Recurve Bows with 'character' that are fun

[Nic Rhodes]

I just shoot for my own enjoyment, and find the wide variety of different aspects of archery very appealing to me now and to try in the future. Having watched some longbow recently I am sure one in in my immediate future however I am interested in recurve bows that emphasise the more fun aspect of the sport and shooting (I know I won't be competing in London Olympics).

I was given the recurve bow I shoot now as birthday present (Eclipse / Samick cheap limbs) which is fine for me now. I bought the remaining bits only be given a lovely selection of other archery equipment by kind benefactors, mostly ILF based. However despite all this lovely equipment I find I am most interested here in reading about some of the more 'fun bows' from yesteryear, including some lovely wooden ones. Some that have tweaked my eye (from reading) are:

Stylist
Portland
Whiteheart
K.G. wooden bows and Marksman Meteor
K.G. KG1
O.K. Sportbogen
Hoyt GM
Goldseeker Turbo
Les Howis Wooden bows
Border Wooden bows

I know Stylist, Border and a modern version (by Bakewell bows) of the a Les Howis are available today. I have inquired about Whitehearts etc but to no avail. The rest are 'second hand' only. Are there bows that I should look at further to this list that people would describe as 'characterful and fun to shoot' without having to go down the ILF route which I have sorted already. I am sure KG has some 'characterful / fun' stuff but I can't get any answers from emails atm.

What would people recommend for characterful bows, that are fun to shoot, but are still practical to use and are not ILF based? Wooden / metal etc doesn't matter though I am a left hander...

[Jerry Tee]

What no Spig Revolution.

[Nic Rhodes]

well that is the whole point of the thread to find these f'un' bows before I spend some ££££s on one or more and have some fun :grin: I simply don't know much about these except from reading....

[Jerry Tee]

Ok then the Revolution is very different made from three alloy bars held together by bolts and damper blocks. I think it's quite a lively riser. One advantage it has no limb pockets such so the ilf limbs don't get jammed in the pockets.

Goldseeker turbo,, good bow I still have not beaten my PB for a portsmouth that I shot with that bow.

[DenzilS]

Lots of bows there from when I started! Marksman, OK, Hoyt GM and Border were all high quality bows for the time (Border and Hoyt still are, of course), and will still shoot well if they are in good condition. Les Howis is/was the bowyer behind Marksman. One of our newer archers is shooting a Marksman Meteor he found, and is doing very well with it.

The Goldseeker Turbo was, I think, a rebadged Samick of similar vintage sold by Severn Archery, who closed down a few years ago. Don't know much about them, but they were a mid range bow as I recall. Nothing wrong with that, though.

[bkupris]

These are all the old British bows I (with help from forum members) have been able to find so far.

http://www.archery-interchange.net/f...1989_(pre_ILF)

[bkupris]

summit wrong with the link?? The last character in the link is not working??

[soundo26]

The Whiteheart was made by Perris Archery I believe. Perris are still trading they have some shops in the Essex area and you can find them by checking out the Links section at the top of this site and looking in the retail section.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by bkupris

summit wrong with the link?? The last character in the link is not working??

Should be working now

[bkupris]

Originally Posted by Tom

Should be working now

Thanks Tom

[English Bowman]

Don't under-estimate some of the older bows, many of them will shoot better than the cheaper end of todays market.
Out of the bows that you mention I would personally rather shoot good examples of the following than a bow with cheap Korean limbs.

Stylist, Marksman Portland 2000, Perris Whiteheart, Marksman Meteor
O.K. Sportbogen, Hoyt GM, Border Wooden bows
And I do have and shoot a Marksman KG1.
The Hoyt GM was still being sold new only a couple of years ago, and ILF should be known as Hoyt compatible, as the fittings were copied from the Gold Medalist.

Daniel

[wolf1978master]

i have still got my old marksman KG1 (original version) at 69" with a draw weight of 36lb it still a great little fun bow to shoot, only changed over to hoyt this year because the KG1 looked a little dated. only down side to it was that it did not have the universal limbs.

[Nic Rhodes]

some goldmine info here thanks, I have spoken to Tony via email at Perris and he would love to get the Whiteheart back into production but can't find anyone to make the limbs for him

KG1 seems popular, though I haven't seen a LH one yet. Is there an heir apparant or do I hold out for an oldie....?

Thanks to all, keep it coming. Do people regret getting rid of this if they have done?

[Vanya Goud]

I have a KG-1. I like it so much I cannot bring myself to sell it even though I now shoot a Winact.

If you fancy having a go at shooting right handed (should be a giggle) you can have a shoot if you wish.

See you at the club.

Paula.

[bkupris]

Originally Posted by Nic Rhodes

some goldmine info here thanks, I have spoken to Tony via email at Perris and he would love to get the Whiteheart back into production but can't find anyone to make the limbs for him

KG1 seems popular, though I haven't seen a LH one yet. Is there an heir apparant or do I hold out for an oldie....?

Thanks to all, keep it coming. Do people regret getting rid of this if they have done?

Look at this one

KG Astron with Carbon Limbs