i need info or book on how to build a longbow or recurve bow

3 rivers sells a video, crafting the laminated longbow. A buddy of mine is one of the Mikes in the video (2 guys bothed named Mike whats the chance of that lol). Its pretty good, long, and make sure to watch the bloopers at the end!

I would suggest watching more than just one bow building video. I found than none of them is as complete as I would like. Better yet, find someone local that builds bows and ask him to help you. Hands on coaching by an experienced bowyer is invaluable! One piece of advise that I would give is not to try and reinvent the bow. Use a standard shape whether it is straight, reflex, or reflex/deflex and follow the shape of a bow that you like. Building bows is a journey. It takes time to find the design that you like best. Go slow with the design changes. All of you bows should be shooters and they will get better and better with practice. Dick

Chad,

The bow I like best is the Crusader. Will I get in trouble if I pattern my longbows after them when I start building them?

Bill

Praise the Lord, He is worthy

I shoot some with Flinttim who posts here. Tim makes several selfbows a year. I'm sure if you e-mail him, he'd give you some tips

My bow was built using the guidelines in the book "Traditional Bowyers Bible" number one... really good book tells how to build bow out of Osage, and white woods hickory and such!it also tells about selection of trees and cutting and curing staves. for your first bow I suggest purchasing a stave from a noted stave supplier. you will see what you are looking for in a stave when ya go to cut them your self.
I shoot a long bow built of Osage hince the nick Hedgeapple, it is 65# at 29 inches of draw, I shoot cedar arrows fletched with 5in parobolic feathers, and magnus journeyman broadheads. The whole shootin match cost me less then $200 and I had a lot of fun building them. I even sew my own shooting gloves!
If your not a Patient man... buy a bow!! it takes time to make a good one.