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Post by Karoliner on Aug 30, 2014 1:03:33 GMT
I've been toying with the idea of getting a Korean bow (I get this strange craving for one every few months). I might try to learn the thumb draw, but I doubt if it will ever replace my Mediterranean release.
Anyway, the bow I was looking at is the Kaya Windfighter. It seems to be the same as the Kaya Korean Traditional Bow, but without the leather wrappings (which I find to be a bit garish and frankly unattractive on that particular bow). I'd like to own the Khan, also made by Kaya, but it won't handle my draw length... The other Korean bows are measured at 32", which is about how I shoot with a normal draw. (This really blows- I've been looking for a heavy English longbow lately, all the bloody things are marked at 28", except the >$400 ones... :x )
Also, does anyone know where in the devil I can find a Windfighter? 3Rivers (where I usually get my stuff) only carries the KTB and the Khan, and the only retailer I found that carries the Windfighter that I might consider ordering from is The Longbow Shoppe in the UK (shipping is gonna be a doozie...). Anyone know if KOA could get in touch with Kaya and get me a fair price?
So does anyone have any experience with the above models, or with horsebows in general? Anything I should know beforehand? I primarily shoot an English longbow, but I've always thought that such a tiny little bow with a 60# draw would be fun to play with occasionally.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Aug 30, 2014 14:31:26 GMT
I like the look of the Kaya Windfighter. I haven't shot one, but it should be sweet. I have a Samick Mind 50, which is similar, probably a somewhat better bow, but not quite as traditional as it could be as it's a working recurve rather than a static recurve.
The Samick can be drawn past 35". Shoots smoothly drawn to 35", with some impressive speed. Note that when the draw weight is given at 32", or at the conventional 28", that's just the conventional draw distance to give the weight at, and many will happily go much further than that. Many won't, so you need to find the max draw length. It can vary a lot between models even from one manufacturer (e.g., see the variation among Grozer bows (for which the draw weight is given at 28" for all models iirc)). Of course, if you draw it further, then the force will be greater. I have seen people say they draw the Khan to 30-31", with no problems.
For horsebows in general, the good ones are very fast. Short limbs = light limbs = fast.
For Asian-style reflex-recurve bows in general, you get more energy for the same draw weight, even if the bow isn't lightweight (ideally, you have a quite convex force-draw curve, instead of the concave one you get with a longbow).
So with something like a good traditional Korean bow, you win both ways.
Some people worry about pinching the fingers due the angle of the string at the arrow at full draw. I shoot thumb, so no problem for me.
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Post by Karoliner on Aug 30, 2014 17:10:19 GMT
Thanks for the information. I had also considered the Samick SKB and the Mind 50- they seem like really cool "minimalist" bows, and they're also quite a bit cheaper and available from Lancaster. I'd like to have one someday.
Maybe today I'll try to make a thumb ring from some antler I've got lying around.
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Post by ineffableone on Aug 30, 2014 20:49:25 GMT
Just because a bow is rated for a 28" draw length does not mean it can't go to a 32". The 28" draw length is the industry standard for rating bows poundage. So all you need to do is some math to figure what the poundage would be at your draw length. Though it should be noted that most bows should only be used 4" above the rated draw length. As stacking occurs when you go past the rated number.
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Post by Karoliner on Aug 30, 2014 21:09:37 GMT
I'm not worried about the end draw weight so much as premature failure of the bow. I think with a 72" bamboo-backed Rudderbows ELB from KOA, I might be able to get away with a 31-32" draw without it doing too much damage.
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Post by ineffableone on Aug 30, 2014 21:15:44 GMT
That is part of why I mentioned 4" past rated draw weight is typically the max recommendation.
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Post by Karoliner on Aug 31, 2014 20:04:18 GMT
Oh, I see what you mean.
Sorry, it's been a long week... my brain is fried.
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Post by ineffableone on Aug 31, 2014 20:11:00 GMT
No worries it happens.
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Post by bigpete on Sept 1, 2014 11:20:07 GMT
Not sure if you'd be interested but you can get Chinese made "horsebows" off eBay pretty cheap, and they are surprisingly good value for money. I got my first one at least 2 years ago,its never been unstrung,and I've shot many hundreds of arrows through it with no issues at all. It cost me $70 including shipping :-)
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Post by Karoliner on Sept 1, 2014 17:25:19 GMT
I've seen those too. They advertise under "Chinese Longbows" or something, right?
What's the draw weight on yours? How fast is it?
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Post by bigpete on Sept 1, 2014 20:39:28 GMT
Mine is 60#@28" and I'm not sure how fast it is but its not to bad for speed. But for $70 you can't expect Hoyt quality. A mate has one slightly different to mine that cost $100 and its a really nice bow so much so that I'll be buying one soon,his has more reflex in the handle and no string bridges on the siyah. Both are finished with cobra skin and both are confirmed hunting bows :-)
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Post by Karoliner on Sept 1, 2014 22:47:16 GMT
I might look into that sometime. As a matter of fact, I've been eyeing a Han dynasty Jian lately. That bow would complement the sword nicely.
I still really like the idea of having a micro-bow that has such power.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Sept 2, 2014 0:48:26 GMT
Those can be good value. I do most of my shooting with one (45lb@28", 36" draw length). Not even close to as fast as my Samick Mind 50, but a nice bow to shoot. Quality varies - some stack a lot as soon as you exceed about 30" draw, some people complain about hand shock with some.
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Post by Karoliner on Sept 2, 2014 1:04:25 GMT
I did some reading about them today, it seems that the manufacturer suggests they be used at 28" for a while and then slowly drawn back further as time goes on.
I've often wondered if the leather covering, which isn't necessary on bows made with modern materials, actually slows down the bow a lot.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Sept 2, 2014 3:08:43 GMT
The covering does slow them down. It adds weight, and does nothing except decorate (and protect from UV).
I haven't stripped it off a bow yet, so I don't know how much weight it adds. Maybe I should ...
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Post by bigpete on Sept 2, 2014 3:18:41 GMT
OK I tested my bow today it measures 61#@29.5" and shot a 570gn arrow @ 160fps and a 350gn arrow @ 180fps so its not blindingly fast but its really only 15fps behind 90% of the bows I've owned with the same draw weight/arrow weight,and I've owned some pretty good bows :-) and that was measured with the crappy string it came with and woolen string silencers,I'd imagine you'd gain a considerable amount with a decent string. As or the leather cover,yes it probably does detract from performance a little but it would also help prevent splinters from lifting so it does serve a purpose on these cheaper bows,and I don't think snake skin would weigh too much. Attachments:
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Post by Karoliner on Sept 3, 2014 5:07:42 GMT
That's not too bad Gonna have to look at one of those for my birthday maybe.
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Post by bigpete on Sept 4, 2014 8:57:32 GMT
Glad to be of assistance :-)
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Post by bigpete on Sept 5, 2014 10:22:26 GMT
Cheers for the karma ! :-)
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Post by bigpete on Sept 7, 2014 6:21:34 GMT
Just ordered my new one should be 65#@28" with no string bridges and a more reflexed handle will post stats and pics once its here in a couple of weeks :-)
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