New bows from Kaya in 2011

Thomas Duvernay · Post by **Thomas Duvernay** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:03 am

WarBow,

I'm going to hold off on talking too much about my suggestions for now, until I have a chance to put the Khan and Dong Yi, which Freddie will send me, through its paces next month. However, one small suggestion I gave was having the leather wrap on the handle on the Khan extended up over the shelf.

T

WillAdams · Post by **WillAdams** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:09 pm

Has the Dynastress limb construction (patent-expired) limb construction technique ever been considered by Kaya or any other manufacturer of ``reformed bows''? It should allow expected levels of performance while allowing for an easier to string, straighter profile as is typical n the west.

I just purchased a Kaya KTB (from 3Rivers):

(also posted to ArcheryTalk --- my apologies to those seeing this twice)

Not the ``new'' 2010 wrapped finish, (a newer one for 2011? or a 2009 or earler model from old stocks? anyone know?) --- painted --- black on the belly, silver elsewhere (reminiscent of lacquered chests my parents bought in Korea). Tips are wrapped in brownish leather, string bridges are black and there're bronze cords wrapped under them. Decorative sticker on above the handle, specification below (in Korean w/ additional small black on white sticker specifying poundage --- would've been better to've written that in silver ink or at least made it white reversed out text on a black background). Handle is artificial material wrapped in leather. Quality control could be better, arrow strike plate/pass is glued on crooked and there are glue stains on the handle wrap. Signature in Chinese characters reversed out of gold paint, and maker's seal in gold. Siyahs are natural (bamboo?) and the weight is written on the top in blue ink under the finish (probably during manufacture). Very attractive though I'll have to look into upgrading to the new Dong Yi (which I only see listed at FS Discount Archery --- anyone else stocking it yet?).

Decided on 45#, which feels about right. 20 strand string --- guess I'll be using the woods w/ the Bohning classic nocks w/ it (rather than the carbons pictured).

The bow sock / quiver is a nice touch, but I'm thinking my next project will be a leather bow case and matching quiver.

Rather challenging to string. Unbraced profile is much more like a horn bow than I was expecting. Unfortunately, w/ snow and work and the kids' schedules no chance to do more than that (and write this up and take a picture) yet.

Justin Ma · Post by **Justin Ma** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 4:18 pm

What is Dynastress limb construction? And is this the construction used by one-piece, shelved traditional recurve bows on the market today? (Just basing this on a picture of a Groves bow I looked up.)

WillAdams · Post by **WillAdams** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 5:50 pm

I don't believe anyone is making them now.

When they were made, AIUI, it was a two-step process:

- first laminations were glued up in a form creating a highly reflexed appearance like to a traditional horn bow

- once that had cured additional laminations were glued up in a form so as to give the bow a more typical profile.

Maybe bringing that back would mak it easier to sell bows in the States.

jchocz · Post by **jchocz** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:29 pm

WillAdams wrote:I don't believe anyone is making them now.

When they were made, AIUI, it was a two-step process:

- first laminations were glued up in a form creating a highly reflexed appearance like to a traditional horn bow

- once that had cured additional laminations were glued up in a form so as to give the bow a more typical profile.

Maybe bringing that back would mak it easier to sell bows in the States.

Appearance and design of Korean bows to its strict rules. I think that Korean and Turkish bows are structurally perfect. None of the Korean manufacturers will certainly not change the design of the bows to the U.S. market or anywhere else ...

The Sock Bow (cover) / Quiver is a nice and it's traditional. He shooting with bows Kaya and Hwarang. Design bows Kaya (finish with skin) - less corresponds to the traditional hornbow. But shoots well. I'm looking forward to new models - Dong Yi.

WillAdams · Post by **WillAdams** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 9:29 pm

It seems to me that the Kaya Khan having an arrow shelf, and the Samick SKB-50 having a typically western (straight) profile (and not having siyahs) indicates some level of interest among Korean bow manufacturers to build for the U.S. market.

Justin Ma · Post by **Justin Ma** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 10:04 pm

My impression with the Samick SKB is that Samick originally had expertise in constructing modern limbs, and when demand for a traditional Asian bow arose, they created a traditional design using their modern construction methods. That is, modern bow maker responds to demand for traditional designs.

Straight-limb recurve bows aren't exclusively a US thing, and straight (or even deflex) limbs are present on some traditional horn bows. For example, as per Stephen's JCMS article "Bows of China," northern Qing horn bows sometimes had straight limbs.

WillAdams · Post by **WillAdams** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 11:22 pm

Interesting take on the Samick SKB.

Agree that my wording was poor --- perhaps ``straight profile (typical for Western bows)''...

jchocz · Post by **jchocz** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 11:26 pm

Justin Ma wrote:My impression with the Samick SKB is that Samick originally had expertise in constructing modern limbs, and when demand for a traditional Asian bow arose, they created a traditional design using their modern construction methods. That is, modern bow maker responds to demand for traditional designs.

Straight-limb recurve bows aren't exclusively a US thing, and straight (or even deflex) limbs are present on some traditional horn bows....

Yes, I agree. This is valid for a bow-maker with no ambitions to comply with the original design and construction hornbow (for example, from Khan Kaya, SKB Korean Horse Bow ...). When the goal is to make a bow hornbow replicating the original, the appearance will be maintained around the old patterns hornbow (using modern materials - KTB Kaya, Hwarang, Dong Yi Kaya and others ...). If I like traditions, I would like more KTB Kaya (not SKB). This is my personal preference. Another archer can have a different preference.

My view is: a traditional Korean bow is similar to the Korean hornbow, not where production is carried out. Coincidentally, but Korean bows made in Korea the best.

I do not want the Korean bow that has the shape of the Mongolian bow ...

WarBow · Post by **WarBow** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:25 am

It will be interesting to measure the draw weight of the Khan at a 32" draw.

Thomas Duvernay · Post by **Thomas Duvernay** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 3:33 pm

WillAdams wrote:It seems to me that the Kaya Khan having an arrow shelf, and the Samick SKB-50 having a typically western (straight) profile (and not having siyahs) indicates some level of interest among Korean bow manufacturers to build for the U.S. market.

That is exactly correct.

Here are some pics of Kaya bows from the ATA show over a week ago:

jchocz · Post by **jchocz** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 8:40 pm

On the web site:

http://www.fsdiscountarchery.com/search.aspx?find=kaya

I found the prices of new models of bows Kaya:

"Dong Yi" Traditional Bow "380 USD
"Khan" Korean Horse Bow 275 USD

Prices are good. Unfortunately, only 50 lbs ... I hope that time will be available models of 55 and 60lb.

WarBow · Post by **WarBow** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:09 am

Yeah, that's very unfortunate. Only the KTB is available at 65#.

jchocz wrote:On the web site:

http://www.fsdiscountarchery.com/search.aspx?find=kaya

I found the prices of new models of bows Kaya:

"Dong Yi" Traditional Bow "380 USD
"Khan" Korean Horse Bow 275 USD

Prices are good. Unfortunately, only 50 lbs ... I hope that time will be available models of 55 and 60lb.

WillAdams · Post by **WillAdams** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 2:56 pm

Has anyone purchased from FS Discount Archery?

On other archery sites there are a lot of complaints of them, but I wonder as to the validity since they have a good BBB rating?

PaleoNinja · Post by **PaleoNinja** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 4:43 pm

I bought my KTB from FS archery. It took a long time to ship, I didn't get it for three weeks but they had the best price, and free shipping it seemed, so i have no regrets.

New bows from Kaya in 2011

Dynastress limb construction & Kaya bows