Horse bows

[zinndl]

I started watching the BBC RobinHood show on netflix (very good show if you give it a chance) and he used a horse bow. I was hoping for opinions about the bows, do any of you hunt with them, love them, hate them?

[straitera]

Always liked the looks but never shot one. Talked to a horse bow maker from the middle east who said they were very fast even at smaller draw weights. I'm just too set in my longer heavier Hills.

[Night Wing]

I too like the looks of them and I think the Saluki line of horsebows appeals to me the most.

I don't own any horsebows because I have a 30" draw length and those bows don't come in long enough lengths to suit me.

[Mudd]

I think everyone knows that I am a longbow shooter but that doesn't stop me from enjoying other types of bows and these are some of my "other favorites" to shoot.

I have one exactly like the one in another forum here on tradgang plus a really sweet shooting Korean style.(prototype, carbon limbs covered with Birch bark)

At 30 and 40 yards my arrows are still flying flat.

Amazingly fast for low to mid 40's weight range bows.

God bless,Mudd

[Pat B]

James Parker makes horse bows of all nationalities and most with all natural materials. Some of his bows are in the low 50" or upper 40" length and will easily pull 32". These bows are meant to be highly stressed when drawn to get the full benefits of the horn/sinew.

[nlester]

So, you guys that have shot them, are you shooting with a thumbring or fingers?  I'd think horse bows would have tremendous finger pinch.

[Mudd]

I shoot with fingers and haven't ever noticed any finger pinch issues.

They pull smooth and shoot the same.

I don't feel a thing when I drop the string.

God bless,Mudd

[AKCrazyhorse]

I own two salukis (a Damascus and a Scythian) and most of these bows will draw to or in excess of 30 inches.  I shoot three under and suffer no appreciable finger pinch.  I've never owned two competing bows of the same draw weight to do an accurate speed comparison but it sure does seem fast to me (not like that matters much to me).  For me the grip style makes the most difference in my shooting enjoyment.  These are great bows, both to shoot and look at as they are distinct and unique not only from all other bows but from each other as well.  NightWing, have you had the opportunity to attempt to draw a Saluki yet?  I've seen a guy draw a 60" Ibex to 32 measured inches and report no finger pinch.  One last thing, without exception, everyone I've ever let shoot it  (including 3 in the last month or so) ask one simply question...."What do you want for it?"  They are that nice and that much fun.

[calgarychef]

I've shot a couple and I love the look but they were a bear to shoot!  Tons of handshock and when we crono'd them they were dissapointing to say the least.

[John Lipinski]

I love mine; i got it from attilla's archery and I tried the thumbring, but it proved too difficult. I shot mine wiht split fingers and didn't notice any pinching.

[Capt]

I have several Asian style recurve bows (horsebows) and I shoot with a thumb draw.  These bows were made to be "short longbows" in regards to string angle the siyahs (static tips) allow for the shorter bow to have the same string angle as a longer bow without stacking and without pinching.  

Like all bows it is the bowyer's skill that will dictate whether or not the bow is a performer.  I have one bow from a so called master bowyer that is the most unpleasant bow I have ever shot (Asian or Western)where as I have a Laminate Kassai that is an absolute dream to shoot.

If you are looking for just speed then get a Korean bow that is like the Formula One of horsebows. They are small my Hwarang is 46" strung and extremely light in the hand.  They are not easy to shoot but boy when you get that pocket rocket dialed in you will be amazed at the performance.  The most fun you can have shooting a bow.

I also own a Grozer Magyar Composite and an Ed Scott Owl Gemsbock AmerIndian horsebow.  If one has the means I recommend shooting a true hornbow there is nothing like it.  I can not describe the feeling of a horn bow it is very different than even a selfbow.  The Grozer is 63# at my draw length and feels to be about 45# there is just something about the horn that makes it "supple."

I will say that these bows are not the easiest to shoot as most are shot off the knuckle rather than the shelf.  Which can take some getting use to by itself.  

Another misconception about these bows is you hear is that they only perform well with lighter arrows that is just not true my Magyar bows love heavy hunting arrows and the larger siyahs were designed specifically for the purpose of throwing a heavy arrow to pierce armor.

As you can see from my post I love the style of bow and I enjoy shooting with a thumb draw.  I did not find the transition that difficult but many do.  I have several theories why people give up the ring and go back to fingers but that is for another post.  That all being said these bows can be shot with whatever method you choose.

[Raging Water]

I have a Saluki Ibex 63# at 28. I love it. It is a rocket launcher!!!! Easy to control, hard hitting, quiet, and a hoot to shoot.

Matt

[Mudd]

If it turns out I have a horn belly sinew backed that is in it's last year of curing.

I will not hurry it as I want it to have every chance at being the "rocket" it should be.

I did not start the build on this one but couldn't pass up the chance to own it when the opportunity came up at the MoBoJam this past summer.

I also didn't trust myself to resist trying it so I asked Loyd Lippert to take it home with him. Loyd hopefully has put it in the proper position, locked it down and is letting nature take it's course.

Time will tell!!!!!

God bless,Mudd

PS: This bow has been in process for 3 years now. I came into it during the 3rd trimester.

[William F. Adams]

I couldn't resist buying a Kaya KTB from 3 Rivers Archery.

It's a lot of fun and I've found shooting w/ a thumb ring (I made a leather one) very challenging.

 Eventually hope to make a leather bow case, belt and quiver.

[Capt]

Mudd it is hard enough waiting for a bowyer to make a hornbow I can not imagine sitting there with the bow while it is curing.  Good Luck!!

[MercilessMing]

I got 3 Salukies and a Samick Korean bow.  They all draw very smoothly for my draw.  Ideally the bows are able to draw up to 30" like AKCrazyhorse said.  No stacking and arrows fly fast comparing with long bows and most recurves with same poundage at the same draw.  All of them are very light mass weight.  Some friends tried it complained about handshock because they were used to shooting recurve or compound which are 2 pounds heavier.  But I don't feel handshock.  Personally I think that was from string hitting the syad making louder noise.  I have not figure out how to quiet it down yet.

Most horsebows are short and great for treestand when hunting.  I shoot split fingers and did not feel pinching.  Tried shooting thumb and found out I have to learn how to time it right to twist the bow outward.  It is true fun to shoot.  I have also tried the Avarta style shooting.  (Both thumb release and Avartar style will put the arrow on the other side of the riser vs. split/three finger style.  Avartar style I can draw about 2" longer and make more use of the same bow.

[AKCrazyhorse]

MM, anyway you can post a photo of you drawing or anchoring "avatar style".  I'm familiar with what it looks like but thought it was only a CG movie thing as it looks way jacked up to me.  didn't know anyone was really doing it.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Whoops! Error made in comment - thinking of the wrong bow. Comment deleted with my apologies.

[Kanuck]

There is an amazing video of a young lady in Murmansk shooting an asian style bow with what could be called an Avatar release.  All I can say is this video impressed the heck out of me.