Hill bows with a little shelf helper

[DCANAPP]

I have only seen these helpers in pictures here but I was wondering about them. It looks like it holds the arrow on the shelf with a little piece of leather. Where did that start?

[Cryogenic]

Do you mean this, as the left bow pictured?  That's just a normal bow, but with wear in a way that highlights the raised parts of the leather.  It can make the worn parts look like they're more prominent than they really are.

[DCANAPP]

No the ones I seen were on the HH BUG BIT ME

[Cryogenic]

Or do you mean this?

[DCANAPP]

Yes that is what I referred to.
Where did this come from? I have had hill style bows since the 1980s and never seen this in person. What's it for?

[Bogle]

Nate Steen (Sunset Hill Longbows and Leather) stated that it was a "Shelf Extension". Said that Howard Hill used them on his bows, and that all of the bowyers at HH put them on except for Craig. I just got a new HH bow from Nathan Cochran, the new owner of HH, and it has it on the handle as well.

[evgb127]

Yep, they are just a shelf extension. Craig Ekin didn't do it on his bows, but my ones from other bowyers did.

[DCANAPP]

Good
To learn that. Thank you.
Always a lesson

[Gordon Jabben]

I think they are more to position your bow hand in the same spot every time than to keep the arrow on the shelf.