Who made semi recurves?

[slowbowjoe]

Had to drop my draw weight a few monts ago (shoulder problem), and the only bow I have to shoot these days is an old (early 70's) Stemmler, 60" 40@28". Nothing fancy at all, probably a low price point bow. Has had a twist in the lower limb since I bought it 20 years ago.

So I filed down the grip more to my liking, sewed a leather cover for it, put some wool puffs on the Dacron string. Much to my surprise, once I got it tuned, I find I'm shooting it better than I had been shooting my sweet custom hybrid.

Profile on the Stemmler looks very much like a current R/D reflex, showing reflex in the limbs when strung. Grip and sight window similar to the 59 Kodiak design.

So what I'm wondering is if anyone knows of other bows of this design, as I'm thinking of trying to find an older bow like it of better quality.

Any ideas?

[wadde]

Blackhawk bows by Cravotta Bros were some nice shooting bows with the design you mention.

[M60gunner]

I bought a Pearson semi-recurve target bow for wife, early 70's. If I recall it was a beginners set. Do not recall seeing any advertised that were more than target weigth. I believe Indian Archery made one also.

[Blackhawk]

There were several of the older Bear bows with a similar look and feel.  My 65 Cub as well as some of the older Polars and Alaskans had it.  Yes, these semi-recurves of the 50's and 60's were just the beginning of the short hybrid longbows that are so popular today.

[jhk1]

BlackHawk (Cravotta Bros.) "Scorpion" from the mid-1960's to early 70's are really neat bows.  I have one in the typical 60" length, but I've also got one from the 1970's (1974, I think) in a 64" length (I suspect these 64" Scorpions are pretty hard to find-- the one I've got is the only one I've ever seen).  The limbs are thin and wide, like a typical recurve, but they have just a very mild recurve/reflex at the tips.  When strung, the tips show a little reflex, but the string doesn't contact the belly side of the limb like a true recurve.  The strung profile is more like a modern R/D longbow.

[slowbowjoe]

This is really helpful guys, I appreciate it.
jhk1, great description - that's how the profile of mine is.
Love my hybrid, but shooting this bow has me wondering if I do better with the larger sight window.

'Been searching around, but haven't come across much out there - just a Cub or two, that Blackhawk mentions.

[Amberjack]

I've had (still have one) Alaskans and a Polar that fit the bill.
Great, easy to draw bows and much less expensive than the Kodiaks.  These were made to hunt so you should find them in decent weights.

Good luck!

AJ

[wadde]

There is a real nice Yellow Jacket by Black Hawk on that auction site now.