Robertson 'Primal Styk'

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#2424

I own a couple other wonderful Robertson bows (a Quick Styk and a Tribal Styk), but I’ve had my eye on his Primal Styk longbow for a long time. Formerly, this bow was known as the ‘Purist’ which has a very loyal following. My Primal Styk arrived last week, and I’ve shot it everyday since – targets in the backyard and stumping in the woods. I’m really floored by the performance of this bow, not to mention its beautiful craftsmanship.

Specs:

AMO: 64″

#55 @ 28″

Riser: Cocobolo

Limbs: Mountain Juniper

Tips: Red micarta

Weight: 19 oz.

Juniper is definitely one of my favorite bow woods, and the piece selected for this particular bow is just gorgeous.

Strung profile:

Unstrung profile, showing the amount of reflex:

Tip:

When the bow arrived, I picked up a 600gr, 25% FOC arrow that I already had laying around and shot it – it flew perfectly without any additional tuning. Handshock is minimal – just a little ‘thump’ upon release. Draw is smooth as butter throughout my 28″ and to be honest, if I closed my eyes and drew this bow, I would guess it was less than #55.

But I’m most impressed by the speed of this bow, since I wasn’t expecting it to be particularly fast (not that speed is a top priority for me anyway). But it shoots a 600gr. arrow with serious authority. A friend of mine that I was shooting the other day, who mostly shoots recurves, even commented – “wow, that bow is quick.”

At 19 oz. it’s a joy to carry in the woods. To be honest, I was never really sure how much I would like a more traditional, D-shaped bow with this type of grip, compared to my more heavily reflexed-deflexed bows with locator grips, but I’m really blown away by what a serious shooter this bow is, and how great it feels in the hand. Another fantastic creation from the Robertson gang.

[Dave Nash]

#9260

Down right gorgeous.Didn’t realize how beautiful Juniper is.Might have to look into one of those. What is the lead time to have it built?

Thanks for posting Bruce.

Best to all. Dave

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#9289

Thanks, Dave. Wait time is about 6 mos. but they occasionally have some bows on hand. They also have a ‘try out’ program, and a monthly payment plan, which makes it all too easy… 😉

http://robertsonwolfgang.com/bows-in-stock/

http://www.robertsonstykbow.com/bows/longbows/primal/

[wahoo]

#9409

real nice bow. congrats

[James Harvey]

#9497

Looks beautiful Bruce!

[Ralph]

#9578

Sweet!!!!!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#9776

Thanks, all. It’s the last bow for a while. I swear! 😉

[Stephen Graf]

#10314

Welcome to the world of “real” longbows! Although that bow has some serious backset!

I build about 2 inches of backset into my 66″ hill style bows. I figured that was about the limit to keep it from getting whippy at the tips. When the bow is strung and you are holding it, can you pull the string up and down? Just curious.

Sure is pretty! That dished grip will grow on you.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#10388

Thanks, Steve. I’m liking that grip more than I ever thought I would. Not sure what you mean by pulling the string up and down when the bow is strung?

[Mohawk13]

#11119

Very Nice looking bow. Good luck with it in the woods this coming year.

[Stephen Graf]

#11319

Smithhammer wrote: Thanks, Steve. I’m liking that grip more than I ever thought I would. Not sure what you mean by pulling the string up and down when the bow is strung?

Hold the bow vertically by the grip. Hold it so that the bow is sideways in front of you. Take your other hand and grasp the string like you were going to try and pull yourself up it. Then pull the string up toward the top limb and down toward the bottom limb. Is it easy to move the string and inch or more?

I’m just curious how easy it is to move it… Maybe compare it to some of your other bows?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#11522

Hmm…I think I did what you are describing, though I’m a little confused between “holding the bow verticially” and “holding the bow sideways”? I pulled up and down on the string while holding it vertically, and the string does not move much at all. What is that supposed to be an indication of?

[Ralph]

#11560

Me too curious Steve. 🙂

[Stephen Graf]

#12440

If the string moves up and down easily, it indicates that the limbs are whippy. This means the bow will cast a light arrow, but not a heavy arrow. It also indicates that the bow will be sensitive to heel pressure and maybe more sensitive to a poor release. At least that’s been my experience.

I figured with so much backset the limbs would be whippy. I don’t suppose you’d measure the backset for me would you? Hold the bow up to a door frame and measure the distance from the back of the grip to the wall?

I was just getting ready to make a new form. Now I’m thinking that maybe I should add just a little more backset to it…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#12602

That’s kind of what I figured you were getting at, but thanks for the explanation. I wouldn’t say that the limbs are ‘whippy’ in that sense at all, and it doesn’t seem to shy from a heavier arrow.

Happy to measure the backset, as I’ve been curious as well. It’s 4-1/2″ inches.

And a couple limb measurements:

Width just above the riser – 1-1/4″

Width at tip – 5/8″

[jason samkowiak]

#12748

I have 2 identical purists that i rotate each year for last 10 years or so. My absolute favorite bows. I cant say enough good about them and how they shoot for me.

That Juniper you have sure is beautiful!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#12926

jasonsamko wrote: I have 2 identical purists that i rotate each year for last 10 years or so. My absolute favorite bows. I cant say enough good about them and how they shoot for me.

That Juniper you have sure is beautiful!

Thanks! I’m beginning to come to the same conclusion. I could probably just have this and a backup Primal with the exact same specs and be perfectly happy with nothing else for a long time. 😉

[jason samkowiak]

#13028

That was my exact thinking. I have owned a ton of bows in my first 10-12 years and was getting to the point were all I shot was a longbow even though I had a bunch of bows hanging in the closet. I loved my 2 Reynolds longbows but wanted to try a Robertson since my 2 favorite recurves were Robertson. I ordered my first purist. When it arrived I shot it for a couple weeks and said “this is it…I found what I’m looking for and am done buying bows”. I hunted with it and killed 4 deer in one week with each being a perfect text book shot. I called dick and said pull up my order form and make another one just surprise me with a different riser wood so I can tell them apart. Each year I switch them up as my main bow and strictly shoot that bow for the whole year then the other one the next year. My bow buying days are done until I need to go lighter due to age or something. I have not bought a bow since those Robertsons and I’m gonna use them until I can’t draw them.

[Stephen Graf]

#13600

Smithhammer wrote: …

Happy to measure the backset, as I’ve been curious as well. It’s 4-1/2″ inches.

And a couple limb measurements:

Width just above the riser – 1-1/4″

Width at tip – 5/8″

I don’t suppose you have a caliper to measure the thickness? Say at the fade out and then again 10 inches down the limb? 😀

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#13745

Sorry, Steve I don’t have a caliper. 😥

[William Warren]

#17504

Beautiful bow Smithy. I really like the juniper too.

[Troy Warner]

#24440

Dick and Yote do wonderful work, your lucky to have several examples of their art.

Troy

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#24933

tradhunter1 wrote: Dick and Yote do wonderful work, your lucky to have several examples of their art.

Troy

Thanks, Troy. And yes, I feel very fortunate to have these beautiful (and extremely functional) pieces of craftsmanship from the Robertson clan. Here are a few pics of my ‘Quick Styk’ which is a model they only made for a couple years, but it is a really pleasant bow to shoot, and like all Robertsons I’ve shot, no slouch in the speed dept. either:

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#50103

Well, another poor homeless Primal Styk knocked on my door, and far be it for me to not invite it out of the cold on a bitter winter’s night. 😉

This is another ‘Overdrive’ version, like the #55 version I have, but this one has a micarta riser and bocote limbs. The Primal Overdrives have a little more of a ‘thump’ to them than the regular Primals, though it’s not bad at all, and I’m happy to trade that for the extra zip these bows have. The micarta riser seems to lend enough mass to the bow that it’s even less noticeable. Here are a few pics:

The Primal herd as it stands:

Each one as fine a shootin’ styk as one could hope for.

[Dave Nash]

#50332

Triplets, you must be a proud pappa.I think the juniper version is my favorite. All are beautiful and thanks for posting Bruce

Dave

[Patrick]

#50587

Smithhammer wrote: Well, another poor homeless Primal Styk knocked on my door, and far be it for me to not invite it out of the cold on a bitter winter’s night. 😉

You’ve got me wanting to open my own homeless shelter!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#50597

Patrick wrote:

You’ve got me wanting to open my own homeless shelter!

Giving a home to bows in need is truly some of the most satisfying work I’ve done, Patrick. If we don’t help these poor bows out, who will? All they need is a little shelter and exercise to turn their lives around. 😉

[Author]

Posts