So... Steve Jewett of Bushmen bows sent me his new static tip Xyphose to take for a spin.
Mind... blown. I've never in my life shot a bow like this.
I shamelessly admit, I shot it three times and Paypal'ed him a deposit.
I'll side-step the science and just tell you how "it compares" to my two fastest bows at 10 gpp. (I don't have a shooting machine... but I do have a chronograph and I do have some really quick bows).
52# Caribow Tuktu - 10 gpp 184 fps 65# Sovereign Trident 10 gpp 185 fps 60# Bushmen Xyphose - I shot the same 655G arrow that my Trident shoots at 191 FPS... 191!!!!! - I put a lighter point on it and shot a 605G arrow (10 GPP) at 197 FPS. I pull around 30".
If I hadn't done it myself I wouldn't believe there could ever be a 60# bow that could shoot the same arrow faster than my 65# Trident. There's just no way.
As fast as it is... the most amazing thing about the bow is how dead in the hand it is. It's just - let go... and nothing. Just a quiet thump... and me looking down range at an arrow that hit high because I'm used to them dropping more.
Like all Bushmen bows it's quiet and built like a tank. You couldn't twist those limbs if you wanted to. It's smooth and gains everything early... very little gain at the back. So nice.
I'm convinced 45 pounds of Xyphose and a heavy arrow gets you all of North America and most of everywhere else.
I'm booked for Botswana next summer... I'll be taking a Xyphose.
I hate that I have to send that bow back to Steve.
They may look the same but I'd feel really comfortable taking a shot with that bow after I chucked it off a cliff... and you NEVER hear about a Bushmen coming apart. Steve told me to shoot it at 8 GPP...
Jarhead, Jinxster was telling me about that new bow 10 days ago or so. So I called Steve and sent him a deposit while we talked. He described it as a hyper static. Not a super curve. I’m happy to hear your review. I’m going to have it in 64”. Any other suggestions
I’ve been wondering when some more information would come out about the Xyphose bow, Thanks Jarhead, Jinkster should jump in an give more first hand information, Steve has really been improving his bows since he first started building.
Altitude - the ONLY recommendation I would hazzard would be "don't order a ton of bow."
If you hunt animals that require a 60 pound bow... I'd order that Xyphose in a 50... and not a pound more.
Not sure if you've ever shot his bows with his black grippy stuff... not sure what he calls it. THAT STUFF is the bomb. I would consider that for sure.
Get the two piece. Steve's takedown is the best made.
I have a long curve that he painted in a camo pattern that lights up in the sunlight... or you can get it in the grey tone that he has the prototype he sent me.
I’d love to shoot it beside the super curve from Jim Neeves for comparison, never shot a one pc super curve or any super curve for that matter, bet they’re neat and definitely different for sure
Sorry for not being on top of things here lately as I just had my 2nd Carpel Tunnel surgery last week but just before was a window of opportunity to both have Steve custom fit my grip and test shoot both my newly made and personal Scythian and witness and test shoot Steve's 1st made and personal Xiphos which is this one he sent to Jarhead here as well as one he's sent to Tradgeeks for review.
What follows here is my uploaded comments box along with a short clip of Steve shooting his Hyperstatic Xiphos...the very one that is now in Jarheads hands.
"Xiphos" is the name of The Spartans primary weapon which stands for "Short Sword" and I felt the name blended well for this newly designed Static Tip Super Recurve as the latest entry in Steve's "Spartan Series" of bows and it's a powerhouse with a soft voice and remarkable performance and I'm honored to have played a role in naming this bow. :)
Despite the urban myths?…My experience is that while SR’s are “Different” to string?…they certainly aren’t difficult or dangerous to string unless you just aren’t paying attention to what you’re doing and that stands true when stringing any bow.
It is definitely an interesting bow design. I’d love to shoot one. Does anyone know how long TNS bow has been out there? I’m curious if there are any reported limb failures. I bet it would s a very fast, well performing bow.
Both of those bows are VERY quiet. The Decibels are from inside a pole barn. So registered higher than would be heard in open air. They are for comparison with the two bows only. Not a good measure of perceived noise.
