The Cinnabar Bow
I recently discovered that ATARN member Justin Ma is the presence behind the California company called The Cinnabar Bow.
As the title page of the website says: The Cinnabar Bow is proud to be an official reseller of Mariner (水手) Traditional Chinese Bows. Mariner's handmade bamboo-fiberglass laminated bows have been gaining a reputation in China for their performance and craftsmanship.
Great looking bows in several historic Chinese styles, at great prices, for those who don't have the will or the skills to build one of these masterpieces.
http://www.cinnabarbow.com/marinerbows/index.html
The way I see it is -- if "60 is the new 40" as they say, then fiberglass is the new sinew! If it looks and shoots like an historical copy, who cares what it's made from...
As the title page of the website says: The Cinnabar Bow is proud to be an official reseller of Mariner (水手) Traditional Chinese Bows. Mariner's handmade bamboo-fiberglass laminated bows have been gaining a reputation in China for their performance and craftsmanship.
Great looking bows in several historic Chinese styles, at great prices, for those who don't have the will or the skills to build one of these masterpieces.
http://www.cinnabarbow.com/marinerbows/index.html
The way I see it is -- if "60 is the new 40" as they say, then fiberglass is the new sinew! If it looks and shoots like an historical copy, who cares what it's made from...
Fibre glass is definitely the "new sinew" if the bowyer knows what they are doing. And Mariner does.
Hands down the Khotanese style bow I bought from them (marketed as Han I) is the best bow I own. Its incredibly supple and can be pulled back well past the ear without any worries. I feel most at ease with it then any other bow and I own various synthetic versions of Turk, Tatar, Korean and Scythian bows.
Its a no brainer: you want a great asiatic bow at a reasonable price without sticker shock? Then buy a Mariner. Its vastly superior then many of the higher priced bows of sythetic Asiatic make.
Hands down the Khotanese style bow I bought from them (marketed as Han I) is the best bow I own. Its incredibly supple and can be pulled back well past the ear without any worries. I feel most at ease with it then any other bow and I own various synthetic versions of Turk, Tatar, Korean and Scythian bows.
Its a no brainer: you want a great asiatic bow at a reasonable price without sticker shock? Then buy a Mariner. Its vastly superior then many of the higher priced bows of sythetic Asiatic make.
I have the Qing #2 on order, looking forward to it.
That kind of bow is beautiful since the non-contact tips act almost as a longbow: it is forgiving and allows for more string-oscillation correction at the release of the string.
That design also is very multi-national since Eastern Europeans, Central Asians such as the Sassanids, all the way to China used stiff-tips.
That design also is very multi-national since Eastern Europeans, Central Asians such as the Sassanids, all the way to China used stiff-tips.
Hi Lucas
I really like the design, it has a lot going for it, my cores that I am working on are of a similar length. Now just waiting for it to get here from China, hope it doesnt take a too slow boat from China !
I've been out of state for several days so got a lot of mail here to catch up on. The profile of this bow is very much like what my first two hornbows are.
I really like the design, it has a lot going for it, my cores that I am working on are of a similar length. Now just waiting for it to get here from China, hope it doesnt take a too slow boat from China !
I've been out of state for several days so got a lot of mail here to catch up on. The profile of this bow is very much like what my first two hornbows are.
Sorry I was referring to the Han bow concerning the stiff tips; but concerning your bow that is on order, that kind of bow is probably the closest to the original Manchu bow that I have ever seen so I am very excited for you. Hopefully it is a stronger bow since Qings are best at higher drawweights.
By the way Jake, Justin Ma has opened up the registration to go to Jaap's seminars next February. Are you game to go? I want to send in my check so that I can have a spot :) . I will bring my Crimean Tatar bow and use it when Justin teaches "ming style" archery.
By the way Jake, Justin Ma has opened up the registration to go to Jaap's seminars next February. Are you game to go? I want to send in my check so that I can have a spot :) . I will bring my Crimean Tatar bow and use it when Justin teaches "ming style" archery.
Hi Lucas
Yes, I am going, Kay has me on the list. I am really looking forward to it. Its a really knowldgeable group for Manchu Archery, all it lacks is having Mr Selby there too ! With Justin, Peter and Jaap there and of course Kay, and the others it will be time to do some serious soaking up .
I have 3 cores now with the same length as the Qing 2 bow, horn strips on the way for the first two, I doubt I will have any ready to shoot by then but will take at least one for suggestions. I take critique as a matter of course. I'd be foolish not to. These are a learning curve and this is an opportunity to learn a lot from experts.
I will probably drive down, I can take more 'baggage' with me. But will figure in more travel time. I hope that you can come, its the major archery event of the year for me, and I am planning a couple other big traditional archery events. But not likely to be any others like this one!
See ya there !
Yes, I am going, Kay has me on the list. I am really looking forward to it. Its a really knowldgeable group for Manchu Archery, all it lacks is having Mr Selby there too ! With Justin, Peter and Jaap there and of course Kay, and the others it will be time to do some serious soaking up .
I have 3 cores now with the same length as the Qing 2 bow, horn strips on the way for the first two, I doubt I will have any ready to shoot by then but will take at least one for suggestions. I take critique as a matter of course. I'd be foolish not to. These are a learning curve and this is an opportunity to learn a lot from experts.
I will probably drive down, I can take more 'baggage' with me. But will figure in more travel time. I hope that you can come, its the major archery event of the year for me, and I am planning a couple other big traditional archery events. But not likely to be any others like this one!
See ya there !