Checkmate bows?

hesin.raca · Post by **hesin.raca** » Thu May 14, 2009 8:45 pm

Hey, I am doing some research for a group and they're looking at Checkmate bows, specifically these two:

http://www.oldbow.com/chekmate_attila_r ... 46_ss1.htm

http://www.oldbow.com/chekmate_raven_re ... 46_ss1.htm

Any thoughts/info on the quality of this company? They seam well enough...

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Fri May 15, 2009 2:38 am

I don't know the company. If your Group is looking to re-enactment, then these bows are not historical replicas but modern sports bows based on traditional principles.

hesin.raca · Post by **hesin.raca** » Fri May 15, 2009 5:47 pm

no, not re-enactment persay, www.belegarth.com is a medieval combat society built around Tolkien, so really it's just bow quality they are concerned with.

On the other hand, and if there is a thread somewhere on this I apologize, I can't seam to find any, I was curious what the general consensus is on the bowyers on this site:

http://www.eastern-archery.com/grozerframe.html

Again, if there is a thread on this already, point me to it and I apologize:)

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Sat May 16, 2009 1:05 am

Grozer's bows are reliable, shoot well and are durable. Their appearance is more similar to ancient bows; but the Scythian bow is not like the original.

hesin.raca · Post by **hesin.raca** » Sat May 16, 2009 1:32 am

Oh, sorry, I meant the whole website, I recognize Grozer and Kassai, Holm Neumann let me try all of his bows and he had a grozer he was borrowing from a friend.

I was more curious about Toth, Kaffka, Kovacs, and Szaloky.

On a side note, Mr Selby, You probably don't recognize my name but I was the guy with green hair helping with Holm's MA competition at the ranch. I look much more presentable now;)

Hyarmendacil · Post by **Hyarmendacil** » Sat May 16, 2009 4:08 pm

Good as they are, I'm a bit not sure about using Grozer's bows for LARP/boffer combat, since it's really hard to resist the temptation to draw them fully and therefore break the safety regulations. Bows built in the modern style for short-draw archery are so much easier to use safely in this regard. Or maybe that's just me?

hesin.raca · Post by **hesin.raca** » Sat May 16, 2009 5:46 pm

We have never had a problem with that in the past and plenty of people are using grozer, kassai, and then of course Bear-fiberglass, walmart generics, and other. It would just be a matter of purchasing one with the required safety poundage for the sport, which for belegarth is 35# at 28" (arrow stops to maintain 28" max draw). We have rules in place to assist in maintaining safety (such as half draw, marked on the arrows, within 15ft of target). But believe me, archery safety should be the least of your concern for this group, it's pretty rough.

Regardless, it turns out that the specific discussion on these bows that I am checking for wasn't directly meant for the fighting field, but for target practice outside of Belegarth, so the Belegarth reference wasn't even necessary;)

I've heard of Toth in the past at the Neumann Ranch, but I don't remember exactly what the consensus was...

Russ Mitchell · Post by **Russ Mitchell** » Sun May 17, 2009 12:24 am

I've owned a couple of Toth bows. They were solid and reliable.

Orda Khan · Post by **Orda Khan** » Sun May 17, 2009 12:00 pm

The new Scythian bows by Grozer are getting better.

hesin.raca · Post by **hesin.raca** » Sun May 17, 2009 5:28 pm

Hey, thanks for responding. Do you know which Toth bows you had? How long did you use them and did they wear down at all, delaminating, cracking, poundage drop?

Grozer seams to be the winner on that list, I hear nonstop praise for his work.

What about Szaloky, Kovacs, and Kaffka?

Kaffka and Kovacs look a lot like some of the hungarian bows I've seen floating around the archery world, does anyone even have one of these?

Alan Flashing · Post by **Alan Flashing** » Sun May 17, 2009 11:21 pm

Just wanted to welcome Doug to the forum.
All the best,
Alan Flashing

Checkmate bows?

Checkmate bows?

Greetings