To take down or not to take down..................

[kat]

Yup. Take Down for travel. It just takes up less room. The added mass is helpful in accuracy also.
I do have to admit; one of the bows I shot the best was a one piece Great Northern Super Ghost though.

[ron w]

I think both have there place, Take downs and one piece so you should have both ....or maybe a couple of each...LOL!

[Breakfast Boy]

When I ordered my Great Northern Critter Gitter last spring, I thought about adding the jackknife takedown option to the order.  But to save money, I went with a one piece.  I absolutely LOVE my bow, but wish I had gone with the takedown.  I plan on doing a few fly in hunts within the next 2-5 years and the one piece will be a pain.  Not impossible to deal with mind you, just not as easy as a takedown would be.

[last arrow]

I had the lower tip of a one piece hit a rock and break once when shooting.  Since then all my bows have been 3 piece takedowns.

[GrayRhino]

Takedown bow gets my vote for ease of transport, plus the option of getting an extra set of limbs in case of damage (as last arrow mentioned above) or if I want another weight bow it's cheaper to buy a set of limbs then a whole new bow.

Some one piece bows look great, but are not practical for me.

[jrbows]

Just some food for thought and from someone that has very limited exposure to takedowns other than having shot several that I had varying opinions on, when you add parts you add possibility of failure, I have read several "mainstream" bowhunting magazine stories where the person had to set out a day of a hunt because of a mechanical problem, given these were compound hunters, but a day was lost due to a multi-component piece of equipment however as was stated if you snap a limb in half you can still come out with a shootable bow if you have a take-down, a one piece could be salvaged but far more work would be involved, as to the take-downs I have shot for the most part they were smooth ,quiet and dead in the hand on release,but a few have been noisy at draw,slightly whip-ended on release or in one case with a 2 piece longbow I could feel the hinging action in the handle on release,for me and this is strictly my opinion,it comes down to why I do what I do and it's simplicity,it doesn't get much simpler than a stick with a string on it,I'm not dead set against take-downs either as I own a 62# Hatfield takedown but it has a very specific use,if I traveled a lot to hunt,yes I would probably have several takedowns but, and again this is just me I would also have multiple sets of limbs for them,one piece bows can be inconvenient to transport, hunt in a stand with and store, but I don't think convenience is a huge part of traditional shooting, hope I didn't step on any toes and I have met very few bows I didn't like do what's best for you.

[Mike Vines]

I bought a 3 piece RER for the simple fact of how easy it is to travel and how nice it shoots,  but then I shot a Two Tracks Ambush.

 The Ambush fits snugly inside a hard sided golfclub case and is a dream to shoot.  I took both to Texas this past November and the RER was first string.  (pardon the pun)

This next trip to Kauai, the Ambush is getting first string.  That alone tells you how easily a 1 piece bow can travel.

[MTArrowLauncher]

Thanks guys,

I should have mentioned it was a 2pc LongBow in question from Bama Bows. It wont be my hunting bow as i have a heavier bow coming for that, but i want to stump with it and hunt small game etc so maybe it would be better to get a T/D to pack easier.

thanks

[Seeza]

I have a Shrew 2pc take down and my son the identical bow in a one piece.  There is no performance difference at all between the two.  When it comes to travelling by truck or car, especially with some not so careful hunting buddies.   I really prefer the TD stored away safely in a hard case compared to the one piece.

[mmilinovich]

I like the 3-piece takedown because I CAN take it down.  I never do . . . but I can.

More importantly, I like the extra weight that a takedown sports compared to a one-piece.  It's not much weight, but it's enough to provide stability on the shot.  For me, it works.  For you????

Mark

[jsirm20]

The first bow I bought myself was a 3 piece bob lee recurve, I thought it would make moving about so much easier. I underestimated how much time it takes me to remove and install the limbs. I now have a whip with the bow bolt and its extremely easy to use, I cant imagine wanting a lighter bow, it costs a little more but to me its extremely handy. the bow breaks down to the approximate length of my arrows, thats priceless.

[YORNOC]

I love 1 piece bows, but if I'm going to travel by plane, it will be with a takedown only.
Been there done that......sooooooo much more enjoyable with a bow I can stuff in my luggage.

[centaur]

I have one piece bows, a 3 piece Pronghorn, and a 2 piece Big Jim. You can't tell the Big Jim from a one piece by looking at it. I hardly ever break it down, but I could if space dictated. A bit more money for a bit more function.

[Jake Diebolt]

To take down or not to take down
that is the question
whether 'tis nobler in the mind
to suffer the inconvenience of
one piece bows...


Couldn't resist!

[MTArrowLauncher]

Originally posted by Jake Diebolt:
To take down or not to take down
that is the question
whether 'tis nobler in the mind
to suffer the inconvenience of
one piece bows...


Couldn't resist!

winning    

[Archie]

Even though I don't travel by plane a much as I used to, I still prefer a take-down.  If I'm traveling in a packed car, I can make it fit; it is less likely to get slammed in a door, too.

Easier to store at home, or take apart and put in a pack, for hiking or biking or riding.  

I most prefer the no-tools 2-piece, though I have a 3-piece as well.

[LV2HUNT]

I prefer a one piece but take downs are really convenient for air travel especially with baggage fees these days.

I have owned multiple bows of both types and think interchangeable limbs are overrated. A set of limbs is darn near the cost of a new (or at least used) bow. That was one of my reasons for thinking I needed a take down before.

I never took my bows down unless it was for air travel.

[RUTANDSTRUT]

i prefer a take down for travel and extra mass weight

[Steelhead]

I think one advantage to a 3 piece TD besides the ability to transport easier by bike.horse or plane etc is gonna be the ability to replace a damaged limb and or have a backup set ready to go if you damage a set

Another is the option to get multiple sets of limbs of possibly different lengths and poundages for different applications.Like hunting diffent sized game deer/capebuffalo or 3-D shooting with longer lighter limbs or form work.

I think an ILF 3 piece is gonna be the most versatile rig you could own if you only had one bow.With the poundage,limb angle and tiller adjustments that are available.A plethora of limbs are also available from many bowyers to go with the riser of your choice.Many new superb limbs have come out recently as well that just adds to the attraction of the ILF and limbs swap out easliy for travel/packability.

If I could only have one bow it would be a 3 piece for those reasons.

I do love one piece and 2 PC. bows as well.The 3 piece is unbeatable for overall versatlity though and transport.

[Hatrick]

Advantages of the TD have all been stated. I couldn't live without several of each. In the end it's just your personal choice but........ since you asked for some bow porn, here's my new Wes Wallace Mentor. The big problem with it is the doc says I can't shoot for at least 4 more weeks due to some recent surgery. I can't think of anything I miss more right now than to be just shooting my bows. Had to throw in the tip picture to give you the whole effect.