Ok,I have always been a longbow guy, but recently have gotten the urge to have a 1 piece recurve. I would like to know what you guys favor in a one piece. I am very picky about quality of the bow in all aspects and have not really shot any for several years. I really like the heavier looking risers as compared to the skinny longbow style risers. I like the looks of Rose Oaks bows and Bruin's bows as well. Thanks for the help. Flint
You might look at a Sarrels Bobcat recurve. They are nice shooting bows.
http://www.sarrelsarchery.com/recurves.htm
Bisch
Talk to Wes Wallace about a one piece Mentor. His bows are on the top of my list and I have several different one piece bows. If you don't care to go custom, it's very hard to beat a Bear Super K. They're easy to find and you can buy 'em old or new and in just about any weight or condition out there. I have two from the 70's and I will confess that they shoot as well as anything else I own.
I have a Bruin and I really like it, but I think it pushes the limit on slender limb width. It has a tendency to want to twist when I string it but otherwise it's a nice bow.
Try test drive of the Black Widow PTF.
That's my next one.
Blacktail
Dale Dye
Fedora 560
I have been extremely happy with these bows.
I love my BW PAX. Shrew makes a good one too.
Schafer
BW
Bear Super Kodiak
X2 on test driving a Widow. But try them all, one will just click
Bob Lee seems to have the grip I love best!!!mark#78 :campfire: :coffee:
Try an Abbott. I had the same urge and being a longbow shooter, I wanted an older style recurve that was as close to a longbow as I could find. The Abbott fits the bill and shoots like a dream.
Holm-Made River Runner is a sweetheart
One of the best deals in a one piece recurve has always been the Martin Hunter.
You cannot find a better one for the price.
John
Keep your eye on the classifieds and the big auction site for a Jack Howard Gamemaster Jet. Hard to find the kind of quality Jack put into his bows. Also, you won't find any new bows with the Brazilian rosewood that Jack used since it is very limited in supply and the cost of it keeps it pretty much reserved for use in high end musical instruments.
Try kota. they make a fine recurve.
I love a one-piece recurve and recently found the grip of my dreams on a Rose Oak Super Wildcat.
There are a lot of real nice ones out there. Bruins are very smooth drawing. Silvertip is another that is hard to beat.
I'm biased, but my first choice for a one piece recurve would be a Blacktail. My second choice would be a Wes Wallace Mentor.
Flint,
Where you been, Buddy? I thought maybe you'd moved out the state or something (wouldn't blame you for THAT, though!) Give me a shout sometime so we can get caught up.
My late friend Jerry Pierce built what was, to my eyes, the nicest one piece recurve of all. He used to tell me that if he ever BOUGHT a bow, it would be a one piece Blacktail. His was an opinion I highly respected...
Good luck with your search, and I hope your Miller string-follow forgives you for straying!
Daryl
I have a one-piece Silvertip, and love it. Although I've not shot or seen one, if I ever got another one-piece recurve, it'd be a Black Widow PAx. I like the look of those, and know they'd shoot as good as their take-down PSAx.
I also like my first real bow, a Martin Hunter one-piece recurve. I hunted lots with that. I have a couple of nice old Bear one-piece recurves, but haven't successfully hunted with them yet.
If your not in a hurry then wait until Jan and go to Kalamazoo. You will be able to test a bunch of bows and decide for yourself.
Check out the classifieds. WW mentor for sale, looks like a great deal.
I am not really a recurve guy, but i just got a Great Plains on a trade, and I love it
For 1 piece my favorites are RoseOak King Panter and Wes Wallace Stealth...........
Give Rivers Edge Recurves a try.( RER )
Jim Pyles
TOELKE, TOELKE, AND TOELKE.......The Chinook , or his Regular 1 Piece. Tu Compadres, Sutty
One way you might judge which bows not to buy is to watch the postings on this site. It's pretty easy to see what guys want to sell. You also might consider waiting another month or two when the hunting seasons are close. Lot of good bows hit the classifieds then.
I forgot to add that I prefer the smoothness of a 64 to 66 inch one piece so that eliminates a lot of bowyers that just dont make them.
Nice Rose Oak for sale in the classifieds.
QuoteOriginally posted by hvyhitter:
I forgot to add that I prefer the smoothness of a 64 to 66 inch one piece so that eliminates a lot of bowyers that just dont make them.
Both Blacktail and Wes Wallace one piece recurves come in 60", 62", 64" and 66" lengths.
Blacktail would be on the top of my list...good luck finding a used one, I've been trying... :biglaugh:
QuoteOriginally posted by Easykeeper:
Blacktail would be on the top of my list...good luck finding a used one, I've been trying... :biglaugh:
If I was desperate for money, I would never sell my two Blacktails. Used Blacktails for sale are far and few inbetween.
If you are picky and want the best looking 1- piece out their ( in my oponion ) get a Blacktail. they have the best grip and you will not find better craftmanship...period.... RW
quote:
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Originally posted by hvyhitter:
I forgot to add that I prefer the smoothness of a 64 to 66 inch one piece so that eliminates a lot of bowyers that just dont make them.
Another reason for a Jack Howard Gamemaster Jet - they are all 66".
Schafer Silvertip!
Looks like a heck of a deal on a Damon Howatt Hunter on the classifieds. Comes with some additional gear as well. Check it out.
Looks like a heck of a deal on a Damon Howatt Hunter on the classifieds. Comes with some additional gear as well. Check it out.
Martin / Howatt Hunter . Time tested great shooting bow .
Lewis Hollow,Fedora,If you like older bows Howatt,there are alot of good one pieces all depennd on how much you want to spend.
I would be willing to bet that few if any of the current onepiece bows will perform with the Bigfoot Bows by Kirk Lavender. I know I have shot hundreds of bows and few I have ever shot are comparable . They are very quick and dead in the hand. Kirk is a sponser and possibly the most overlooked bowyer today.
Look at RER bows, nothing better! Shawn
those Kotas look real nice
Check out Bob Lee's inventory reduction list. A lot of "SOLD"s on there, but there's still a bunch left. Smooooooooth, quick bows. I'm pretty sure either Santa or the Easter Bunny has a longbow in the offing for me.
Black Widow!
You said you like a quality bow. I suggest two.
The Blacktail Elite or the Fox High Sierra.
The High Sierra is a takedown, but I think Ron has a one piece version of it. He also makes one called the Breed. The Breed is a recurve with a longbow grip. I have one of his Breeds & it's a peach. Mine is a sleeved takedown & you wouldn't know it's a takedown.
Frank
Look up SBiles on this site. He's not a sponsor yet but he makes a great recurve bow.
Thanks for the repiles guys. It looks like I have alot of good choices to try out.I even showed my wife this thread. She just gave me that look and I said my birthday is in October. HA HA. Thanks again Flint
I agree with RW re: Blacktail 1-piece. Beautiful bows!
I currently have a Widow PAX and a Rose Oak Super Wildcat. Both are fantastic bows. If you like a heavier mass bow go with the Widow. If you like lighter and Bear Super K look, the Super Wildcat fits the bill.
The wait time is much longer for the Rose Oak and you'll have a difficult time finding one on the used block.
Truthfully I wouldn't give my Martin Hunter up for anything smooth draw, quiet, and shoots where I'm looking, and the price wasn't bad, that being said might try a L/B on for size one of these days, my brother who owns a couple Fedoras even comented that for a prodution bow that Hunter is sweet.
QuoteOriginally posted by Outwest:
One of the best deals in a one piece recurve has always been the Martin Hunter.
You cannot find a better one for the price.
John
Ditto that. Or Damon Howatts. And for any price very few recurves perform better than these will.
Joshua
I just bought a left hand Groves Spitfire Magnum, how do these measure up against the bows listed so far? I am normally a longbow shooter. My bone cracker suggested a lighter weight bow and my wife would not let me buy a new one, so I threw out a bid on a whim and 'won' it. If my wife doesn't kill me, I will report on it when it arrives.
Hands down, no doubt, the Blacktail recurve is the best recurve being built in the world today....kind of opinionated aren't I! haha Well I sure know what I like and it is impossible to find fault with a Blacktail.
Another vote for the Kota Kill-um. Smooth drawing. Tim does a wonderful job finishing his bows. And economical.
If you can find one,Archery Traditions Canebreak
A friend of mine has a 56" Whisperstik which I like a lot, but it is sensitive to form, due to it's shortness.
Another friend of mine has a Northwind Recurve which really surprised me, fast and stable.
Also, I hear good things about Fedora and Silvertips :)
You state you like the look of BRUINs one for sale on the trad bows Bruin Huntmaster Recurve, RH, 58", 54#,$325 give it a look.
I have owned many of the bows recommended and from a shooting standpoint I think the Bruin Huntmaster or Woodsmaster or one of John McDonald, Big River Bows Kodiak/Super Kodiak reproductions would be my choice. Of these I personally like the Bruin best.
I read in another post on this thread that the Bruin has a narrow limb and might be a little more prone to twist when stringing it? Any thoughts on that. I still remember reading the article in TBM years ago about Mike Steliga and like his bows then as well.
The limbs are a little more sensitive, but it isn't an issue. I haven't had a problem. Just use a bow stringer and shoot.
QuoteOriginally posted by meathead:
The limbs are a little more sensitive, but it isn't an issue. I haven't had a problem. Just use a bow stringer and shoot.
I have had no issues with this and I have had three Bruin one-piece and currently shoot a Bruin T/D.
If that bow in the classifieds was not 58" it would already be at my house. I draw 32" and with Mikes bows I can shoot a 60" bow comfortably but 58" is just too much string angle.
RER or Dan Toelke, can't go wrong with either one.
Guess I'm a lucky man! I'm shooting a Martin Howett Hunter now (which I will not sell) and I have a Blacktail Elite one piece on order (should ship soon).
Plus, I've got the greatest woman in the world. So, looks like life is complete (maybe I better watch out, no?).