Hi everyone,

I think someone asked this question a Few years ago but there wasn't really any response. I really love target recurves from the 60s to mid 80s and was wondering if there are any bowyers out there making one piece wood target recurves in that style. I know ILF has taken over for many good reasons and has put that market more or less out of business, but I really just love the style and nostalgia of those bows. I should also say I'm not in a position to order one right now, just an idea I've had for a while, a 66-68" recurve with some mass, maybe some of the old style riser "horns," etc.

In the future when I do order a one piece target bow, The Omega Imperial with the new "flared ipe" riser is looking like the ticket if I don't find anyone making such a target recurve...

Thanks.

It sounds as if you are a candidate for something like this. It's a mid-60's Bear Polar at 35# and 66". This is just one of many types out there and can usually be had for $200 or less. Even at 50 years old, these classics are still up for fight another 50 years.

I have a very nice LH Groves Spitfire GS-300 target recurve; if a bowyer needs something to reference as they create their own design. :-)

It is a fun bow to shoot.

Yeah I have several older target models like a Tamerlane, Pearson Palomino, etc. and was collecting them for a while, which is why I wanted to see if there was anyone out there making one. The old ones do shoot great and are bargains, I'll admit.

Thanks for posting that picture Lon...I had two 1963 Polars, a righty and a lefty, at one time...I would have to say yours is the first 1964 with the routered sight window I have even seen a picture of...Bear Archery sure seemed to have access to a lot of great zebrawood back in those days...I remember someone looking for a Tamerlane to copy some time ago...no idea though who it was or whether they actually made any...my 1966 Tamerlane, the 69 inch version, weighs about 5 pounds...it would be interesting to see what Bear would price one of those at should they choose to make a reissue

DDave

That sure is one nice Polar Lon!

You like it?...getting shipped to a lucky guy today...

Wes Wallace makes his one piece to 66".

Thanks for the info!

Other than the short limbs, the Black Widow PSA III (?) 3 pc t/d I owned, reminded me of one of those 60's long-riser target bows.

Mike Fedora used to make them, maybe ask the guy who makes them now. You can likely buy two or three vintage gems for the price of a new custom with little advantage to the new....save to say it's custom. Bear seems to always pop up here but the king of the one piece target bows was the Hoyt Pro Medalist. Also look at other world-class bows like Wing Presentation, Shakespeare X-10 or X-15 models, Ben pearson Palomino and later models like the Centurian and the Lord Mercury. American Archery made nice one- piece target bows, as did Ernie Root, Herters and many more.

I looked at Black Widow a while back but I think their recurves only go to 64", although the riser profile is reminiscent of both their and some other companies target bows. Thanks George- maybe I should just stick with picking up more of the older target bows, I've owned several like the Palamino and a nice Tamerlane, some Shakespeare's etc, just wanted to see if something new was even an option.

White Wolf makes a bow called the Target Master. It comes in either 68 or 70 inch and has a riser with good mass. I think it would fit what your looking for.

Great Plains makes a 68 inch recurve.

Wow I just looked at the Great Plains that looks like an awesome bow. Takedown, with a 23" riser. Thanks for the heads up redbuffalo.

I think the Wes Wallace and Blacktail 1 pc in 66" are pretty nice in todays market in a longer curve with a 60s style riser

You can check with Bob Lee archery. They have a long 23" riser and limbs I believe will get you up to 64-66 inch.

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