I'm on my first longbow adventure. I have a piece of sealskin that I want to use for my rest. I have a question regarding longbow rests and strikeplates.

Nearly all of the longbows I have seen have a one piece rest and strikeplate. Why not a two piece like is normally used with recurves?

I'm sure there is a simple answer, but, I need to know it BEFORE I follow through on with my plan to install a two piece on my longbow!

Thanks for any and all inputs.

Bill

Bill: It does not matter , when I replace my rests I try to take the old one off in one piece and trace it on the new one if I can't I use two pieces and butt the rest part to the strike plate.

Bill

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Bill: It does not matter , when I replace my rests I try to take the old one off in one piece and trace it on the new one if I can't I use two pieces and butt the rest part to the strike plate.

Bill
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Bill S.

So you would not use a two piece and leave a gap as is done with recurves?

Thanks!

Bill

my first LB had a leather strikeplate and i used some wool felt for the arrow rest. i recently purchased some sealskin. i made a pattern out of paper to see if it looked right then cut my seal skin to match i then took a piece of leather lacing and split it and put the lace under my sealskin leaving a gap just like i have on my BW recurve. my shooting and arrow flight has greatly improved. i do feel that the gap for arrow passage is better than no gap. i think it boils down to personal pref and shooting style.

Like Pat said , it your personel preference there is no right or wrong .

Bill S. & Pat,

Thanks for your replies. Being a trad hunter, it probably goes without saying that I am hard headed and was going to try the gap between the rest and the strikeplate. Pat, it is good to hear that you achieved improved arrow flight using the gap!

One thing I've done on the strike plate on my recurve is to cut the fur on the sealskin until it is around 1/8&quot; in thickness. I used a small piece of similarly trimmed sealskin about 1/8&quot; wide behind the strike plate to provide clearance for the arrow on the vast majority of the strikeplate. I have notice improved flight of my arrows doing that.

Bill L.

Edited by - lamb1647 on 01/30/2002 09:54:15

I just put a piece of sealskin on the shelf. The strike plate is a piece of leather.

My Bob Lee Longbow came with a leather rest which is about 1/8&quot; thick and eliptical shaped. The striker plate is sealskin. And there is about a 1/8&quot; gap between the two.

Jack

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I just put a piece of sealskin on the shelf. The strike plate is a piece of leather.
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Mike,

In the future, you might try the sealskin as a strike plate. I use a pair of scissors to give it a &quot;haircut&quot; to get it down to about 1/8&quot; in thickness. It is very soft and very quiet.

Bill

Bill, Thats exactly how i do it and make it a two piece. I too use the sealskin. I have had very good luck with this over the years and it wears very well! I dont much care for the thick leather striker plate as i feel it cocks your arrow out to one side to far. Shooting both a center cut recurve as well as a longbow thats not cut to center, i find im able to use my same arrows outta both bows with great results......Hows the new job going Bill?............Jaw