For those who might be interested in getting a Black Hunter bow, I just received a 60" recurve a couple of days ago. I bought on because of the price, to satisfy my curiosity, and for a bow I could use to teach with or loan out.

It comes with the flat Allen-head limb bolts, not knobs, and 2 bushings for the bolts which are aluminum, not plastic as I thought they would be. These are not glued to the limbs as I thought they might be, but are loose. The limbs assemble easily on to the riser.

The all-black string that comes with the bow is a 16 strand endless loop served with what seems to be black nylon monofilament. In all honesty, it really isn't bad for a Chinese factory bowstring. It needs string wax and a pair of silencers as it has none of either.

The bow stringer it comes with has hard rubber limb-tip cups that fit nicely on the tips but the braided cord is about a foot and a half too long. I'm 6 foot 1 and had the bow about up to my chin before I could get the string on. You can imagine what that dance looked like. Enter the pocket knife.

The limbs and tips are all flat black with no writing except 60" - 30# written in white on the lower limb. The riser has "Black Hunter" painted in white on the opposite side of the sight window.

The riser is a laminated wood stained a dark greenish-grey color and is not unappealing to the eye. The arrow shelf is radiused to an extreme degree, which I found interesting. Both the shelf and side are radiused. There should be no interference there. The riser is finished in a dull, flat finish with a very lightly sandy feel to it which I believe will wear smooth with use.

The one crappy thing that came with the bow was the piece of self-stick material they sent to use as an arrow rest and side plate. It's supposed to resemble calf hair but is a crappy synthetic material that comes apart when you start cutting it. Chuck it in the can and get your own. I used a "Bearhair" rug and plate on mine, Much better.

I've not shot it yet as I am waiting for a flemish string to come from Stildub. I just dont like endless loop strings no matter how good they are. Once that is on and the weather is good, Ill work on shooting and tuning. So far, so good, the bow looks nice and looks like it could be a good hunting bow or just a good recreational bow for someone on a budget. I'll report my future experiences with this bow when I get some. Thanks.

Forgot to mention, there was no instruction sheet with the bow, zero, no paper at all, which I thought was kind of odd. Not that I need one, but someone might.

I bought a long bow variety out of curiosity; I sent the first one back because the top limb was out of alignment, the next one they sent had both limbs out of alignment very slightly but one went one way and the other went the other and the canceled each other out.

No one else would have noticed the slight alignment issues but I am a bow maker and very little gets by me.

I have to say I was blown away when I started shooting the bow, it might be the best bow I ever shot.

Of course, I replaced the rest material and made it a DF-97 string, it is a little noisy even with silencers and a high brace height but considering how well it shoots my woods I can't complain.

I have one with two sets of limbs, recurve and LB. I too am very happy with my bow. it is crazy nice shooting, of course I made "better" string for it. It is a very fun bow to shoot and to hunt with. And as already said, hard to argue with. it is a hard to believe that it is true bow but it is very much so.

Good bang for the buck. I have shot them, but I have to many self bows, and vintage glass bows that I prefer shooting over the black hunter, so no need for one.

Awesome bow. Love mine.

I have two with three sets of limbs. To avoid any "surprises" or unexpected issues, I ordered mine from Lancaster Archery (they carry them under the name Galaxy Ember), a very solid, reliable US dealer who can check everything before shipping. I have been absolutely satisfied in every way with the prompt service from Lancaster and the performance of the bows. I have bows that I paid a lot more for that don't shoot any better. To be sure you get what you want, order from a known, reliable dealer.

You've seen them before, but a picture brightens up a post.

I also just bought a black hunter. I had one in right handed, and it is 40#@28". My scale says it is dead on. The one I just bought is left handed. It also says 40#, but weighs in at 38#s. Not a big deal for me. I didn't look at the string, but the one I made up for my right handed bow. The limbs butts hang over the riser about 1/16", but otherwise don't fit badly. For $104. I can't complain. After stringing it up, I went out and shot it at 20 yards. My first shot was in the 'x'. Hard to complain about that.

Lol. Trailsend. You tell em. We have been through this before. I don’t have a problem buying foreign products. All products today are foreign. Even our phones and computers. Like Dave. I love Lancaster archery. Good people to deal with and they check it out before they send it.

{{{"My thought stop buying China junk. Support USA Workers"}}}

So... you don't have ANY Chinese junk at your house?

If it weren't for China junk, thousands upon thousands of kids, and guys who don't make a lot of money, would go without traditional bows. American made recurves are priced way above what many can afford, apparently when you have full pockets of cash that doesn't resonate with you. All those people who are getting into archery with "China junk" are potential buyers of American manufactured and custom bows in the future. And of course you posted that on a Chinese junk phone or computer too. Funny how that's okay though.

I've bought five BH recurves recently for Christmas gifts. I've set them all u and shot them with stilldub D-97 strings, nocks and fur silencers. No problems they shoot great and the riser is one solid mofo. At $109 shipped to my door, that's what I call money well spent. These bows are a GREAT value.

In those moments of conscious awareness I don't purchase anything that I know originates in China. That said, I would expect that if you picked up a China bow from a reliable dealer who checked it for you and permitted returns that you would be ok but you should probably not expect much over the long haul. I might be wrong but no big deal.

I have owned a Wes Wallace Partner bow and I dearly loved it and I know that there are a lot of bowyers who make 3 piece recurves, etc. All represent the best of the best. Now though my own personal preference runs toward 1 piece bows. That said, if I had the dough I would certainly buy a Toelke or Robertson take down bow because I do admire their connection system.

You can say stop buying China but the Black Hunter is not "junk" Many here attest to that. I like them too & always recommend them to someone looking for a first bow, a back up, or an everyday shooter. Longbow or recurve shoots well on the same riser. >>>----> Ken

I bought a longbow model. The only markings are on the lower limb, it says Black Hunter in 2 mandarin characters followed by the poundage and length. The bow is 100% with very nice tiny tips. I put a nice silver and black 8125 Flemish string and some silencers on it and she is ready to hunt. I find it interesting that some don't like Chinese products from China, but don't mind Korean products from China? It's much like the anti Japanese car from cult from the 1980s.

Thinking about it, in the last 12 months I have bought 2 traditional bows. One was the Black Hunter and the other is from an American bowyer who has been building custom bows for many years. I'll say that the Chinese can sand a riser better and spray a better finish. The American bow shoots better and has very nice exotic woods. The American bow is 10x the price.

Thinking about it, in the last 12 months I have bought 2 traditional bows. One was the Black Hunter and the other is from an American bowyer who has been building custom bows for many years. I'll say that the Chinese can sand a riser better and spray a better finish. The American bow shoots better and has very nice exotic woods. The American bow is 10x the price.

I've got a Black Hunter on one side of the rack, and a Black Widow on the other side of the rack with a few Javaman bows in between. I am also a blessed archer.

Then there is that shiny Browning Explorer One with the black and white laminates on the riser. If I could only have one bow....

NY Yankee, enjoy the bow.

You mentioned the stringer was too long and out came the pocket knife. Just stand on it with two feet, spread them apart as needed. No need to shorten it.

You can shorten the stringer by making a loop in the center and just make an over hand knot with it. I move the bow string as far out on the limb as it will go to see how much I need to take up with the over hand loop. Been doing it for years with my stringers. DANNY

I did the two-feet operation of the stringer and it was too long. If I stand with feet that far apart, I cant lean over to nock the string. It needed to be shortened.

That is an easy fix.

Bet you were glad you had to shorten the string on that stringer, not lengthen it. It's almost like it was designed that way. :-)

Bet you were glad you had to shorten the string on that stringer, not lengthen it. It's almost like it was designed that way. :-)

I didn't get a stringer, problem solved.

My BH Longbow out shoots some of my customs....I hate to admit it but it is a great buy and after a good string installed is just about perfect.

Count me in as another satisfied customer. Just delivered today within an hour I was shooting bullseyes with it. Smooth and whisper quiet.

Update!!!!!

Cons for me are are the string (low quality and loud), the draw weight (60" longbow labeled 45# but closer to 50#), the shelf material (poor), and the noise (significant as delivered...needs some careful tuning to tame it down, a flemish FF with an 8" brace helps alot). At my 28" draw there is noticeable but not excessive stack, feels more like a 58" than a 60" bow. Overall shootability is good. Speed is better than expected.

For the price it is admittedly a very good value. Jury is still out on durability/reliability...we'll see how that goes.

You know something guys? If you would get your Black Hunter from a reputable dealer you wouldn't have any of these issues.

My experience with Twig Archery was 100% positive. John (owner) personally took my order on the phone.

My longbow was weighed and target draw weight was confirmed. I got BAMBOO core limbs. A high quality FF flemish twist string. Nock and Cat Whiskers INSTALLED. Quality rug rest and side plate INSTALLED. Ready to shoot! Also a FREE correct length quality bow stringer.

All this from one of the nicest guys in archery. My dollars went to a fine AMERICAN family owned business. If I had any issues or problems John would have been on top of it right away.

All of the people I've steered toward Twig Archery have had similar experiences. Their bows, arrows, etc were all high quality items delivered exactly as ordered.

I have also bought from John @ Twig Archery and agree - flawless transaction - checked stock for my desired weight- bow was set up with silencers, nock point , correct brace height. Well packaged and fast delivery. Btw I bought the Black Spitfire and after assembly everything was spot on. Very nice bow. I’d buy from him again.

Is there an ILF version?

Actually, on EBay, there are now 15" ILF risers that are built in the Black Hunter style.

Happy here. Great economical bow. Archery stuff is getting copied very well at a great price.

Dr. Mike,

I bought two 17" ILF risers on ebay for the grandkids that I'm convinced were made by the same folks that make the BH.

If you go to ebay, then archery and type in, 17" riser, they'll pop up. Most I've seen are under $100. Here's a picture of them.

I failed to mention that I replaced the string with a spare that I had.

You can get those ILF risers in a split riser with two colors.

I finally broke down and bought a BH longbow. I have a lot of very nice bows, Satori, SuperK, Dryad ILF, RWH...but my Black Hunter outshoots most all of them. Pretty close tie with the Satori and Dryad. Bought one for my son and it's one of his favorites too. For the price, it's almost a must-have bow for a loaner/beater/test/practice bow.

I traded my brother for a Black Hunter, and per his recommendation I replaced the string with a Stildub masterpiece, and then I put a new Bear hair rest and beaver balls. Haven shot it yet but it feels real smooth. Gonna take it out for rabbits soon

I traded my brother for a Black Hunter, and per his recommendation I replaced the string with a Stildub masterpiece, and then I put a new Bear hair rest and beaver balls. Haven shot it yet but it feels real smooth. Gonna take it out for rabbits soon

Bought 5 BH recurves and stilldub strings for Christmas gifts this year. They shoot GREAT! I actually gifted myself two of them, they're FUN to shoot!

I totally agree with Red Beastmaster, buy from a reputable and you won't have any of those issues. I bought my Galaxy Ember (same bow) from Lancaster Archery and had stellar service.

"I traded my brother for a Black Hunter".

I tried to trade my little sister for a Willie Stargel baseball card once. No deal.

Red Beastmaster, that sounded like a square deal to me! haha

Let us know how it shoots for you Tom;)

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