I can't actually remember the Bow I have. It's a sort of mid-range recurve I purchased after I'd done my safety course and never felt the need to upgrade in the 10yrs or so I was 'active'. I did have to have some extra long arrows made because of my arm length. I had grand ideas of going Compound etc, but in the end simply enjoyed what I had considering how little I had time to indulge. I'm really lucky to have Quicks just a few miles away, not many live so close to such a specialist: https://www.quicksarchery.co.uk/
I had a Barnett compound bow in the late 80's. (Just like him with the long hair muscles and head band). Even then arrows were over £3 a pop. Was absolutely amazed how easy it was to lose the blighters in short grass. They'd stitch themselves in to the tufty stuff. Woe betide anyone who thought you could just lift/pull one out!
I have a similar issue. I’m only 5’9” but have a 31” draw. Compounds are great and an amazing technical achievement, but they leave me a bit cold as they’re too easy to shoot. I really enjoy the challenge and immense satisfaction of bare bow and the semi-spooky nature of instinctive shooting rather than using a sight or even aiming though the gap. I also love the idea that I’m practising a skill which humans have relied on for hundreds of thousands of years, using equipment which has barely changed over that enormous timespan.
A very parallel story to my own. I only remember Quicks at Waterlooville and Hampton Court but see there are a couple of others now and that maybe Hampton Court is no longer there?
It’s just crossbows at this stage but I imagine all the finger-wagging HR Karens and sissy cucks who seem to dominate politics and the public sector will use that as a Trojan horse to sneak in bans on anything else remotely pointy or shooty until we are all forced to use plastic cutlery and crayons instead of pencils.
