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You’ve received many great suggestions from solid bowyers already. There are so many excellent bows being made today, and so many personal variables, that it’s really an overwhelming question.
At some point, I think many of us encounter that admittedly subjective, “perfect” bow and we develop an affinity for that particular bowyer. It isn’t that there aren’t many other equally great options out there, but we stick with what speaks to us, and what we’ve grown to love. And once we’ve found that bow, and our inevitable wandering eye starts to look around for the next one, it’s hard not to go back to that same bowyer again, since you have a very good idea of what you’ll be getting.
For anyone who follows this forum, my choice won’t be a surprise. I love Robertson Styk bows. Why? Because I think that they are works of beauty that sacrifice nothing when it comes to performance, built by someone who has been honing his craft for a long time. Something ‘clicked’ the first time I wrapped my hand around the grip of a Robertson, and it’s still there every time I pick one up. And I’m sure most people would say something similar about whatever their favorite bow is as well.
But if you’re looking for a 3-piece recurve, I would highly recommend checking out their Fatal Styk. They even have a “try-out” program so you can see if it’s what you really want or not.
Here’s mine:
Well, I’ve either been at work, or it’s been gloomy and snowing (and usually both) so it’s been hard finding the right time and good light to get some decent pics, but here are a couple:
And here you can see the drop-dead sexy piece of cocobolo used for the riser:
Specs:
60″
#54 @ 28″
Limbs: Myrtle w/horn tips
Riser: Cocobolo
In addition to the impressive speed, I’m also blown away by how light this recurve is. It hardly feels any heavier than my longbows.
Ok….so here’s what happened:
Last September, I ordered a Tribal Styk from Robertson (one of their recurve designs). After a month of thinking about it way too much, I contacted them to ask if they had started on my bow yet, and if they hadn’t, that I would like to change my order to a hybrid instead. They said they would make the change.
Fast forward 6 months, and my new Robertson arrives. I take it out of the box to find….a Tribal Styk! Once I got over the shock, and continued to fondle this gorgeous bow, I quickly knew I had to string it up and shoot it. And then the following day I shot it some more… And it didn’t take long for me to be blown away by the handling and speed (and craftsmanship) of the Tribal Styk.
A couple days later, Vikki Robertson contacted me, profusely apologetic about the mix up, and insisting that I send the bow back, and that they were starting immediately on building me a hybrid instead. She was pretty surprised when I told her that there was no need – that there was no way I was going to send this recurve back to her! We had a good laugh over it.
So, in a funny turn of events, I got the bow I originally ordered, and that I’m now convinced is the bow that the Fates intended for me to have. And I couldn’t be happier.
*As a side note – I don’t want any of the above to give a remotely negative impression of Robertson customer service, by any means. I have dealt with them on a couple of bows, and various other equipment purchases, and my experiences have always been excellent. I would (and someday will) order another bow from them in a heartbeat. Thank you Robertson clan, for another remarkable bow, whose only rival in my collection is my other Robertson!
