Recurve bows are some of the oldest weapons used for hunting. Some records suggest that Scythians used to use this type of weapon in the 4th century BC. Over time, these bows were used by many people in battle or for the purpose of hunting. The Greeks, Cumans, Turks, Mongols, as well as the Persians and Dacians used to make use of them, while the standard bows for the Romans was a tad different, consisting of a composite recurve.
If you’ve ever been interested in finding out more about recurve bows, in general, we’ve put together a list of three interesting facts you may want to know about them.
It’s one of the oldest types of war and hunting weapons
Although there isn’t any clear information on the topic, it appears that the recurve bow was invented by the Egyptians thousands of years ago. The fact that this type of bow is among the oldest ones out there makes it, perhaps, less popular with modern hunters.
Archers still utilize longbows and recurve bows even nowadays, but they do less so when they are in the wild, and they’re trying to make a clean kill.
When getting your first recurve bow, the sizing is crucial
Because unlike other types of bows, a recurve cannot be adjusted depending on the physical attributes of the archer, it is a good idea to select the perfect size right off the bat. 54” and 64” models are recommended for children aged 6 to 12, while 64” and 70” are recommended for adults.
A particular feature of the bow that needs to be taken into account is the draw length. Usually, getting the proper weapon can be done with ease as long as you take the time to measure out the distance between your arms when they’re spread out.
They make a lot more noise compared to crossbows
Modern crossbows are inventive miracles as they are made to ensure the best performance. That is why hunters have the freedom to utilize dampeners and a variety of other accessories with the help of which they can make the weapon almost impervious to their potential catches.
Unfortunately, the same does not apply in the case of recurve bows. On the one hand, using a dampener would be impossible because of the anatomy of the recurve. It doesn’t practically allow users to add any accessories without affecting the performance of the weapon, or the way it should be used.
Recurves are far lighter compared to crossbows, and so they make good choices when the game isn’t easily frightened by weird sounds.
Shooting with a recurve bow is an Olympic sport
In fact, the recurve is the only kind of bow allowed in the Olympics, although there are several categories where the compound bow is allowed, at least at the Paralympic Games. Despite the fact that the weapon is far more popular in Asia and Europe these days, the modern type of recurve you will find on the market is called an American flatbow. Its parts can be disassembled conveniently so as to ensure quick and easy transportation.