Best Horse Bows

 

Mounted archery has been practiced for thousands of years. Initially, the combination of long-range weaponry and the speed and mobility of being mounted made mounted archery excellent for the hunt, and in war. Nowadays the practice is quite obsolete for these purposes. Yet because of the history and heritage of mounted archery in many countries, there is a reemerging interest in the activity as a competitive sport. The main requirements for mounted archery are of course the mount and the bow and arrows. We will assume you have a reliable steed to carry you into battle. This article features some of the best horse bows available on the market in 2022.

We will address the features as well as some pros and cons of the very best horse bows. Also, the criteria we will use to judge the worthiness of the best horse bows available shall include the following:

• build quality
• bow performance
• aesthetics
• price

Each of these criteria will be given a score out of 5. So without further ado, let’s get deep into the world of the best horse bows.

 

 

Best Horse Bows Featured on Amazon

 

In case you have not heard, there is a website out there on the interwebs that sells a lot of things, including horse bows! This website is of course the infamous Amazon.com. Most other articles you’ll out there when searching for the term “best horse bows”, will give only give you a list of some that are available on Amazon. We will go over some of those here, as well as give you some alternatives that are currently not featured on the Amazon platform.

 

 

New AF Turkish

 

AF archery has been producing some excellent horse bows of many varieties, including light and fast Turkish models. The AF Turkish is constructed from bamboo, ash wood, and fiberglass. The bow is coated in a clear protective layer which renders the surface very smooth and shiny.

At first glance, the bow demands your attention with its subtle curves and glossy finish. In terms of the overall aesthetics, the bow scores very high in our humble opinion. Also, in terms of the shape and form of the bow, it is a very good take on the traditional sipahi Ottoman-style bow of the late middle ages. It is a good bow whether you are a novice or more advanced in your archery practice. Fun for all!

Specs:

Total length/(cm) ：117

String Length/(cm)：114

Max.draw length/(inch) ：32

Draw Weight(s): 20-50 pounds

Material:  Fiberglass, bamboo, ash wood

 

 

Video Review

 

 

 

Build Quality

 

Now we are going to be straight and direct here, AF is a Chinese bow manufacturer and there are some not totally unfounded concerns about build quality. However, AF archery produces some very high-quality builds, that are able to compete with bow manufacturers all over the world. The laminate Turkish is a case in point. The bow is very sturdy and well built and has received great reviews so far. It definitely deserves a spot on the best horse bows list, we will give it a very respectable 4 out of 5.

 

 

Bow Performance

The Turkish by AF is considered an efficient (fast) bow. Arrow speed is measured at about 280 feet per second leaving the bow (quite fast). Minimal hand shock is reported by most archers. The bow has a relatively long and smooth draw out to 32 inches. An excellent choice for beginners in mounted archery. Bow performance also receives a solid 4 out of 5.

 

 

Aesthetics

The AF Turkish laminate looks great! From the leather handle to the grain of the wood, all sealed with a super shiny protective coating, the bow is sure to get some looks if you take it to the range. The bow itself also comes in a lovely well-decorated sleeve. 4 out of 5 again!

 

 

Price

The laminate Turkish by AF comes in at the very reasonable 200 dollar range. In terms of the build quality to price ratio, this bow is a bargain at this price. Similar builds of the laminate variety can be about twice as expensive. It is this bargain price for a good quality product that puts this bow on the best horse bows list. It will receive 5 out of 5.

 

 

Check it out on Amazon.com by clicking on the image below!

 

 

 

 

AF  Crimean Tatar

 

Another fantastic choice for the beginner as well as more advanced practitioners. The Crimean Tatar by AF deserves a spot on the best horse bows list because of its elegant and accurate historic form as well as its fantastic entry-level price point.

Laminate bows are usually very efficient and fast, and the AF Tatar is no exception. In terms of performance, the intermediate and experienced archer alike would not be disappointed. A take-down version is also available that comes apart at the handle for easy storage and/or transport.

The Tatar bow, in terms of form, is quite similar to the Ottoman Turkish bow and likewise is a harmonious fusion of form and function. Our article on the Crimean Tatar bow further illustrates the point. The AF Tartar presents the following specifications for those of us who want to be specific.

 

Specs:

Total length (cm): 125

String length (cm): 121

Max draw length/(inch): 32

Material: Fiberglass, bamboo, ash wood

 

As mentioned the Crimean-Tatar by AF also comes in a takedown version that can be pulled apart that is reviewed here. Courtesy of Armin at Malta Archery.

 

 

 

Build Quality

 

Much like the Turkish bow by AF archery which was assessed above, the Tatar is surprisingly well built and has received great reviews overall. The build quality is exemplary of bows that are well over double the price of this one. For the money, you will get a great quality bow that should get you started on your horse archery journey. We would also recommend the AF Tatar to advanced mounted archers. Fun for the whole family! Seriously, a solid bow at a fantastic price point. The build quality score is a respectable and well-deserved 4 out of 5.

 

Bow Performance

 

Laminate bows are typically very lightweight and efficient (fast) transferring most of the energy stored in the limbs to the arrow with minimal losses in the limbs. The Tatar by AF is no exception. It is a fast and high-performing bow. Highly recommended if you are on the market for your first fast laminate bow at a great price. Bow performance receives a score of 4 out of a possible 5.

 

Aesthetics

 

While aesthetics may be somewhat subjective, the Tatar by AF is a great-looking bow. Tatar bows in general are great-looking bows with great curves. I think of them, in terms of looks, as a hybrid between Ottoman Turkish bows and Scythian bows. Very similar siyahs and overall structure, yet with some extra curvature and a recessed handle. The Tatar by AF receives a solid 4 out of 5 for her sexy looks.

 

Price

 

The price point for the Crimean Tartar by AF is one of the best, if not the best we could find these days (2022). For around 200 USD you will get some serious bow for your buck. For this price, it feels like a dirty bargain. 5 out of 5!

 

 

Check it out on Amazon.com by clicking on the image below!

 

 

TOPARCHERY 53″

 

We’ll try to be as direct as possible when doing these reviews. The 53-inch horse bow from TOPARCHERY is another bow of Chinese manufacture with some mixed reviews. It has sold well on Amazon since 2017 and in terms of price, is very reasonable, coming in at under 100 dollars USD.

 

Specs:

Total length: 53 inches (135 cm)

String length: approx 49 inches (length not given)

Max draw length/(inch): 32

Material: Fiberglass, wood

 

A quick video review:

 

 

Build Quality

 

Based on the various reviews on Amazon, build quality has been an issue with these bows in the past. Case in point would be the following reviews:

“The glue is coming apart on this bow. It is tacky and gummy like bad glue. It looked nice and I shot it for 2 sessions. Now I’m nervous to string it up. It is a cheap bow and I didn’t have my hopes up too much but I expected better quality as far as glue. If the glue problem was not happening I would have given this bow 4 stars.”

Another unfortunate soul wrote the following:

“Cracked the first time I used it. Yes, I am familiar with bows and no, I did not over-draw it. Maybe this single bow is defective?

Yes, its pretty and it might be fine as a wall hanger but I bought it to shoot. Never even got an arrow off, what a waste of money!!”

Bear in mind that out of almost 600 reviews, well over 70 percent gave it a perfect 5 out of 5. Nevertheless, there were some concerning reviews based on build quality.

We will meet somewhere in the middle at 2.5 out of 5.

 

 

Bow Performance

 

Bow performance at a fundamental level is tied to build quality. As such, there have been many a complaint that the bow is not really reliable and only a relatively few shots could be put through it before it could start to unwrap and/or come apart where bow parts have been glued together. Bear in mind that it is under 100 dollars! We’ll give bow performance another 2.5 out of 5 stars.

 

 

Aesthetics

 

The bow is a fairly nice-looking Asiatic style recurve. It features nice leather wrappings and carved wooden siyahs. Upon closer examination, you will realize that is very similar to the Kassai Raven Hungarian/Magyar bow model.

Picture 1: TOPARCHERY 53″

Picture 2: Kassai Raven

In terms of looks, they are both attractive Asiatic bows, reminiscent of the Magyar bows of old. 4 out 5.

 

Price

 

The price point is great at around 100 dollars USD. However,

this may be one of those cases of getting what you pay for as there have been some serious quality considerations over the years. Still a great bargain for those into Cosplay or who are really strapped for cash. 4 out of 5 for price.

 

 

Check it out on Amazon.com by clicking on the image below!

 

 

KAINOKAI Horsebow

 

Another great value horse bow for our best horse bows list is the one made by KAINOKAI. It has been very well received online and in with archers, especially beginners. Built out of durable locust wood, fiberglass, and leather, the bow is of solid construction. It can be made up to a very respectable 70 pounds in draw weight, so you could in fact use this for some serious hunting as well as your mounted adventures.

 

Specs:

Total length: 54 inches

String length: 52 inches

Max draw length/(inch): 31 inches

Material: Fiberglass, wood

 

A quick video review:

 

 

Build Quality

 

The build quality of the KAINOKAI horse bow is good when compared to others in the same class and/or price point. The locust wood and epoxy finish ensure longevity, and there have not been any major complaints about the bows coming apart due to inadequate or ineffective glue. There have been some issues raised as to the overall weight of the bow, which is close to 2 pounds, which compared to other similar bows is very heavy. The grip is large and comfortable for most beginners. While this is not a state-of-the-art piece of hardware, for the price it has held up to scrutiny in terms of build quality. We will give it a 3 out of 5.

 

 

Bow Performance

 

As mentioned the bow is quite heavy (1.9 pounds) for its size and is likely to be somewhat inefficient. A 25 to 55-pound draw weight range makes it appealing to beginners and intermediate practitioners alike. Some moderate hand shock has been reported yet the bow is fairly consistent and can be shot consistently and accurately with some practice. Bow performance is good, another 3 out of 5.

 

 

Aesthetics

 

The bow is pretty, with all the right curves in all the right places. The wrappings on the limbs and handle are nice pleasant to behold, yet the wrapping on the limbs does appear somewhat on the cheap end of things. In terms of the form, it does resemble a Hungarian or perhaps a pre-13th-century Mongolian-style bow. As we’ve said, aesthetics are the most subjective of the categories we cover for rating the bows so there will always be some disagreements on the overall look of most bows. We’ll stay in the middle with this one and give it another 3 out of 5.

 

 

Price

 

You can’t go wrong with the price point of most of the bows we’ve featured so far. A few hundred dollars is a good investment for beginners, as it won’t break the bank for most people just looking to get the ball rolling, or the arrow flying as we should be more apt to say in our niche. Most retailers are selling this bow at around the 200 dollar USD mark or slightly less so it is a great price. 4 out of 5!

 

 

 

Some of the Best Horse Bows are here on ArcheryHistorian.com!

 

Here at ArcheryHistorian.com, we try to give people options. When we first began working with manufacturers and selling bows, we wanted to provide clients with a wide variety of bows from a range of manufacturers, at several price points. We thought of the store as a car dealership that has everything. A Toyota Camry for those looking for great value and reliability, all the way up to Lamborghinis and Rolls Royces for the real connoisseurs for whom the price was not the main concern. That is why we have bows from around 200 dollars all the way up to 3000 for a Saluki for example. Check out some of the best horse bows featured here (no offense to Mr. Bezos).

 

 

Traditional Bow Shop – Flagella Dei

 

Flagella Dei was founded in the summer of 1999, and has been producing great quality and great value traditional bows for markets first in Europe and now globally. Károly Kaffka the main founder, started the business from humble beginnings to a company well known around the world in the archery community.  ArcheryHistorian.com is proud to feature their wares in our shop.

 

 

Magyar by Flagella

 

Ahh yes, the mighty Magyar by Flegella Dei. A solid bow, great for beginners, at a great price point of around 270 USD, what more could you ask for? Oh, and isn’t it nice that a Magyar or Hungarian bow is actually made in Hungary by Hungarians? I think it adds a certain authenticity to the product.

Check out another thorough review by Mr. Hirmer from Malta Archery!

 

 

Check it out at our shop by clicking the image below!

Hun by Flagella

 

The Hun has not been as popular as the Magyar and I don’t know why. The Hun bow, especially the asymmetrical variety is and always has been a favorite of the authors. This bow is very similar to the Magyar in form and function. This particular version is not asymmetrical yet this may be a variety that will be made by Flagella in the future.

 

Check it out at our shop by clicking the image below!

 

Mongol by Flagella

 

Another personal favorite is the Mongolian varieties of Asiatic composites, especially the ones modeled after pre 13th-century types. The Mongol by Flagella is about the same in terms of performance as the Magyar and/or Hun.

Check out another thorough review by Mr. Hirmer from Malta Archery!

 

 

Check it out at our shop by clicking the image below!

 

Simsek

 

Are you looking for the best horse bows of a traditional Ottoman Turkish design? Well, Simsek is among the best. As stated on their website https://simsekbow.com/ Simsek bows seek to “prove to the world that; just like a few centuries ago; the best Turkish bow again can be made in Turkey by Turkish bowmakers.”

Their bows are built or rather engineered to be reliable and historically accurate. Simsek is an independent venture started by father and son engineers Metin Simsek and Onur Simsek. You should definitely check out some of their products and reviews below. They are higher-end bows and will set you back about 3-400 Euros or more depending on the poundage and/or model.

 

 

Check it out at our shop by clicking the image below!

 

 

Kaya (Traditional Korean)

 

We highly recommend you check out https://horsebowshop.com/ and check out their lineup of some of the best horse bows around. The KAYA Wind Fighter (sweet name) is high on the list of great traditional horse bows of traditional Korean design.

Check out the review by Mr. Hirmer. On a role these days.

 

 

 

Kassai

 

Last and certainly not least we have the bow line bearing the name of a Lajos Kassai. Kassai developed and manufactured his own bows in the early 1980s and while the models have evolved over the years, they are still in production to this day (2022). As well as being one of the more recognized Hungarian bow makers, Kassai established his own system of competitive horseback archery. Along with a specific style of shooting, Kassai set down the rules and parameters for the track.

The Kassai bows are made from ash (handles and limb tips) and fiberglass (limbs), although some new models have metal limb tips (siyahs).

Care has been taken by Kassai and his team to represent several types of bows from the nomads of the Eurasian steppe. Some particular favorites of ours are the Bear (Hungarian/Magyar), the Mongolian (Wolf), and the Hunnic (Dear).

Finding the Best Horse Bow for You – A Buying Guide

 

Here are some criteria which you may want to consider before buying a horse bow. Some readers may already be familiar with these terms, yet it couldn’t hurt to refresh yourself from time to time. For beginners new to archery, this will give you an outline of the basic considerations.

 

 

Draw length

 

What is your draw length? Everyone’s draw length is obviously different because all of our wonderful, sexy bodies are different. Fortunately, there is a simple measurement and calculation that you can do to find out your draw length.

First, stand up straight and tall. Then spread out your arms to your sides, parallel to the ground. Measure from the tip of your longest finger to the tip of the finger on the other hand. Divide this number by 2.5. This will give you a good approximation of your own unique draw length.

 

 

Draw weight

 

What about draw weight? Well, what about it? Most of the best horse bows start at around 20 pounds and work their way up well past 100 pounds. We suggest you start with a lightweight bow and gradually work your way up. We wrote an article about draw weight here which you could check out for more information.

 

Brace Height

 

Brace height refers to the distance between the back of the bow handle and the string. The brace height may be changed by changing the length of the string. A shorter string will increase the brace height and a longer string will increase it. There is an optimal brace height for most traditional horse bows. The bow maker typically supplies a string that will give the bow its optimal brace height. Changing the brace height, for example making it shorter, increases the amount of time the arrow is in contact with the string before release. This changes the shooting characteristic of the bow, making it less forgiving. Just something to consider.

 

 

Efficiency

 

A bow is an energy storage and transfer device. The potential energy is stored in the limbs of the bow and is transferred to the arrow via the string into kinetic energy. Now, no energy storage and/or transfer device is perfect. There is what is known in the business as losses. This is due to several factors. The friction of the air as the bow moves from its drawn state to its strung, resting-state imparts a small amount of loss of energy. The biggest energy loss is the bow overcoming the inertia of the limbs themselves. Typically, heavy, leather-wrapped limbs will impart more losses. Some of the most efficient bows are extremely lightweight and thin-limbed, which mitigates losses to a certain extent.

 

 

Bow weight

 

Most bows designed for use on horseback were traditionally small, compact, and lightweight. This ensures easy maneuvering of the bow while mounted, in the heat of combat. Also, as discussed, the overall weight of the bow, especially the limbs, will affect the efficiency of the bow.

 

 

Bow length

 

The length of a bow affects draw length. How long you can draw the bow will obviously increase the longer the bow is. You must calculate your draw length as described above and you will find your own unique draw length.

 

Aesthetics

 

Ahhh aesthetics. The most subjective of all our criteria. Toxophilite. Yes, you read that right, toxophilite. Google it. No, wait. Never mind, I’ll just tell you. A Toxophilite is a lover of all things archery. One thing about the whole business that I truly enjoy is the shape of a bow at maximum draw. It only works with self-bows and the Asiatic composites for me. A modern recurve sometimes. Never a compound.

There’s just something beautiful there. Artistic. Divine. All that tension is ready to be unleashed. All those subtle and sexy curves. Yes, aesthetics are great. You should find what you like and just go with that.

Some Turkish and Mughal bows are beautifully painted and decorated. Bowyers of old understood very well that their creations were not only functional utensils but works of art. Beautiful living things. Aesthetics incarnate.

 

Price

How much are you willing to spend on the best horse bows? This one is simple. Don’t take out a second mortgage on the house. I don’t think a bow would cost that much anyway. Seriously though, bows in the traditional horse bow market range from about 200 dollars to over 3000 dollars. Most people involved in this space know this. Even if you are not involved in this space, now you know too.

 

Want to know more about archery terms? Check out our extensive article on archery terms here, which features a thorough glossary.

 

This video by Armin also describes some things to look for when considering a traditional bow or horse bow!

 

 

 

Wait! There are more of the Best Horse Bows!

 

You might be saying to yourself “holy s*** this article goes on forever!” Well, it was a long one but is almost over now. We wanted to give a thorough high-value article to actually help you out so excuse the length.

Some exceptional bow makers exist from all four corners of the globe. We do not feature the following bows on our website yet it is advisable you check them out!

 

 

Nawalny Bows – Poland

 

 

Producing some exquisite horse bows of several varieties is Nawalny bows based out of Poland. They use a durable combination of synthetics and wood in high tension areas on the bows which results in rugged durable bows. Not to mention the aesthetics of these beauties which can be painted per request. Gorgeous.

 

 

 

Sarmat Archery – Ukraine

 

 

Coming to you from Ukraine is Sarmat Archery. Producing some exceptional products for the traditional bow market. They have several models based on traditional bows of times past including:

 

• Cuman
• Japanese
• Turkish
• Chinese
• Hungarian (Magyar)

 

We have also compiled a list of Hungarian bowyers which you may see by clicking here!

 

Thank you and take care!!!