The many military incursions and mutual trade activities brought the Asian with siyahs on the limb tips to Eastern Europe. The siyahs mesh into the limbs smoothly in the Persian style in the Polish bows, but the siyahs remain very distinct in the Magyar types. These are horse culture bows.

Any of these bows may be shot with the three-finger release or a thumb ring or thumb leather. All bows are equally appropriate for left or right handed persons.

Kassai Lajos is the leading Hungarian pioneer researcher and maker of a several types of Magyar or Hungarian-related bows. He is also the founder and key promoter of the standardized sport of mounted archery. Chronologically, his bows are inspired first by the very ancient Scythians (time of Christ), the Huns, the Avars, the Magyars (his own people) and finally the Mongols (from their invasions into Europe in the 1200s).

Kassai bows have limbs made of a high grade of Swedish fiberglass or action wood laminations and siyahs and handle plates of ash wood. Most limbs are leather wrapped (smooth or suede) and cord-bound at the handle and where the siyahs meet the limbs. Custom limb wraps are also made. They all shoot very smoothly and feel several pounds lighter that they really are due to the lever action of the siyahs. This principle applies to all Asian siyah-type bows. All have dacron strings and a sock. Usually available in a few days, depending on specifications requested.

Asymmetrical (top limbs and siyahs longer than bottom ones), 60." This is Kassai’s personal favorite for his mounted archery work, even though it is the longest of his designs. Varying weights, 34" draw potential. Most reflexed, when unstrung, of Kassai’s four bows offered in this section, but far short of a "C." $460.

The Magyar Ornamented has smooth medium brown leather wrapped limbs with Hungarian life symbols in raised leather on back of bow. The Magyar Sport has limbs wrapped in suede leather. Various colors. 51." $350.

55" for the tall, long armed archer, 34" draw potential. Beautiful Hungarian art symbols on back of limbs. $460.

Of the four, this bow has the most reflex in the siyahs when strung, and therefore utilizes string bridges on both siyahs as most Mongol bows do. Suede wrapped limbs. 55." $350.

For more on the Magyar tradition and bows, see Traditional Bowhunter, Feb-Mar, 1999, and Instinctive Archer, Spring, 1999.

Built in Kassai’s shop in Hungary on a pine McClelland-type tree with quite high pommel and cantle. Seat is covered with sheepskin. $500.

Mounted Archery Comes to the U.S. (video). A 22 minute record of the mounted archery demonstration by Kassai Lajos at the 1998 Great Lakes Longbow Invitational in Michigan. $19.95.

For information about mounted archery training and performance events in the United States and in Hungary contact Krackow Company.

Watch for a new video and a new book by Kassai on his mounted archery work.

Jan Bisok is perhaps the leading traditional and most experienced bowyer of Poland. He and his son Adam run a small, thriving, well-equipped, modern shop and showroom in the foothills of the Tatra Mountains. They are making hundreds of take-down recurves each year for school clubs, a good indication of the expanding interest in archery in the younger generation.

The work of Jan Bisok of southern Poland goes back several decades. The bow pictured is a basic maple-limbed, glass-faced and backed bow with a shallow arrow window cutout, 68" long. The back line is absolutely straight when unstrung, attractively finished with modern coatings. Specify draw weight and draw length, $225.00. Multiple woods in riser, $300.00.

Short (about 55") maple-limbed, glass-faced and -backed recurve, simulating the configuration of many of the Mongol bows. When braced the recurved or reflexed limb ends are parallel to the string. Excellent cast but stacks some. Attractively finished. Jan also makes a full line of contemporary recurves.) Please specify draw weight and length. $275.00

Bisok developed this model for the current Polish movie With Fire and Sword based on the classic historic novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz. It is adapted from his "Mongol" design, the limb tips have been stiffened into siyahs, and a variety of flourishes have been added to limb and handle cover treatments. Glass back and belly. It is aesthetically very pleasing and an excellent shooter. Either canvas or leather wrapped limbs with brass limb collars, or unwrapped limbs with beautiful red leather handle. 51." $320.

The quiver is cowhide in one of the typical Asian styles, worn on the right belt side for right-handed archers. Derived from horseback usage. $90.00

The bow holster is made of the same attractive cowhide with ancient warrior medallion. Worn on the left side by mounted archers. Sized for his Military Bow, but can be customized to the shape of most any strung recurve for hunters or re-enactors. $150.00

The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly. This historic youth adventure novel is a Newbery Award winner and is a worthy read for any curious adult reader.$3.95

With Fire and Sword by Henryk Sienkiewicz (also the author of Quo Vadis) The sword is the main weapon in the great Polish classic epic, but the bow is there also. Jan Bisok made all of the bows for the current Polish movie of the same title. The setting is the large Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth of the mid 1600s. 1000 pages of excitement. $24.95