How to Build a Reflex Deflex Longbow (Hybrid Longbow)

How to build a reflex deflex, or hybrid longbow... Archery for me in the past was always done with a compound, though I've wanted to try traditional archery for a while. In particular, I wanted to build my own bow. I'd tried a couple times when I was a kid, but never wound up with anything too legitimate.

I decided to finally take this project on, and hope that by making a how to video along the way, I've given some confidence or inspiration to others who want to make their own bow. Bow building is an art. There are so many different styles, wood combinations, arrow materials, and shooting styles that you can make a bow into whatever you want it to be. For me, I wanted a hybrid longbow for performance reasons. A good reflex deflex longbow will have performance similar to a recurve while maintaining the low weight, aesthetic, and forgiveness of a longbow. Ipe and bamboo are a well known bowmaking combination. The bamboo is strong in tension, so it makes a great backing material. The ipe, or Brazilian walnut, is very dense and strong in compression. It makes a great belly material.

diy-sportsman.com/2015/04/12/how-to-build-a-ref…