Setback handle ever worth it with turkic bows?

[pcoutin]

For Turkic type bows... is there ever an advantage for a setback handle? i.e. for a 34" draw with heavy, medium, or with light arrows, a Tatar shape or an oversized Turkish bow shape.. would no setback be best for all? Assuming the same bow length and final draw weight

In terms of preference, I'm leaning to Turkish bows for a short draw, and for longer draws, something like the Siluustej Sum for medium arrows, Korean target bow for light arrows, and Manchu for spear bombardment. Though Korean has a lot of setback handle.. and, of course, more reflex.

[KenH]

I've never seen a Turkish style bow with a set-back handle. They always have the handle bulge on the back side, and no setback at all.

[pcoutin]

Tatars were turkic, and they had a setback handle? And by Turkic type bows, I meant all bows that had a kasan and then more reflexed tip, which would include some Chinese, Mongol, Korean, Persian, Mughal designs..?? not sure about the origin of that design

[KenH]

"Turkic" is a language group of western and central Asia, including Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uighur, Uzbek, and Tatar. The term does not include "...Chinese, Mongol, Korean, Persian, or Mughal" languages or cultures, or their bows.

Setback gives a bow agt least somewhat better early draw tension, since you have to move the tips of the limbs further to brace it. That gives you a better force draw curve, which means you are storing more energy. Storing more energy, in theory, means you get better cast for the same draw weight.

In theory -- and there are a lot of variables -- a set back handle accomplishes the same thing as reflexed limbs or recurves. Structurally, it's easier to just bend the bow once at the handle than twice at the tips or over the whole length of the limbs, and you don't have to worry about making the bend match on both limbs.

[pcoutin]

But then, with a setback handle you end with more limb angle...

sorry I just read somewhere that the first contact eared Mongol bows had 'turkic influences' or something

[Alpgrgn]

"Turkic" is a language group of western and central Asia, including Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uighur, Uzbek, and Tatar. The term does not include "...Chinese, Mongol, Korean, Persian, or Mughal" languages or cultures, or their bows.

Early Mughals spoke the now extinct Chagatai which belongs to the Karluk branch of Turkic dialects.

[mikekeswick]

Some Turkish bows show a little grip reflex but not much. Grip reflex means the limb has to bend further from the grip thus reducing energy storage compared to a bow that can bend closer to the grip.