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Longbows & Traditional Bows

Traditional archery strips the sport back to bow, string and arrow. These articles cover longbows, horsebows and traditional recurves, instinctive and gap aiming, and the equipment choices that matter when there is no sight to help.

Two traditional archers with longbows and arrows at the shooting line
Photo: crudmucosa

Longbows & Traditional Bows articles (18)

A two-colour Flemish twist bowstring in brown and white, with twisted end loops at each end and a dark centre servingGear

Flemish Twist vs Endless Loop Bowstrings

Flemish twist bow string or endless loop? How each is built, what makers say about speed and loop protection, and how to twist a string to set brace height.

October 3, 2026 · 4 min read

Simplified four-step diagram of stringing a longbow with a stringer: seat the bottom loop and slide the top loop down the upper limb, fit the pocket on the lower tip and the saddle behind the top loop, stand on the cord and lift the grip while sliding the loop into its nock, then check both loops are seated and measure brace height, with brace height guidance from Bear, Black Widow and 3RiversTraining

How to String a Longbow Safely

How to string a longbow or other traditional bow with a stringer: fitting the pocket and saddle, seating both loops, checking brace height and unstringing.

July 7, 2026 · 4 min read

Chart of Black Widow's recommended PL longbow lengths by draw length: 60 in for 23 to 26 in draws, 62 in for 26 to 28, 64 in for 27 to 30 and 66 in for 28 to 32, plus a table showing a bow marked 50 lb at 28 in drawing about 45 to 55 lb between 26 and 30 inGuides

What Length Longbow Do I Need?

What size longbow do you need? Maker length-by-draw charts, why short longbows stack, how AMO length works and how draw length changes the weight you pull.

Updated October 6, 2026 · 4 min read

Simplified diagram of a two-blade cut-on-contact broadhead on a wooden arrow, showing cutting width, the two sharpened edges and the arrow's balance point ahead of the middle, with notes from Ashby, Iron Will, Alaska regulations and Rose City ArcheryGear

Broadheads for Traditional Bows: What Works

Traditional bow broadheads: why two-blade cut-on-contact heads suit recurves and longbows, plus head weight, FOC, sharpening, mechanicals and legal minimums.

Updated October 6, 2026 · 5 min read

Side-by-side diagram of the same ILF riser fitted with straight longbow limbs and with recurve limbs at brace, with notes that bow length equals riser plus limbs and that one maker rates limb weight on a different riser lengthGear

ILF Longbows: Takedown Longbows Explained

What an ILF longbow is, how longbow ILF limbs pair with risers, why riser length changes bow length and draw weight, and how competition rules treat them.

Updated October 6, 2026 · 5 min read

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