How to Make a Longbow Limb

Traditional longbow hunting is extremely adventurous and challenging.

Takedown longbow limbs can be built for several reasons such as increasing or decreasing bow poundage, increasing or decreasing overall bow length, or changing the look of the bow itself. However, building a longbow limb for a takedown longbow is best accomplished by skilled bowyers, but even a novice bow builder can accomplish this task if he takes a few precautions and follows a simple process. Longbow limbs are best built in pairs, as partners to one cohesive bow unit, however it is possible with care to build limbs separately. You must know the dimensions, poundage and wood type of the bow in question in order to build a suitable limb.

Things You'll Need

• Drawknife Bandsaw Wood rasp Sandpaper Stain

Instructions

1. Begin by cutting the rough outline of your bow limb. This can be accomplished by tracing one of the limbs from the bow you are trying to mimic or by laying the dimensions out on the limb itself from a set of plans at your disposal.

2. Use the drawknife and wood rasp to work the limb down to the dimensions of the bow limb you are mimicking. Take your time and remove wood slowly at this stage as this is where most mistakes are made.

3. Cut a string notch in the non-handle end of the limb and begin tillering the bow limb. Tiller the limb by securing in a vice and slowly bending the limb until you reach the equivalent of full draw. Watch for hard or soft spots in the bend of the limb, and work these areas out by removing wood using the wood rasp.

4. Finish the limb by sanding smooth and staining. Following four days of dry time, your limb is now ready to mount on the bow.

Tips & Warnings

• Buying pre-made longbow limbs will almost always be your safest bet as limbs are normally built in pairs so they match on drawlengths, weights and dimensions. There are no guarantees that your home-made limbs will match up with the limbs you are mimicking.

• Always be careful and wear safety equipment when tillering bows and stain the bow in a well-ventilated area.

Resources

• Traditional Bowhunter Magazine