Stringing the bow backwards

[Karl]

When looking online at bows (ebay, craigslist, ect.) I always end up seeing a recurve that is strung in the wrong direction. In fact, it is surprising how often I see it happen. Whenever I see one of those pictures, I assume the person has absolutely no clue about bows and I want to barter with him for an extremely low price. The only problem that comes to mind is how much damage does the bow take by being strung that way? I don't want to barter and end up being the one getting screwed over.

[BowSniper]

Karl, I have a recurve that a good friend has let me "borrow" and it came to me with what most would consider to be the string on backwards. I understand this to be the way to take the weight off of the bow yet keep the string with it as there is not much tension on bow or string when it is like this (at least on the one I am holding). I am not sure as to whether this is the case with the people you are dealing with, but in my case I leave the bow "unstrung" in this fashion and have had no ill affects from it. Good luck!

BowSniper

[Karl]

Oh my. Well I now feel like the fool of this situation. Thanks for the info!

[BowSniper]

Oh my. Well I now feel like the fool of this situation. Thanks for the info!

Now Karl, that was not the intention of my post!

BowSniper