Non-wood risers

Greg Owen · October 14, 2009, 11:35:00 AM

Another thread made me think about this. I know we all have our own opinions. I would like to know who considers the non-wood risers to be too modern to feel traditional. I am not a hunter although I often go hunting with others. I started shooting traditional because I like the challenge and like the complex simplicity of it. It just seems so simple until you try to excel at it, then it gets very complex. It just doesn't 'feel' traditional to me to have a non-wood riser on a traditional bow. I am not saying people who use them are not traditional archers. They are. I know this could extend out to limb materials too. I don't have the same non-traditional feelings about carbon in the limbs. We all have our preferences and opinions. Ok - I need to go shoot some more while I contemplate the seeming inconsistency I have between modern riser and modern limb.

manyletters · October 14, 2009, 11:46:00 AM

Greg...well said...I have both wood and metal risers in ILF configurations. Both have their places in tradional archery whether it is in a hunting situation or 3d or target. I think sometimes we get way too caught up in the issues at hand and egos and strong opinions get involved...just go out and sshoot a bow and enjoy...whatever floats your boat as some people say...if it works for you...it must be good!!

pseman · October 14, 2009, 12:58:00 PM

I like and shoot both. They look different, but they function the same. No need to worry about the looks. As long as you like them, no one else's opinion really matters.

George D. Stout · October 14, 2009, 01:02:00 PM

They made those metal risers in the 1960's partner, so I don't see much difference. Actually Par-X and Grimes made them in the early 50's. Look at my thread, "New Takedown" and see a 1972 metal riser that is as traditional as any new three piece takedown out there.

Here's the 1972 Bear Mag T/D.

freefeet · October 14, 2009, 01:03:00 PM

The only issue i would have would be a metal riser getting very cold as metal is very good at conducting heat away from your hand.

Steve H. · October 14, 2009, 01:42:00 PM

I tried to bring a pair of massive Gobi aragli horns out of Mongolia that I was considering for a longbow riser. Thought I was going to rot in a Mongolian prison when we got pulled aside at security.....

jeff w · October 14, 2009, 02:15:00 PM

I don't even know why people keep wondering if something is 'traditional' or not. Pick out what you want to shoot and just go do it, and enjoy it. Life's too short to wonder if someone else thinks you are traditional or not. I wish 'traditional archery' would get over this phase of trying to define itself.

Jeremy · October 14, 2009, 02:25:00 PM

I couldn't care less what's considered "traditional"; I shoot what I like to shoot.
George is right... metal risers have been around a very long time.
I'll see if I can dig up the photos of a few metal riser T/Ds that predate fiberglass

vermonster13 · October 14, 2009, 02:29:00 PM

In 269 BC they were using steel bows in India.

I wonder if the armies they were crushing cried foul?

Curveman · October 14, 2009, 07:47:00 PM

I stopped short of buying the new Border limbs for my recurve because I prefer the wood even though I know that the new HexV's are better in terms of function. I prefer "D" shaped longbows with "traditional" handles to hybrids even though my bow has some R/D in it when unstrung and in Europe anything with a shelf on it can't even be called a longbow but an "American flatbow." I have carbon in all my Borders. In fewer words, I don't pretend to be following any rhyme or reason here!

It's all about the fun and I have no trouble with how anyone haves it-even if they want to privately enjoy feeling more traditional than me because they shoot a selfbow etc. :D Even the debates about all this I enjoy! If you are not hurting anyone else; don't let anyone sit in judgment of you!

twitchstick · October 15, 2009, 12:55:00 AM

I shoot a gamemaster 2 and I must confess that it dosn't feel very traditional to me. When I frist switch back to trad last fall,I did it more to shoot a recurve really well than to shoot traditional. I seen that realy cool riser I thought that I might make me a better recurve shooter. Then I realised it was just as tough as any recurve longbow that I had shoot in the past. Now I find myself adding leather and shooting off the self wishing I had one of those nice pretty bow everyone has here. Just me but I think my next bow will be a nice beautiful long bow.