Let's say I have in mind a particular braced bow profile that I like the looks of; however, I don't know what it looks like unbraced. Is there any way to get from point A to point B without getting a similar bow and unstringing it and tracing its profile?
I know what I like, I just don't want to "steal" someone else's design.

You aren't stealing if you use it just for a starting point.  It's all been done before anyway.  Unless you are selling them and advertising it as your own new design I don't think you should worry about it.  Every profile will work differently depending on your lam width, taper, and back profile.  I think to copy someones limb from a photo would be impossible anyway.

Marty, I can't afford the one I really like!  :D    And have never seen one in person...

Pm someone that owns one.  They would probably trace it out for you.

Duh - I hadn't thought of that.  I'll let you know when I come up with something.  I'm still "on paper" right now....sooner or later I'm going to have to start mixing some epoxy and get busy with it...

Do something, Tom, even if it's wrong - LOL

Seriously - I've seen the work (wonders) you do with wood on a number of different projects. I can't wait to see the bow that you will, sooner or later, build.  

Three Rivers and Binghams sell a blueprint for various longbows.  What kind of bow are you wanting to build?  When we spoke on the phone I offered to send you one I have.  The offer still stands.  It builds a mild R/D that I really, really like.

Marty, PM sent.

Bernie, I'll get around to it eventually.  I like to plan things out a bit before I jump in...though, I didn't do that with the offshore fishing boat and it turned out O.K..  

I'll say it did, and besides you started planning to make a bow back before I even got interested in trad, let alone primitive - LOL. See my memory still works - sometimes - and I still remember when you bought that TBB, Vol I and started searching out exotic woods -       but I still have faith in you, buddy.

Bernie,
I've been collecting exotic woods ever since then.  I intend to dump a heap of it on your doorstep soon and demand you make a selfbow out of it.  You can glue pieces together can't you?  :D   Naw, I don't reckon it'd be a selfbow then....

Nope, wouldn't be a self bow! That doesn't mean I'd turn down  scraps  of exotic wood you have left over - great for knife handles, and bow risers/tip overlays -    

BTW - did you hear about the 1st Annual Primitive Skills Rendezvous in Burlington, NC this weekend? You would find lots of interest there if you could get there (it's Fri, Sat, Sun). Lots of trading gonna be going on. I would like to have gone for the whole time but - no way.

Bernie,
I've got a cage match, er, family reunion, in Oriental this weekend - won't be able to make it.
Take some pix, please.

Sorry, Tom, I'm just wishing I could be there - I think it is gonna be good. They've been trying to get one together about 3 or more years now. Finally found a place.

Stealing designs can get nasty, and I certainly don't approve of it. Now listen to this; I once made a bow and traced out the form freehand on my workbench with the aid of a very wobbly strip of perspex.I think it was my third try at building a bowform to suit my idea of how it should look. After a few retries I was satisfied with the general curves and went ahead. Some months later I was visiting a friend who makes bows to sell, he asked to see my bow unbraced and I obliged, he was curious and asked me where I got the design and I told him how I drew it out on my workbench. He was amazed and went over to his form and placed my bow on it, it was a perfect match! There is very little that hasn't been done before!
chrisg