The History of the Compound Bow

Compound bows were first developed around 1966. The invention of this bow was made by no other than Holless Wilbur Allen of Missouri. It was then in the year 1969 when the compound bow’s US patent was granted. After this, compound bows started gaining popularity. It is by far the most used type of bow in United States where archery is also very popular.

The compound bow is a type of a modern bow that uses cables and pulleys to make the limbs bend. This system delivers a mechanical advantage and the limbs on compound bows are stiffer, more than other bows like the longbow or recurve. Compound bows also have rigidness and high technological construction that gives it higher accuracy and reduces the sensitivity of the bow in different temperature changes. Because of the material construction this makes them a perfect choice for many archers.

When it comes to literature, compound bows are considered the composite bows of the 20th century though this is already an outdated one. Its “pulley/cam” system confers to its benefit which is called “let-off”. The term “let off” is used to describe what happens as the cam rolls. On the other hand, compound bow eccentrics have their types including the Dual Cam, Single Cam, Binary Cam and Hybrid Cam. But there are also some less common types like Hinged and Quad Cam. When those bows are at full draw, the pulleys rotate making it easier and more convenient. Because of its technological construction it makes for a really great bow.

It’s safe to say that compound bows are here to stay for many reasons and they’ve changed the face of hunting over the last 30-40 years. The majority of hunters now prefer using them when hunting.

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