Anyone making one piece recurves in the UK?

oceanjaws

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Hey.
I'm in the market for a new bow (probably in a few months) and I've been looking at one piece recurves. The Kaiser bows are sublime, but I really like to support local or British businesses when I can. Is there anyone on this isle who is making one piece recurves?
I realise that it's a bit specialist, and will probably be prohibitively expensive, but it's good to check out, I believe.
Any help appreciated.
B
 

oceanjaws

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Border Bows certainly.

KG probably.
Thanks. The Border bows are gorgeous aren't they? I've not quite been shooting a year, though, so it might be a bit over-zealous of me to spend that sort of money.
KG bows are looking mighty fine! The Forester (£567) would probably be the one I'd go with if I can get to a 'satisfactory' place with my groups over the next few months.
Although there is a part of me which likes the simplicity of the Osprey. This is the carbon one, at £461.

Open to feedback, criticism etc.
 

Berny

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Dunno if Bakewell Bows has closed down or what - had heard Pete was retiring last year, but someone might be carrying on.

Lee Ankers, Heritage Longbows seems to be turning his hand to more than just longbows.

There are 1 or 2 others but not sure whether they're taking orders or only making for friends:
- Roger Massey (got some/all? formers from Andy Soars, Blackbrook Bows when he retired);
- Mike Roberts (was trading as Eclipse Bows, but not now).

Alternatively & poss. short term, look out for a 2nd hand Marksman "Forest Ranger" or Border "Reiver" to tide you over?
 

oceanjaws

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I'm doing the Sage thing for now, and it's grand, but I've really gotten into archery since I bought it in May last year. I want to do this right, and get 'the bow' that I'll have for years. Nothing extremely expensive, but something quality. I don't want weights or sights or clickers etc. I'm shooting off the shelf and I love the purity of that. But i want to buy something new, so that the wear is from my hands. I'm sentimental that way ;)
 

dvd8n

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I'm doing the Sage thing for now, and it's grand, but I've really gotten into archery since I bought it in May last year. I want to do this right, and get 'the bow' that I'll have for years. Nothing extremely expensive, but something quality. I don't want weights or sights or clickers etc. I'm shooting off the shelf and I love the purity of that. But i want to buy something new, so that the wear is from my hands. I'm sentimental that way ;)
If you go the Border route you can visit the workshops, discuss materials, get a tour and see where your bow will be made.

Not at the moment, though, obviously :rolleyes:
 

oceanjaws

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Dunno if Bakewell Bows has closed down or what - had heard Pete was retiring last year, but someone might be carrying on.

Lee Ankers, Heritage Longbows seems to be turning his hand to more than just longbows.

There are 1 or 2 others but not sure whether they're taking orders or only making for friends:
- Roger Massey (got some/all? formers from Andy Soars, Blackbrook Bows when he retired);
- Mike Roberts (was trading as Eclipse Bows, but not now).

Alternatively & poss. short term, look out for a 2nd hand Marksman "Forest Ranger" or Border "Reiver" to tide you over?
Hey Roger's bows are very lovely, but they are generally quite short. The Hopi is 60", very reasonable price too, but doesn't do it for me aesthetically.
I read a great interview with him too, in my searches. Comes across as a very grounded chap :)

Mike Roberts doesn't seem to be doing anything now. I came across an obit, but turns out that was a Mike Rogers (bow hunter) from Ohio, so I'm hoping it's not the Mike you're thinking of :)

Lee Ankers bamboo recurves are beautiful too, though they don't have a shelf.

I'm getting that nice feeling about the Osprey!
 

oceanjaws

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If you go the Border route you can visit the workshops, discuss materials, get a tour and see where your bow will be made.

Not at the moment, though, obviously :rolleyes:
I would have to set myself some sort of a challenge to afford one of their bows, or I'd have imposter syndrome. Maybe do a few competitions, even if I totally suck, at least I'd have proved to myself that I wasn't just 'acquiring'.
 

Berny

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get something cheap & cheerful now, I saw the Samick Sage mentioned ....the new black is the Chinese "Black Hunter"
at <£100 (Amazon is not the cheapest! ;-) ) for either longbow or recurve model (both use same riser) .... (I have 1 of each)
....wait for lockdown to end, join a club & see who's shooting what & most (non anal-retentives) will give you a shot of what they've got.
....or you could do what i've done: buy (at least) 1 of everything .... ;-)
 

Graham Smith

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I agree with Berny regarding the Black Hunter. I also have the hybrid longbow model and it is honestly the best value for money bow on the market in my opinion. I paid £72 for mine on Ebay. I know they have gone up a bit since then but you can probably get one for £90 now.
They are marketed under many different names but all are made in the same factory in China and are identical. It actually shoots nearly as well as my Osprey.
If you wait until clubs are shooting again you can ask to shoot a few owned by others as Berny says but at the price I don't think you will regret buying a Black Hunter.
 

oceanjaws

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Thanks, but I already have the cheap and cheerful Sage, which is great, but I want to buy a new bow from a British maker, even if a bow for half the price from China is going to serve me just as well. Maybe I'm being overly sentimental.
 

malbro

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Thanks, but I already have the cheap and cheerful Sage, which is great, but I want to buy a new bow from a British maker, even if a bow for half the price from China is going to serve me just as well. Maybe I'm being overly sentimental.
Support UK manufacturers, I bought a Minerva from KG and I do not regret it.
 

wully

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Thanks, but I already have the cheap and cheerful Sage, which is great, but I want to buy a new bow from a British maker, even if a bow for half the price from China is going to serve me just as well. Maybe I'm being overly sentimental.
I’ve just bought my second Border Bow...I blagged a few shots of a Black Douglas at Borders Bow Fest a couple of years ago and after that my Bear Super Grizzly felt like a stacky, stiff dead thing..
The new Covert Hunter is a different beast from the Black Douglas that I now have to sell , the fact that I’m finding it hard to put it up for sale tells you how much I like it but sadly I can’t keep both.
 

4d4m

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Another vote for the Osprey, it's gorgeous and a dream to shoot. I was lucky enought to pick up a mint 36lb black glass backed example really cheap from a guy at the air rifle club who had to give up archery due to a shoulder injury. I'd love a carbon one too, at maybe 45 or 47lb.
 
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