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Contact us electronically, at 724/946-8332, or at R.D.1 Beechwood Rd., New Wilmington PA 16142 |
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Native North America Native North American archery has always stood for efficiency, accuracy, variety, and beauty. Different Native American bows demand different shooting stylesó some with very short draw lengths. For all self bows, the pause at full draw should be very brief, and most should be rubbed twice a year with natural animal fat. The self bow is a deadly and accurate weapon and will last for many years if handled with appreciation, but the self bow cannot be treated as casually as glass-reinforced weapons. |
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The Sudbury A prototypic flat bow by Paul Rodgers with a hand-rubbed finish that sets off the attractive hickory grain. Shoots beautifully. The Wampanoag original of this bow is in the Peabody Museum, collected in 1660 in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Specify draw weight and draw length. Length of bow will vary with desired draw length. Linen string. Order time: 3 to 4 months.$370.00 |
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Cherokee Self bows with characteristically sharp diamond shaped nocks and very rectangular cross-section. Usually osage, but mulberry, locust, and hickory available. Oklahoma Cherokee bowyers have recaptured this art and are now re-producing these weapons (the bow pictured was made by an Eastern Cherokee). Varying lengths and weights; must specify. Order time: 3 to 6 months.$360.00 Tah-Koh Bows (not pictured) Extremely well-crafted Eastern Woodlands flat bows. Some eclecticism may replace specific tribal authenticity. Emphasis is on one-of-a-kind, hard-shooting, durable hunting weapons of natural materials. Includes sock. Jim Welch, a Dakota, is the owner and bowyer of Tah-Koh Bows. Many options available, specify. Osage self bow with urethane finish.$600.00 Same as above except one layer of sinew on back.$865.00 |
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Delaware This type of bow was in evidence across the mid-Atlantic area and was a favorite of the Lenape when they were forced to move west. Made by master bowyer Rob Young of Ancestral Archery. The bow pictured pulls about 55# at 28", shoots very smoothly and accurately. Available in hickory or other similar woods. Hand-rubbed self bow, linen string. Give specifications. Order time: 4 to 6 months.$535.00 Other bows by Rob Young Rob replicates bows of 73 different tribes, primarily in the Americas, but also rare productions (including Andaman, Egyptian angular, and Russian composite). His research and documentation of tribal authenticity is careful and thorough. Please inquire about any particular tribal replication. Also watch for two small forthcoming books from himóone on natural pigments and dyes, and another on shooting instructions for the different tribal bows. |
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D. M. Kissinger A long-established master craftsman and mentor to many newer bowyers, D. M. Kissinger of Primitive Archery Creations makes re-creations of Native American bows as well as traditional bows from other parts of the world. David is deeply respectful and a serious student of native traditions. The four bows illustrated here represent only a small portion of his work. Kissingerís bows tend to incorporate characteristics of a region rather than of a specific tribe and incorporate some natural substitute materials when necessary. Order time: 3 to 6 months (horn bow may require a year or more). |
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Eastern Woodland A reproduction of a bow in the Harrisburg Museum in Pennsylvania. Variations appear from Canada to Florida. Cherokee-like, but with slightly rounded nocks and a rounded rectangle cross section rather than the more angular Cherokee. The hickory bow pictured is 60" long, and 70# at 28.î Also available in osage. Specify your personal requirements.Hickory, $360.00; Osage, $400.00 |
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Western Great Lakes Winnebago or Potawattni. Osage orange or mulberry, sinew backed, reflex, 48" long pictured, but made up to 54.î Brain tan deerskin handle and painted with red ocher. Approximately 60# at 24". Draw weights can be customized but draw lengths are definitely limited; modified shooting style required.$550.00 |
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Western Plains A highly prestigious horn composite weapon, originally of the Shoshoni. Water buffalo horn has been substituted (gemsbok is another alternative) for sheep horn, osage orange wood core introduced, and elk leg sinew backing with built-up sinew nocks. Either painted as pictured, or covered in snakeskin. 42" long, 60# at 23" (can be as long as 48"). Modified shooting style required. A powerful, smooth shooting, and uniquely decorated working bow. Pictured on the cover of Primitive Archer, Volume 2, Issue 3. Order time: at least a year.$2,300.00. |
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Northern Plains Elk leg sinew-backed, double-curve bow, 41" long in hickory as pictured. Also available in white oak, ash, or osage, and in lengths up to 52". Rubbed with bear oil, handle wrapped with smoked brain-tan deerskin with grey fox fur and paw skin with claws. About 50# at 20". Museum quality except for dacron string. Modified shooting style required.$450.00 |
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Europe Archeological evidence from many parts of the world suggests that the bow was replacing or supplementing the spear and atlatl around 8,000 or 9,000 B.C. European sites reveal rich evidence of prototypic self longbows of both the flat variety, and with deep ìDî cross sections reaching back to about 6,000 B.C. The bows in this section celebrate the ancient, unique, and lasting contribution of European archery, but represent only a modest beginning of what The Krackow Company hopes to offer in the future. |
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Modified Holmegarrd The Holmegarrd Peat Bog in Denmark gives the name to this prototypic flat bow. The back view of the Holmegarrd calls for a narrowed handle, wide limbs of about 11/2" with abrupt narrowing about 1' from the limb tips. The side view features a built-up handle with fairly parallel limbs which actually thicken about 1' from the tips. This beautiful yew bow by Paul Rodgers of California follows this model, except the limbs do not thicken in the last foot. 68" long. Handles very nicely. Specify draw weight and draw length.$370.00 |
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English Longbow Fantastic work of art made by Gerald Welch of Alaska from fine Cascade yew cut at 4,000 feet tipped with light-colored horn and with a wrapped strip leather handle. Light-colored layer on the back is sapwood plus a layer of rawhide added for preservation. 75" long. Two dacron strings and a nice green felt sock with a soft leather tie. The bow pictured pulls about 55# and was built for a 291/2" draw. Shoots like you are on air. Specify draw weight and draw length.$670.00 |
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Bisok Longbow 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 |
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Bisok Mongol Bow 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 is working to recreate an eastern-type composite bow such as Hungarian and Polish armies used in the 16th- and 17th-centuries. Old Polish sources refer to this type of bow as a reflexive bow. Jan also makes a full line of contemporary recurves.) Please specify draw weight and length.$275.00 |
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Asia This continent has graced archers with a golden treasury of materials, designs, embellishments, and unique archery arts. Many of the highest developments in traditional archery have come from Asia, and it is exciting to know that we still have access to some of the most effective bows ever created. At present we have begun to import some implements directly from Asia, and are fortunate to have master bowyers in North America producing high quality Japanese Yumis, Indo-Persian bows, and other Asian bows and implements. |
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Asian Horn Bow Design found from Northern China through South India and the steppes of Asia. A very narrow bow of double-curved slightly asymmetrical design made with water buffalo horn belly over a core structured the same way as the Japanese Yumi. The bamboo back can also be sinew-covered. 55" to 60" long. Uncannily fast and smooth, the bow also appreciates an archer knowledgeable in the use of a thumb ring. The sinew-backed bow is finished in sharkskin. Draw length of bamboo-backed bow is up to 30", and for sinew backed to 35". Specify backing, weight, and draw. Bamboo-backed.$1,400.00 Sinew- and bamboo-backed with overall sharkskin finish.$2,200.00 Asiatic Bow Made for the Millennium set (pictured on front cover) Koppedrayerís ultimate bow celebrates some of the finest shooting performance coupled with artistic accents and finishes at their very best. A tour-de-force celebration of the beauty and power of archery at the turn of a new century and millennium. This pinnacle of design and function combines several great Asian traditions and may be deservedly used as a working weapon as well as passed down as an heirloom. Same internal construction as the Asian Horn Bow. Buffalo horn belly and wood core, bamboo-backed. Choice of hardwood for outer laminate.$1,500.00 Sinew- and bamboo-backed.$2,200.00 |
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Turkish and Indo-Persian Composite Bows Truly composite reproductions using traditional materials (sinew, wood, horn, and hide glues) and technology. When unstrung, some composite styles radically reflex backwards to the point of forming a ìCî shape. Short, they nonetheless accommodate a fairly long draw and develop a powerful cast. Originally shot with a thumb ring. A half dozen or so are started each year. Three years to finish. The bows demand specific training to string and use. Inquire about variations, specifications, and availability.$2,750.00 Chinese Bow (not pictured) A bow of several styles, the most commonly known Chinese style in the Wwît today is the design with the long static ears (12" long) and string bridges. Made from buffalo horn, a wood core (bamboo or mulberry) and sinew. The finished bow has a lacquered birchbark covering on the back. The horn belly is polished to a high gloss. Three years to finish. Inquire with specifications.$2,750.00 Short Asian Bow (not pictured) Resembling the Millennium Bow, this bow is a double-curve, 58" to 60" long, made with a combination of Superflex Actionwood and bamboo with clear glass face. Grip, made with phenolic (resin-impregnated linen), is very narrow and without a window. Suitable for longer draw lengths. Specify draw weight and length.$550.00 |
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Africa and South America There is little doubt that the bow was produced in many different lengths, shapes, and cross sections in South America, as well as Africa. The people of these two great continents were master archersó some of them still are. The Nubians (northern Sudan) and Ethiopians were renowned 3,000 to 4,000 years ago as deadly archers and as late as A.D. 700 were known as the ìpupil smitersî for their skill in blinding their opponents. We have a few excellent bows to offer, and invite your help and suggestions for more sources. |
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Venezuela Long Bows Two bows by tribes in northern and southern Venezuela. In the hands of the indigenous people these bows are powerful and effective tools to harvest animals and fish, supplying a major portion of their daily protein. Similar to medieval English longbows in design and performance. They must be humidified in temperate and dry climates. These bows are made by the Barií and Yanomami people and are made available through Manuel Lizzaralde, an anthropologist who has been associated with these people professionally and personally for many years. The low price of these bows is calculated to avoid wreaking havoc in the native economy, and does not accurately reflect the preciousness or very high quality of these weapons. |
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The Barií Tribe Bow About 70" long, made of very dense, heavy palm wood (mancanilla in Spanish). About 50# at 25". Braced to about an inch, about 13/16" wide by 5/8" at the grip and smoothly tapered to about 1/2" at the nock tips. The string is of bromelia fiber and is nearly 1/4" thick; an extra string is on the back of the bow.$145.00 |
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Tovar Hunting Recurve An exceptionally engineered option for the serious brush hunter, and a testimony to a legendary figure and contributor to international archery. The bowís original designer and maker was Kiko Tovar, who died in 1995. Currently being made by Tovarís associate bowyer and successor John P. Tluszcz. Rare combination of characteristicsólight, powerful, short (44î with a 40î stringó the shortest modern bow we have found), strong (phenolic handle), and flexible (Superflex Actionwood limbs). Provided with stringer. Strung bow shown with KikoBlack Gabel Arrows designed for this bow.$750.00 |
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Modern Youth & Light Shooter Warning about child and youth archery. These bows are made to shoot very safely, but this activity requires 100% vigilant adult supervision. If misused, even the lightest bows can be very dangerous and even lethal. Bows are weapons, not toys. We encourage you to start your child very early (possibly as early as 4 to 6 years old) but under the right conditions. The purchaser is entirely responsible for the use of these weapons. |
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Windstorm Archery These bows replace the high quality youth pieces which have been relatively scarce since the 1970s. The cluster of four (Zephyr, Breezebuster, Seminole, and Chinook) are all by Thomas Cable of Windstorm Archery with red elm limbs, osage risers, and clear glass facing and backing. Pictured with matte finishes but also available in gloss. Left- or right-handed. Highly recommended for youth and adult beginners or light shooters. |
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Zephyr Childís Recurve Perfect for your four to ten year old child or grandchild. Available in weights from 10# to 25# at 20"; 48" long. Ages under 8 should select the 10# bow. Dacron string. Please specify draw weight at 20" and right or left hand.$90.00 |
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Breezebuster Childís Longbow Same characteristics as the childís Zephyr recurve except that it is a deflex-reflex longbow. 48" long. Dacron string. Please specify draw weight at 20" and right or left hand.$75.00 |
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Seminole Youth Recurve Again the same characteristics as in the Zephyr and Breezebuster, but for youth or relatively small adults with draw lengths up to 28". Length is 54" and draw weights range from 20# to 40# at 24". Dacron string. Please specify draw weight at 24".$100.00 |
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Chinook Youth Longbow Same characteristics as the other Windstorm child and youth bows. Length of 54". Draw weights of 20# to 40# at 24". For draw lengths up to 26". Dacron string. Please specify draw weight and left or right hand.$85.00 Martin-Howatt-100 Recurve (not pictured) A tall, long-armed youth or adult wanting a relatively light weight and still very moderately-priced bow may need a slightly longer bow than the 54" Windstorms described above. In this case, we recommend the 60" recurve by Martin Archery. It is very similar in configuration and construction to the Windstorm recurves except that the riser is stained a dark brown. Draw weights of 35#, 40#, and 45#.Dacron string. Please specify draw weights and left or right hand. $125.00 |
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Convenient Child Starter Set Superb, high quality items (described above), a value of $180.45. Includes the Zephyr child recurve bow, quiver/glove/armguard (all genuine leather), plus a dozen arrows, stringer, and instinctive shooting book.$169.00 Convenient Youth Starter Set Same as the child starter set above, except the sizes are for youth and the bow is the Seminole Youth Recurve. Individual items, a value of $190.45.$179.00 |
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ADDITIONAL BOW OFFERINGS |
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Sugarcreek Natural Jointly designed by Tim Troyer and Krackow, and made by Tim Troyer. Hickory backed osage flat bow with small static recurve tips with brush nocks of wenge, v-fitted between back and belly. Wenge repeated in handle and wrapped in newbuck leather perfectly matched with a horizontal newbuck back quiver and a half dozen natural Norway Pine arrows with bared turkey fletches. Slightly Perry reflexed, wonderful performer. No glass. Smooth and classic lines allow the contrasting natural woods and leather tones to be prominent. Bow is $430.00, $45.00 for doz arrows, and $90 for the quiver. Total set for $535.00 plus shipping. |
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Other bows and bow sets |
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English Longbow Triple laminate with hickory backing, core of exotic purpleheart, and belly of lemonwood provides unique appearance and better performance. No shelf, mother of pearl striker plates for either left or right hand shooters. Beautifully shaped black horn nocks. Made to customerís specifications by Richard Head, a leading English bowyer from Wiltshire. Complimentary red or blue berber cloth handle with diagonal gold braid strips a half inch apart; edges trimmed with red or blue leaf leather and decorated in gold leaf. Price is $480 plus 90 shipping. May be matched with the English Influence quiver by Larry Snell ($125) and a dozen of Pope and Young type arrows by Michael Reape (on page 7 of the Krackow Catalogue) currently $130, or a set of 8 footed Victorian target arrows ($267) by Richard Head. Total set (with Reape arrows) $735 plus total shipping of $114. The Swiss 1800 (not pictured) A unique reproduction of a type of bow from Abbey of Bows in Lausanne, Switzerland from the 1800s, but dating back to 1500s in Italy as well. Limbs are reflexed by about 4îand oval shaped. Originals of a rare French timber called libernum. The reproductions of a hardwood substitute (such as osage). Carved ivory-like tips. Made by well known English maker Chris Boyton who apprenticed under the recently deceased Richard Galloway, from Scotland. Boyton has won in a number of meets with this bow. $590 plus 90 for shipping. |
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Magyar Ornamented (Hungarian) Faithful to ancient configuration, style, and external materials, with glass limbs covered with leather. Long static exposed hardwood (ash) ears or siyahs 7î in length . The back of the limbs are embossed with a vine-like line including three of the symbols of the Magyar people. The belly side of the limbs are decorated with a running infinity-life symbol. Unstrung bow is about 60î long, usually come in 45 to 55#, and may draw to 29 to 30î. Excellent shooting. $430 plus 50 for shipping. Made by Lajos Kassai in southern Hungary (Kassai Mounted Archery Center). A black scalloped decorated Asian style belt quiver is available to match for $90, and a matching dozen of arrows by Arrow Art for $75. Entire exciting set for $555. |
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The Holmegarrd This reconstruction takes us back as far as we can go anywhere to an actual artifact. It was found preserved in the Holmegarrd bog in Denmark and now resides in the National Museum in Copenhagen. Flemming Alrune, one of the leading authorities says , ìthe bow represents a technology in wood and bowrey so outspoken that the design must have had centuries to develop to the stage of the find.î About 9,000 years old. The reconstructions by Flemming Alrune are of the same species as the artifact, prime Elm, knot free from a thin well seasoned trunk. These reconstructions of about 60# cast 550 grain arrows at 160 fps. Fitted with an Irish flax string (rather than sinew) and rubbed with linseed oil. $433 plus 90 shipping. Hand made matching arrow shafts of pine or viburnum (as in the bog) with greylag goose or mute swan fletching., fastened with tar and sinew. Tipped with field points, $27 each, with flint $40 each. |
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