think i am right

The standard way to measure bow length is to measure along the back of the unstrung bow following the countour of the limbs and riser, nock to nock.  However, this doesn't work with a BW because of the Black Widow's design with the limbs fastened on the belly side of the riser and a lot of riser protruding in front of the limbs in the center of the bow.  Just trust that Black Widow is marking their bows correctly.  They know what they're doing.

Not a big deal. I just didn't understand how they were getting 58" out of the bow.  Thanks for trying to clear it up for me.