The most common two-piece options are the hinge, bow bolt, and sleeve.

Years ago, I recall reading about failures with the bow bolt but, I believe those were because of the wood risers. Most risers now are micarta when the bow bolt is used.

I also recall hearing about some slop developing in the sleeves but, suspect that is far and few between.

I was curious what your thoughts and experiences are with the two-piece take down options - what type(s) have you owned, any preference, known issues, things to be careful of with one vs. the others, etc.

I own 2 . Shrew Classic Hunter II and a Mandarin Duck Devourer. When strung both are no different from any one piece. Very easy to transport and no tools assembly. The Devourer is a much tighter fit and stays together even unstrung. Shrew slides apart easily but no issues once strung.

All of my 2 piece take downs are the Black Widow type Locket Socket and they are solid as a rock. I have never used a metal sleeve type or a bow bolt type.

The two piece Centaur is tightly fitted with 2 bolts, very well made.

I second the locket socket system. What I have on my new Wes Wallace. I heard war stories about guys not being able to get the metal sleeve type apart. Most bowyers are smart enough these days to have G10 or similar material in riser that doesn’t shrink like wood can causing a loose fit.

I’m watching this thread with keen interest, because if I ever buy another bow, I think it will probably be a two-piece, and I am curious about this very thing…

I have had the opportunity to handle a couple of samples of Big Jim’s work, and the lock up between the two pieces was amazingly solid. Cosmetically, I had no idea that I was looking at a two-piece bow until I was told, so Jimbo had that going for them as well, I guess I might qualify that was saying that these bows are fairly new, but I wouldn’t think to dismantle something like that more often than I absolutely needed to, just in case there is such a thing as wear and tear on those joints…. There certainly has been on most of mine! (Joints, that is…)

I forgot about the locket socket option, and did not know Wes Wallace was using that now, instead of the sleeve. Good to know.

I have bows with the locket socket type, a bow bolt and a two piece Centaur. To be honest I like all three and have never had an issue. I like the bow bolt for a smidge extra mass, the centaur seems bomb proof, and the locket socket is so simple and easy. If forced to choose one it’d be the locket socket for no other reason that it’s completely hidden.

I’ve had the hinges on a great northern, sockets on BW’s and bow bolts on Robertson and Toelke. The Robertson bow bolt blew up on me at full draw (wasn’t a full micarta handle). The Toelke chinook I had in the bow bolt was solid. GN hinge is pretty sturdy and I don’t mind the protruding between the fingers. The socket I have on my BW PLX has the slightest bit of play when unstrung but not enough to worry about.

If I were to get a new two piece I wouldn’t be against any of the options. It would mainly depend on bow style as to what I would pick for the takedown style.

Ive only used ones with the bow bolt, works great as far as that goes. micarta risers.

I’ve used several with the bow bolt one had a failure and the bowyer immediately replaced the entire bow. No question. That same bow is still perfect years later. I also use a couple with the “sleeve” and they are pretty much flawless. The tolerances are crazy tight. They usually come with a wax to keep it tight and smoothe to remove. My preference is the bow bolt because I like the extra weight albeit minimal. Never used the hinge. I see them as” jenky”. ….

My only experience is with the bow bolt. I have 2 of them, both Toelkes with micarta riser. Flawless system, easy to put together and take apart, tight tolerances and once together the only way you can tell it's a 2 piece is the visual seam ... can't even feel it with your hand. The extra bit of weight from the bolt and micarta is a welcome secondary benefit. One is in a recurve and one is in a short R/D longbow.

My only experience is with a bow bolt on my Toelke Whip - love it. I'm sure the locket socket works fine, and as mentioned above it doesn't leave a seam or anything exposed when the bow is assembled. I'm sure Big Jim and Black Widow wouldn't offer it if they didn't think it was reliable. The old hinge design is flat-out ugly - no good way to hide all the metal hardware.

The only one I have is a Great Northern with the hinge. It is great though it does show. Helps with my grip. Might be the best with a wood glass bow.

My friend is a consumate archer, local champion, pro shopt owner, careful person, shooter of bows most of us can't bend. He has broken about every big name bow riser you can mention. 3 pieces. He is not doing anything wrong with them. He shoots very heavy arrows. He has broken Widows, I just mention it because Widow's video is where we first learned to leave bows strung. The bows broke in the risers, not the connections.

I mention all this because the only reason I can see for all the bows he has had break is the fact he shoots around 80 pounds. And doesn't like one piece bows. And he will leave a bow strung, as he shoots every day.

So, I would not be into a 2 piece bow with a socket that has given trouble, if I shot heavy weight bows. But given that seems to be a thing of the past, have at it.

Been shooting a 2 piece toelke Pika for about a year and a half now and absolutely love it it's a bow bolt set up with the micaerta handle still solid as the day it arrived. Love the no tool set up .

I’ve owned one sleeve type Black Widow PLX Two bow bolts, and borrowed one connection hinge. They were all ok for me.

I’ve owned one sleeve type Black Widow PLX Two bow bolts, and borrowed one connection hinge. They were all ok for me.

I have done quite a few two piece bows over the years and have only built myself one non two piece since I have started. At customer request, about 80% or more of what I build are two piece.

I use the socket style since I believe it is the best in all worlds. If I thought anything else even came close, I would switch.. now that's not to say the others don't work well, they just all have there draw backs. Having said that, not every one offering a two piece has the same quality controls, although I would think that they wouldn't release it until they were confident in their product. BigJim

I have both... and had success and failure with both.

Summary - unless it's a Bushmen... I prefer bow bolt.

I like the bow bolt, I have had a couple different bowyers tell me the socket system has flex in it.

I've never had a bow bolt system. I've had several connexion hinges that I liked but they were before the bow bolt and locket socket system. I've got several socket 2 pc longbows now and I really like them.

Off topic. I've never owned one and never will. The idea of a two piece that is designed to seperate under my hand, and being able to seperate must have at least some small amount of play in it, has absolutely zero appeal.

But that's jmo. You do you. Good luck.

Why, a two piece. I don't feel the need. I don't build a two piece. Never will. I'm not seeing the need. JF

Its pretty dang handy for traveling.

I have one bow bolt and several socket type takedowns. All but one of the socket bows is rock solid. I like having the option for travel

I have one bow bolt and several socket type takedowns. All but one of the socket bows is rock solid. I like having the option for travel

CedarBird, there is no more flex in the socket than there is in the bow bolt and you will never know it. I take in hundreds of bows and examine hundreds more every year. Much of the issue with any two piece is the bowyer that does it. Nearly 80% of what I do every year is two piece at customers request. My two piece sockets are warrantied for the life of the bow against failure due to the socket. BigJim

The sockets like Big Jim does are a great option and done by a good bowyer are trouble free, A small amount of play is also easy to remedy. I currently have 2 bows with the socket and both are seamless. And you can't tell they are a takedown, I take them down several times a year for traveling but otherwise leave them together.

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