Does anyone know about these recurves I have not found alot of information on them
Very smooth forgiving bows.
yep - very nice bows
I had a Checkmate Falcon a few years ago, very smooth bow. Good looking to boot! Only reason I sold mine was the weight was just to light for me. I have since regretting making that decision. Only bow I have ever sold and wish I had kept it.
I had a Checkmate Raven. Beautiful bow and shot great. Wish I hadn't sold it. I've tried to buy it back from my buddy that I sold it to several times. They really are nice bows.
I was a dealer for several years--in my opinion, one of the best bows on the market. The owners had the business for over 40 years, then sold it to the bowyer who had worked for them for over 20 years. He moved the factory, had some problems with the move but seemed to have worked them out, then...well, I don't know what happened next.
I was on the phone with him one day, he said I had a shipment coming within a week or so...that was a year or more ago. I haven't been able to contact him since, and neither have other dealers I know.
I don't know what happened--if he got sick, sold out, or???
It's really a shame--excellent bows and the bowyer really knew his stuff. My son will inherit my personal bows.
Chad
I've had just about one of each of the chekmate bows. Hunter, Hunter II, Crusader, crusader T/D, raven, longhorn, and thunderbird. They are all very good bows for the money. Performace is right up there with some bows costing 2x times more.
I have a 62' crusader t/d that I will probably never git rid of and I go thru bows like most people change socks. It is a solid performer and has proven itself time and again. I've killed more animals with that bow than any other.
Most of them I bought thru chad. I hope they get everything figured out. They were very good bows.
Does anyone have any updates on Chek-Mate? The "recurves.com" site doesn't seem to be taking orders. ArcheryByMail, which is based out of a range here in Winnipeg, Canada, has some in stock, but I don't know if they are getting more.
I have shot the Crusader, and while I'm no expert and don't have much to compare it to, it seems like a really nice bow.
Thanks.
Chad was the man at recurves.com. I think he explained it as best he could above. My chek-mate is a great bow. Looks like the only way to get one now is in the classifieds.
I've shot Chek-mate take downs for 20+ years. I've tried a bunch of high end recurves and always went back to Chek-mate. The best recurve for the money period.
My buddy and I both shoot Hunters and he just ordered a New Hunter III for something a little different.
Mark is still selling and making bows but he now only sells through a very select few dealers.
If your interested in a new Chek-mate PM me and I can send you in the right direction.
I had a Chek Mate Falcon. I regret selling it. I wish I had it back. Would love to get my hands on a Chek Mate again.
Glad to hear he's still on the green side of the grass, but very dissapointed with the way he's conducting business.
It is weird because I think Pete Ward just reviewed one of their longbows. What's up with that?
I'm with Chad. Never did get my Hunter 3, that was supposedly in that last shipment, but Chad graciously returned my deposit.
Recently I was thinking of ordering a bow and Check-Mate was way up on the list for price and quality but without a reputable dealer stateside it's a no-go. Please forgive me if there is one and I am unaware - but that is another problem - when dealers are cut off without explanation, I don't get that warm fuzzy feeling that opens my wallet.
To the best of my knowledge all the U.S. dealers (selling them as Chek-Mate bows) were "cut off" the same as I was, along with some Canadian dealers.
Thanks everyone. That does seem strange. I suppose there is a great deal of competition and a squeeze between all the custom makers and the few big companies that mass produce these days. Still, it seems odd, whatever his reasons, that he wouldn't at least communicate the changes to his dealers.
I don't really need to know more, as I have all the bows I need . . . for now.
Thanks again.
My Chek Mate Crusader longbow.
A stable smooth&quiet Beauty!
"Don't leave home without-it". (//%5Burl=http://imgur.com/aHbHzeW%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://i.imgur.com/aHbHzeW.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
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Dang Alan that's a good looking bow! I like the wood combo and that bow has great lines. I think I'm going to look them up.
I've got three, two recurves and a longbow. (Hunter I, Hunter II and Crusader). They are all first class bows. My Black Widow hangs on the wall anymore.
Marc is still making bows but has scaled production back. He's only one guy.
I still have a few of my personal bows, but the story with how a great many dealers were treated remains the same.
I was one of their top dealers...THE top dealer in the U.S. for at least a year or two. I was cut off with no warning, no explanation, and no contact since. I had to refund well over $10,000 in deposits to some folks who had been waiting over a year, and I couldn't explain why--I didn't know either. I never got paid back for thousands of dollars in supplies I bought and had sent up when Marc bought and moved the shop and had a cash flow problem.
This was after doing business with them for well over a decade, and doing lots of personal deals with Marc. I considered him to be a friend--I'd even bought presents for his kids.
Larry and Dorothy were top-notch, and never did me wrong. It's a shame their legacy has suffered like it did. I've waited years for an explanation, and am still waiting. I know at least a couple of guys I contacted know what the deal is, but either lied to me or ignored me.
Outstanding bows--don't expect I'll ever sell the ones I own. Don't expect I'd ever buy a new one either, at least under the current ownership. Not before I get some sort of explanation at least. Why I was told, the last time he would answer my phone call, that I had a big shipment of bows on the way that should have arrived any day (they didn't). Why I got cut off with no warning or explanation. Why I never got paid back for the supplies I sent.
Buyer beware.
Recently added a ChekMate Hunter II recurve
to the stable. 60" #51@28".
Very impressed with its accuracy&lack of sound,
on release. Grip-size: Med/Lg.
Also, a well-balanced weapon.
(//%5Burl=http://imgur.com/Ulk57VA%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://i.imgur.com/Ulk57VA.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
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I had a falcon
It was the best. Quiet, smooth, accurate. I have no idea why I sold it - just got into other bows but I should have kept it since I've never found one better. And they were very inexpensive for what you got.
I don't think you can buy them anymore, is that correct?
sam
I've owned 3 Checkmate Bows a Hunter II an Attila that I purchased from Chad and a Falcon that I got from the classifieds. All were great shooters and I wish I had the Falcon back
They were all great bows at a really fair price.
I have a Chek Mate Firebird. It is a great bow. Well built and accurate. If I found another one I would probably buy it to have a back up.
All of the Chek mate bows that I have handled are well built and good shooters. It is really unfortunate that they fell down on their business practices.
Archilles1 that bow looks very familiar
Hi Bill!
Thanks for the fine bow.
A top choice for the Recurve fan.
Put a new FF string-on, as you can see.
Its a shame no one has a contact. I live in BC now and was hopping i could meet up with the bowyer. maybe some time this year ill head out to the Island and try to find the illusive CheckMate bow. If any one has the email or a phone number could you PM me.
thanks
They look a lot like a Cascade recurve, the way the riser and limbs meet especially.
Checkmate made bows for Cascade. Now Cascade doesnt sell any bows either.I sent several emails to Cascade wanting information on their bows. no response, ever.
Going on 4 or 5 years now, I never got paid and never got an explanation. I tried phone, e-mail, and social media.
If anyone manages to contact Marc, I'm still waiting on at the very least an explanation. He owes me that.
This is a sad story.
LBR I used to get my archery equipment from get-r-done archery in calgary and he used to carry the bows aswell. so i got the chance to shoot a few and im really sad that I cant get my hands on these bows any more. If you have Marc's email could you give it to me id like to try my hand at finding him now that i live in B.C