1 Topic by TargetSlayer

(0 replies, posted in Bows)

The correct string length for a Kaya Khan and/or KTB is 47" (with >~4" loops).
My question is -- is it the same length for the Windfighter, for sure?

As a bowyer I started making my own continuous loop horsebow strings out of Browning Astro Flight (step up supposedly from Fast Flight) with their Copperhead striped or checkered  serving applied under high tension. After liking the color, small boost in power, and added piece of mind, I started making them for others and now I sell them 24/7 on Ebay with 100% positive feedback (it felt cool when I glimpsed a random photo of a red string from me, here I believe, in July!).

My customers with Kaya Khans, KTB's, Grozer models, and more all seem as happy as me with the strings, but I wanted to make sure this Windfighter customer was going to get the right length from me: 47" like the other two similar Kaya's (Khan and KTB?

If you would like a custom string, PM me and I'll send you my link to my Ebay with years of positive feedback.
Also I can remove this offer if it is considered spam, as I really get about all the business I can handle without advertising, but I thought it silly not to offer here, of all places so you folks have the option (I can also make them out of standard "dacron" poly B-50 if you like to take it slightly easier on your bow but my properly-glued Khan is going on 3 years now with just the usual, well-used micro-stress lines under bright light, that are the extreme design occurring as a matter of course with these bows under high useage, not the slightly more violent release of Astroflight. When compared to a typical Khan never having used the zero-stretch or creep there is little or no evidence of added wear, though it's hard to tell, because of the unfortunately sporatic quality control of Khan assembly as seen by several random units purchased from two vendors a year ago +. The design can't be beat but some had lacking glue coverage and all had need of bow tip modification as not to cut a string...haphazard finishing is all... bubbles in glue lines showing that would have been better with 30 seconds more work... I love Kaya and love their bows in general but it's frustrating to see them advertised as individually hand-crafted by the master himself. Photos tell all... ANYWAY they're great bows with a little finishing and can be easily replaced if one of the few totally defective models soon after useage. I'm curious if more recent Khans are finished better than ones showing up like November to the retailers in 2012. I'd buy them either way and spend a couple hours on each even if not. They're positively revolutionary and will be seen more and more in the field by "good ol' boys". I can only hope my first horsebow almost finished is as good as Kaya's in operation. I've done OK with Western recurves after learning from some great elders over the last few years.
Thank you!
Jeff
BowsOfTheWorld.com  (NOT a horsebow on the front page at the moment, lol... a Western hybrid that one...)

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2 Reply by TargetSlayer

(5 replies, posted in North America)

I do have to admit the Khan developed stress lines more significantly and quicker than, say, a Fred Bear or something, but the price and practicality still make it a no-brainer and superior in my mind by far, to a Western recurve I've known all my life. The stability is obviously even there unless I just have a magic wrist or something... I'm a better shot, not even an equal one, immediately after switching, and I make, own, or have owned countless Western types.

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3 Reply by TargetSlayer

(5 replies, posted in North America)

Thanks! Haha yes I likely won't ever try biocomposite unless I can get mentored by one of only a couple guys I know of residing in the U.S.
I will have to get a Hwarang, at the moment, I've only owned the Kaya products in this genre.

I also need to identify what I think is a Chinese company, a generally Magyar-looking bow with attached wood siyahs that also rips through my chronograph like an advanced ILF Olympic recurve 5lb.s draw heavier.  It does not have the practical, diminutive size of these awesome Koreans, but frankly I was surprised to get one at this price from anybody that rivaled a Grozer premium equivalent. Almost as fast as the Khan, and with big heavy siyahs. I'll bet the one piece version is wicked, too. I'll photograph the chop mark. It's the same as the one on the Fleabay that's not covering a secret solid fiberglass billet with cool leather and claiming "wood and glass" construction just because the handle is wood. Might even be the same company but it's the true lam version that goes for like $325 from China. I took it apart to better retro-engineer. But that will come after this project and is more for historical re-enactment for me. The Khan,KTB,Wind-etc.'s, and Hwarang products are literally the most practical hunting traditional bows I have ever held in my hand (whether or not I wind up hunting any given year it's cool knowing you can crawl around with a mystical/mythical-sized bow in the brush...hang it somewhere on yourself and practically forget about it instead of it being in everything's way or heavy).

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4 Topic by TargetSlayer

(5 replies, posted in North America)

Hello,
My name is Jeff Burris and I am almost finished with a Korean-inspired horsebow, hopefully the first of many of this design. I have loved instinctive archery all my loife and recently began weening off of my income as a webmaster and onto selling Western-type bows made of thin, unidirectional glass over ample carbon, heat treated/carbonized multi-lam bamboo tapers and/or tip wedges, and thin hardwood parallel center/core.
Only after perfecting this type of recurve (for which there is far more help available from elder U.S. bowyers) have I embarked on the more pioneering venture of a drastic c-curve requiring string grooves.
When I bought a Kaya Khan I could not believe what was happening. I said, "You mean to tell me a million American hunters and archers are out there with bows that shoot arrows just like this small, light bow, but they do not know their bow does not have to weigh 4 pounds and be 62-68 (or even 72) inches?! This Khan is like the little bows you see in fantasy movies. A real one cannot possibly be this easy to strap to your body and crawl or climb! The Khan was a miracle to me. I began to study Mr. Kwak Yun-sik as compared to modern Asiatic recurve works of recent Chinese and Hungarian origin, made from moderna laminate materials with wood or cane. Carbon and special glass are allowing us to do things impossible with the glass and wood of the 1970's etc. and Authors from The Traditional Bowyers' Bibles are going to have to amend chapters claiming they did all testing necessary and they conclude horsebow is supposedly never superior to Western recurve and is often inferior. They were too hasty in their findings! No one showed up with a Khan before vol. 4 was published! Haha!
Pictures next week!
Thank you, and it is very fine to meet you. I have been meaning to register here, as it was a source of info. to me for a couple of years.
Jeff Burris
My existing, non-Korean hybrid recurve (a reflex deflex design sort of half longbow but only 62") My "Raptor"
http://www.BowsOfTheWorld.com

P.S. -- I do not mean to imply I make biocomposite or horn bows yet. Currently I am merely concentrating on making the design store and use energy efficiently, similarly to historic horse bows, but with less effort in making because of using modern choice materials and process, like Kaya but truly one at a time with lots or individual care in a bow shop, not a factory. Again, don't get me wrong, maybe one day I, too, will operate a factory, but right now it is one bow at a time about half the time it is pre-sold.

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