Help for location and handle wrap

[africa-safari]

First off al, thank you for having me in this group! While i shoot bows since a long time, i am new to primitive, so please forgive all my "stupid" question...
I am building a extremly simple stick bow. The bow will be 60 inch long. No shelf..., but i want to wrap the "handle", so that also the arrow will make less noice... How do i locate the handle (where would the arrow lay) from the center of the bow? On my longbow with a shelf, the shelf is actually 2 inch above center(68 inch bow)?
I have some braintanned springbok hide, was thinking of cutting a 1 inch wide piece and wrap it, but how?
I really would appreciate all your imput!

[Pat B]

Welcome to PA. First thing is there are no stupid questions here. Only unasked questions are stupid.
 When I build a bow I make it symmetrical, equal length from the center of the handle to each limb tip. I make my handles 4" long with 2" each side of the center. For the arrow pass I put my middle finger on the center of the handle and grip it. The arrow pass is at the top of my hand. Brain tanned leather makes a very comfortable handle. You can do as you said with a 1" wide and wrap it around the handle area tucking each end under the wrap. If you wrap it tight enough you may not need to glue it but you can use contact cement on the handle area and on the back side of the 1" strip but be careful when you wrap it because when the 2 glue surfaces touch they will be stuck. Also remember to wrap the handle the direction your fingers point or the wrap can be loosened just by gripping it.
 I like to use a Floppy rest(the idea of Mickey Lotz) at my arrows pass to protect my hand and to quiet the arrow. Below is how I make a Floppy rest...

[sleek]

Welcome aboard! I typically find center of the bow and put that spot between my ring and middle finger. That puts the arrow about 2 inches above center. That also works well with a split finger draw that puts pressure 2 fingers below the arrow, almost center with the bow.

[Pat B]

One of the cool things about our lunacy of wood bow building is there are many ways to build a bow. None is better than the other but what works best for you is the best...for you.
 The reason I center the handle in the bow is I can see good tiller best if both limbs are the same. It's not how I learned but it is how I've evolved over many years of building wood bows.