What is the difference between a Standard Recurve and a Take-down Recurve?
Older recurve models were one-piece or Standard Bows, while the majority of modern Recurve Bows are Take-down Bows. A Take-down Recurve bow is a type of traditional bow made up of three main parts: the riser or handle, and two limbs.
The riser consists of a grip, and an arrow rest or shelf. When fully assembled and strung with a single bowstring, it creates a working bow. The bowstring consists of a nocking point and serving.
Illustration by Jessica Emmett
The advantages of Take-down Bows are ease of dismantlement (or take-down), assemblage, transportation, storage, maintenance and customisation. Most recurve archers use a Take-down Bow, as it enables them to increase the poundage by replacing the limbs.
Limb weight is not the same as poundage. Limb weight refers to the physical weight of the limbs, while poundage refers to the thickness of the limb from front to back, which influences the draw weight. The higher the poundage, the heavier the draw weight. The physical weight of the limbs directly correlates to the speed of the arrow: the lower the physical weight of the limb, the faster the arrow.
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