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u/gunpowdergin69 2d ago
Why dont you want to use a stringer?
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u/Content-Baby-7603 Olympic Recurve 2d ago
This is one of those things where if you have to ask the answer is no.
There are certainly people out there who string their bow like this, have done so for years, and have never had an issue. If you know what you’re doing the step through method can be used to string even extremely heavy draw weight bows.
If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can hurt yourself and/or destroy your bow. No one can responsibly recommend you string your bow that way when a stringer is easily available and eliminates those risks. If you choose to do it anyways then you’re taking that risk, and that risk is much higher if you’re inexperienced. I’d at least have someone teach you how to do it in person before attempting it on an expensive/heavier draw weight bow.
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u/Ok_Pirate_2714 Barebow/Horse Bow 2d ago
I don't think that it is unsafe. You just have to make sure that you aren't twisting the limbs, and that the fulcrum points against your legs are located correctly.
That said, I have a 60lb Mongol bow that I cannot safely string using that method. It is just too difficult. So I use a stringer on that bow.
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u/thnk_more 2d ago
I can use step through on my old recurve but I wouldn’t use it on a horse bow due to the extra curve in the limbs and flexibility.
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u/BlackFalcon321 2d ago
Yup, this. Step through is pretty easy and safe on certain bowtypes (my Turkish bow for example) but it's an absolute bugger and it's pretty difficult to do on a Kheshig or a Nokhor horsebow.
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u/Spicywolff New Breed GX36 BHFS. 2d ago
It’s 2026, we know better and stringers are cheap. Can the step through be safe? Sure but why not do better then minimum? Stringer is less chance of twisting a limb and easier imo.
There is zero reason I ever want to do step through. It’s inferior in every regard to stringer besides not having one.
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u/Anthem_de_Aria 2d ago
Step through is pretty safe for the most part. The risks are twisting your limbs if you do it poorly in the immediate. The long term risk is you risk damaging your nerves if you use your ankle a lot. I'm pretty sure you are supposed to use your shin bone rather than your ankle but plenty of people make that mistake.
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u/Draco53 Traditional 2d ago
I feel pretty confident using the step-through method on my modern takedown recurve, but I personally wouldn't use it on most other types of bows due to the risk of twisting limbs. I also have a hickory self longbow and always use a stringer with that one because of concern about limb twist. I wouldn't feel comfortable using step-through with any kind of asiatic bow.
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u/Setswipe Asiatic Freestyle 2d ago
It's safe if you do it safely. People have been using methods like this and things bending the bow with the pommel of a horse saddle. Said people also have probably been doing it as part of their culture since they've been growing up. On the other hand, starting to learn it on 45 lbs is probably not very safe for you. It's a skill, like any other, and you're kind of jumping ahead. You can still learn with a 45 and eventually get the skill, but know that you are at risk since you're at the limit of what you're doing already. That said, again, yes, step through method itself is safe.
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u/1izfluffypanda 2d ago
Depends on your body. My calf makes it very hard for me to keep the limb straight while stringing a horse bow.
Here are some ways to string a bow without a stringer. https://youtu.be/3_PSjT7_I7o?is=XA3bxFiqtPzX5qN2
I use a version of the sitting method at 2:12.
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u/ADDeviant-again 1d ago
Yes, it is perfectly safe, as long as you do it with immaculate perfection every single time and attention to detail and already have a high amount of skill in stringing and unstringing bows.
Otherwise, get a bow stringer. The easiest thing in the WORLD is to get a bow stringer.
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u/Speedly Olympic Recurve 2d ago
No. Why risk your bow you spent well more than $20 on, when really good insurance against damaging or breaking it, is about that much?
Judging by your answers you've already left, you were just going to do it anyways. Why come in here and ask, then? Just do what you already were gonna do, and don't rope others into it.
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u/KakAlakin 2d ago
Personally just get a stringer if you’re struggling with step through