Trad Gang
Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: BAPilot2 on December 04, 2014, 10:31:00 AM
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Gentlemen... What can y'all tell me about a Nirk Chieftain Longbow???
Are they considered to be good, mediocre, or bad bows?
What company actually produced the bows?
I posted the same questions over on the Pow Wow forum but there does not seem to be much knowledge and info from the viewers. It was suggested that I may gain more info here, so here I am. Please educate me.
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I can tell you that Nirk archery was founded in 1965 by Larry Nirk in Potlatch Idaho. They were still in business in 1975 but don't know how many years after that. I do not know who made the bows they sold with the Nirk name but the ones that I have come across were decent bows. Some recurve models were the Woodsman, Pioneer and Hunter. They also sold compounds made by Groves. Maybe Groves had a hand in the recurves and longbows they sold, but that is just a guess. May be a bad guess. Just a little info on Nirk.
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The bits of info that I have picked up thus far via trad gang and another forum indicate that one Randy Dehnel, who later started Saxton Archery, was probably the bowyer who made the Nirk longbows.
However, there is a conflicting opinion that Martin / Howatt was responsible for manufacturing the Nirk bows.
So, it's hard to know what to believe.
Are / were Saxton bows a quality product? I know Martin / Howatt are indeed well received and respected.
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Oops... To correct myself: Saxon Archery.
NOT - Saxton
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The bows I have seen with the Nirk name resemble Martin bows more than the old Saxon recurves. I would lean toward Martin.
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One other note: The Saxon bows were made in Kenosha Wisconsin and I do not believe they were still around in the 70's when Nirk was selling recurves and longbows. I think you can rule Saxon out.
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The Saxon bows of Wisconsin has to be another company and not the one in question. Randy Dehnel was owner of Saxon in Idaho in the 80's and 90's and then moved to Washington state. Saxon was in business here up until a few years ago and believe Mr. Dehnel and Saxon are no longer in the business.