So we're at at JOAD Indoor Nationals today in San Diego. They had a target assignment SNAFU and put a single receive archer on a bale with 3 compound archers, 2 of which are from our team. Different targets and that mix will not fit on a single bale.

No biggie, call a tournament official over to get it straightened out. So I'm there along with the archers and the recurve coach. Recurve coach launches into a diatribe about how compound archers shouldn't even be there as recurve is the pure form of archery, you'll never go to the Olympics, blah, blah, blah

He only had 2 words to say to me when I asked him if he still wrote with a chisel and stone.

To each their own. No reason everyone needs to like the same thing.

Personally though, I do prefer the more artistic nature of instinctive recurve shooting over the more technical compound with sights.

I was hitting the 10 ring consistently at 20 yards within a week with a compound. With a recurve, even after a year I was still only scoring about 240 at 20. Compound is definitely easier for outdoor courses with varying distance for each target. But I like the feeling of being one with the bow shooting recurve. On good days, it’s a great feeling.

Was the snob accurate about his statement regarding the history of the re-curve?

My recollection from what I have read through the years is that a lot of people used non re-curve bows for a long time before the re-curve.

Maple versus Rosewood
Flatwater versus Whitewater
Kayak versus Canoe
Sail versus Power
Skeet versus Trap

I have experienced that form of "discussion" in pretty much every field of endeavor. For me? The world is a smorgasbord, I let the elitists prattle on about the finer points of their special interest while I enjoy pretty much everything.

Except for the fact that single action only pistols are THE only path to true enlightenment.

quote:

Originally posted by Elk Hunter:
Was the snob accurate about his statement regarding the history of the re-curve?

My recollection from what I have read through the years is that a lot of people used non re-curve bows for a long time before the re-curve.

had a neighbor that was a competitor with a compound,

he got bored with it and moved on to a recurve and was damn good with it,

he was getting bored with that and had a custom longbow made for him, out of yew iirc,

he was getting almost good with that (his words) when we moved from that area

"Pure form of Archery" , thats a bit of a laugh Next time ask him if carbon/kevlar risers; adiabatic foam core, carbon fiber limbs; 7075 T6 stabilizers; .0002" accurate sight machining; polyolephin strings; and carbon fiber/aluminum hybrid tapered arrows are "Pure Archery".

Ask why he doesn't step up to the line with an Osage, hand tillered American flatbow with deer sinew or hand spun linen string and river cane arrows with flintknapped points.

It's all good in my book. I never understood the snobs.

Ken

Sounds like a dick being a dick. Not much more to it. People will always find ways to make themselves feel better about themselves and their decisions by putting down others.

I'd like to see that guy use a yew English long bow with a 180lb draw weight.

 
There used to be an archer here on SIGforum who was somewhat famous in a specialized area of recurve shooting, that is shooting for distance. He made his own bows, and they were widely sought after by archers competing in that specialized sport. He held some world records in the sport. IIRC, he lived in New Mexico, but it has been several years (going on 7-8) since I have seen him post here.
 

If they were the same thing there would not be two classes.

If the one and only goal is to put holes in paper choose a rifle. Mastery of the weapon is a worthy goal, choosing less efficient equipment is a worthy pursuit as well.

Yes the guy was being an elitist dick.

quote:

Originally posted by KenS:
"Pure form of Archery" , thats a bit of a laugh Next time ask him if carbon/kevlar risers; adiabatic foam core, carbon fiber limbs; 7075 T6 stabilizers; .0002" accurate sight machining; polyolephin strings; and carbon fiber/aluminum hybrid tapered arrows are "Pure Archery".

Ask why he doesn't step up to the line with an Osage, hand tillered American flatbow with deer sinew or hand spun linen string and river cane arrows with flintknapped points.
Ken

And I thought 2000Z's post was confusing. So many technical words!

2000Z needs to pull this move whenever dealing with people:

So, archery has Fudds too, eh?

I lived in Pine Bluff, Arkansas in the mid-60s, home of Ben Pearson. The most spectacularly beautiful bows I've ever seen were the Pearson multi-wood recurves. ..not nearly as easy to shoot as a compound, especially in the higher draw weights, but memorable for their looks and craftsmanship.

Recurve-just modern junk, straight bows is where it’s at, Howard Hill is still the king! Now we have a different point of view to argue. I’ve shot them all, each has to be mastered on its own, from my experience the compound us the easiest to master once it is properly tuned.

quote:

Originally posted by KenS:
"Pure form of Archery" , thats a bit of a laugh

Ask why he doesn't step up to the line with an Osage, hand tillered American flatbow with deer sinew or hand spun linen string and river cane arrows with flintknapped points.
Ken

Funny. I use a yew longbow I made with Jay St. Charles. I also have two sinew backed bows in the Plains style. The guy that taught me took a Roosevelt Elk with one. He used a stone tipped arrow. We don't need no stinking recurves.
http://www.nwarchery.com/our-history/

I've had the pleasure of watching Bill Darr shoot exhibitions with his bows more than a few times.

(see here: https://www.whipperwilarchery.com/)

Mrs.BurtonRW and I bought bows from him a number of years ago.

Conclusion: He is a demigod when it comes to point-shooting (point-arching?) and Mrs.BurtonRW and I both suck at archery (for lack of proper instruction and practice, no doubt).

Not sure what my point is, but who the hell cares what kind of bow you're using if you can drill arrows into the target at range. Isn't that the point?

-Rob

Bah. All archers today are fakes. Everyone knows that the atlatl is the only real bow that's ever existed!

Yes, I know an atlatl isn't a bow. The archaeologists swear that it's a predecessor to the bow, though. That's what makes it all old-school legit and stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Cattivo:
Bah. All archers today are fakes. Everyone knows that the atlatl is the only real bow that's ever existed!

Yes, I know an atlatl isn't a bow. The archaeologists swear that it's a predecessor to the bow, though. That's what makes it all old-school legit and stuff.

Funny you mention. Darr also crafts atlatls and demos them in his exhibitions (where he has the space). He's damned accurate over ridiculously long distances.

-Rob

I just had to consider the source. The coach was from a club well known for there obnoxious behavior. I so look forward to dealing with them again next month when they're out here for the Arizona Cup...

quote:

Originally posted by KenS:
"Pure form of Archery" , thats a bit of a laugh Next time ask him if carbon/kevlar risers; adiabatic foam core, carbon fiber limbs; 7075 T6 stabilizers; .0002" accurate sight machining; polyolephin strings; and carbon fiber/aluminum hybrid tapered arrows are "Pure Archery".

Ask why he doesn't step up to the line with an Osage, hand tillered American flatbow with deer sinew or hand spun linen string and river cane arrows with flintknapped points.

It's all good in my book. I never understood the snobs.

Ken

Definitely have to file this for future use...

quote:

Originally posted by Il Cattivo:
Bah. All archers today are fakes. Everyone knows that the atlatl is the only real bow that's ever existed!

Yes, I know an atlatl isn't a bow. The archaeologists swear that it's a predecessor to the bow, though. That's what makes it all old-school legit and stuff.

Bashing skulls with a rock, no wait, bare hands that's the proper way.

Whatever methods that provide the level of difficulty that gives you that feeling of success. If you find it necessary to belittle the other mans sport that should be on you not them.