Is there a difference between what some refer to as olympic limbs and IF limbs?
toby
most ILF limbsare Oly limbs. Not all ILF limbs are the same. Its a you get what you pay for thing.
Olympic limbs are ILF limbs used by archers who compete in the Olympics.
Other ILF limbs are used by archers who shoot bows that utilize ILF limbs for purposes other than competing in the Olympics.
They are one and the same... only difference is the purpose (venue) in which they are used. Unless of course, a manufacturer would make a specific ILF limb that was to be used ONLY in the Olympics and then moth-balled, never used again. If an Olympic archer used those limbs outside of the Olympic venue, then they would be considered "multi-venue" ILF limbs.
Other ILF limbs are used by archers who shoot bows that utilize ILF limbs for purposes other than competing in the Olympics.
They are one and the same... only difference is the purpose (venue) in which they are used. Unless of course, a manufacturer would make a specific ILF limb that was to be used ONLY in the Olympics and then moth-balled, never used again. If an Olympic archer used those limbs outside of the Olympic venue, then they would be considered "multi-venue" ILF limbs.
Also:
ILF stands, I believe for International Limb Fitting or something similar. It is a system of limb attachment that is reasonably uniform in dimension that uses a metal dovetail with a small plunger to retain the limb in the bow, and angled or "rockered" limb butt base that, in conjunction with the limb butt bolt, allows for some weight adjustment for tuning.
There are enough variation in limb butt and metal dovetail fittings dimensions to cause slight problems on some tight fitting risers. However in probably 90 or more percent of the cases the limbs and risers are interchangeable
In earlier eras all sorts of bows were "Olympic", that is used in the Olympic Competition, including one piece wooden recurves and probably self wood longbows in the early 20th century. Most modern FITA and Olympic bows use some variation on the ILF system.
Typically target archers competing in those arenas use light to midweight bows, say with limbs that allow for a mid-30s to mid-40s pound draw weight. They also are using longer bows for more smoothness and stability.
Some limbs have been and are being made with ILF fittings that are not intended for Olympic/FITA competition. Some ILF-type limbs have been made specifically for hunting use. Ones that come quickly to mind are the Ultra-short, camouflaged, and much heavier draw weight limbs Hoyt made for a hunting version of their Gold Medalist target called the "Talon", and the camouflaged and heavier weight limbs W&W made for the PSE Jackal--an ILF limbed hunting bow.
Currently, that I am aware of, both Border and Morrison make ILF-system limbs that are designed for hunting; although once could use them for competition if they chose to do so of course. {addendum--oops forgot the Greenhorn limbs}
Some years back I was told that Samick was going to be making hunting weight ILF limbs. However I have not kept up to date on their current offerings. Perhaps one of the Lancaster/TradTek mavens could clarify that.
ILF stands, I believe for International Limb Fitting or something similar. It is a system of limb attachment that is reasonably uniform in dimension that uses a metal dovetail with a small plunger to retain the limb in the bow, and angled or "rockered" limb butt base that, in conjunction with the limb butt bolt, allows for some weight adjustment for tuning.
There are enough variation in limb butt and metal dovetail fittings dimensions to cause slight problems on some tight fitting risers. However in probably 90 or more percent of the cases the limbs and risers are interchangeable
In earlier eras all sorts of bows were "Olympic", that is used in the Olympic Competition, including one piece wooden recurves and probably self wood longbows in the early 20th century. Most modern FITA and Olympic bows use some variation on the ILF system.
Typically target archers competing in those arenas use light to midweight bows, say with limbs that allow for a mid-30s to mid-40s pound draw weight. They also are using longer bows for more smoothness and stability.
Some limbs have been and are being made with ILF fittings that are not intended for Olympic/FITA competition. Some ILF-type limbs have been made specifically for hunting use. Ones that come quickly to mind are the Ultra-short, camouflaged, and much heavier draw weight limbs Hoyt made for a hunting version of their Gold Medalist target called the "Talon", and the camouflaged and heavier weight limbs W&W made for the PSE Jackal--an ILF limbed hunting bow.
Currently, that I am aware of, both Border and Morrison make ILF-system limbs that are designed for hunting; although once could use them for competition if they chose to do so of course. {addendum--oops forgot the Greenhorn limbs}
Some years back I was told that Samick was going to be making hunting weight ILF limbs. However I have not kept up to date on their current offerings. Perhaps one of the Lancaster/TradTek mavens could clarify that.
The TradTech limbs are ILF, are sold by Lancaster Archery Supply, but are manufactured by Samick. The difference to olympic/Fita ILF limbs is the look (clear glass over hard rock maple, very similar to the Hoyt GM/Dorado look) and that the draw weight is set up for a shorter riser (17 or 19").
Most Olympic and FITA archers shoot Samick, W&W or Hoyt target recurve, which all have ILF limb fittings. These are more or less interchangeable, meaning that you could use one brand's limbs on another brand's riser.
There are other manufacturers of target take down recurves that do not use ILF fittings, but the archer is locked in to a particular manufacturer's limbs for that riser, for example PSE, OK Archery, Quinn Archery.
Most Olympic and FITA archers shoot Samick, W&W or Hoyt target recurve, which all have ILF limb fittings. These are more or less interchangeable, meaning that you could use one brand's limbs on another brand's riser.
There are other manufacturers of target take down recurves that do not use ILF fittings, but the archer is locked in to a particular manufacturer's limbs for that riser, for example PSE, OK Archery, Quinn Archery.
Fellas,
I am new to all of this,so bear with me please,are the Hoyt Gamemaster limbs considered ILF ?
Thanks,
Craig
I am new to all of this,so bear with me please,are the Hoyt Gamemaster limbs considered ILF ?
Thanks,
Craig
I'd also be leery of an ILF setup where the limbs contact points were only the flat foot of the dovetail fitting and the top of the butt under the bolt/washer.
This would leave daylight showing under the limb butt if it was not an enclosed pocket. You could get this with a too shallow dovetail cut, a too thin limb butt, or an over long dovetail fitting.
To my way of thinking the the dovetail fitting is just a retainer to keep the limb from falling out to provide some lateral location and is not part of the limb/riser dynamic function. the limb butt being wedged between the rocker point on the sole of the butt and the top edge caught under the draw-bolt washer and the tension of the strung limbs create the bows solidness.
The DAS system combined the positive security of the drawbolt and the rockered ILF sole with the much more precisely locating of the limb afforded by adapting the thumbscrew&threaded bushing locating system from the old Hoyt metal PM TD bows.
For those who have not had access to a vintage Hoyt PM TD bow; The PM TD's had no draw bolt, their slotted limb ends just loosely snapped around a steel post in the base of the enclosed limb pocket and the tops of the limb butts bound up against the roof of the limb pocket when strung. The PM TD limbs were flat bottomed like many other Hoyt limbs of that era so adjustment for tuning was only possible with shims or wedges. The limbs were held in place with a small milled-edge disc-headed thumb screw that threaded up through the floor of the riser limb pocket into a threaded bushing in the limb
This would leave daylight showing under the limb butt if it was not an enclosed pocket. You could get this with a too shallow dovetail cut, a too thin limb butt, or an over long dovetail fitting.
To my way of thinking the the dovetail fitting is just a retainer to keep the limb from falling out to provide some lateral location and is not part of the limb/riser dynamic function. the limb butt being wedged between the rocker point on the sole of the butt and the top edge caught under the draw-bolt washer and the tension of the strung limbs create the bows solidness.
The DAS system combined the positive security of the drawbolt and the rockered ILF sole with the much more precisely locating of the limb afforded by adapting the thumbscrew&threaded bushing locating system from the old Hoyt metal PM TD bows.
For those who have not had access to a vintage Hoyt PM TD bow; The PM TD's had no draw bolt, their slotted limb ends just loosely snapped around a steel post in the base of the enclosed limb pocket and the tops of the limb butts bound up against the roof of the limb pocket when strung. The PM TD limbs were flat bottomed like many other Hoyt limbs of that era so adjustment for tuning was only possible with shims or wedges. The limbs were held in place with a small milled-edge disc-headed thumb screw that threaded up through the floor of the riser limb pocket into a threaded bushing in the limb
Mark
'keeps the bow from exploding if the limb bolt comes completely off"
(we don't have a "dirty shorts' emoticon I guess) followed by :cussing::cussing:
I don't know if they were designed as a safety factor, but its a real powerful argument that they be fitted to the riser properly. In switching parts around I've had some fittings that were a pretty sloppy fit in the riser slot. this was due to either undersized fittings or an overgenerous dovetail cut in the frame. On any bow with high #-age limbs I try to make sure the fit is as tight as possible and still have it slide in and out. I also inspect from the end with a light, and a feeler if needed, to be sure that the rocker surface is down hard on the pocket floor the first time I try a new set of limbs on a given riser for the first time
'keeps the bow from exploding if the limb bolt comes completely off"
(we don't have a "dirty shorts' emoticon I guess) followed by :cussing::cussing:I don't know if they were designed as a safety factor, but its a real powerful argument that they be fitted to the riser properly. In switching parts around I've had some fittings that were a pretty sloppy fit in the riser slot. this was due to either undersized fittings or an overgenerous dovetail cut in the frame. On any bow with high #-age limbs I try to make sure the fit is as tight as possible and still have it slide in and out. I also inspect from the end with a light, and a feeler if needed, to be sure that the rocker surface is down hard on the pocket floor the first time I try a new set of limbs on a given riser for the first time
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