Why a Recurve Crossbow?
A Kodabow recurve crossbow has no moving parts to stretch or fail. Our bow is both quiet and accurate. It will stay that way shot to shot and year to year. If you like complexity, get yourself a bow with cams, pulleys, cables and gizmos. That is not us. If you want to hunt and kill game animals, use a Kodabow. It gets the job done right. It's made right here in the USA. A Kodabow won't let you down. That's our promise to you.
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Unloading a Kodabow Crossbow
Kodabow Reliability
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Shooting the Kodabow Crossbow
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Recent News, Press, Info
01/13/2012 11:02 PM
Archery Trade Show - 2012
Kodabow just returned from the 2012 Archery Trade Show held this week in Columbus, Ohio. (January 2012) We had a great show. This is an "industry show" and is primarily attended by the media, manufacturers, dealers and distributors. It is an opportunity to stand on a carpet for 8 hours a day over three days. Deer hunting in 50 mph winds in a 40 foot high treestand is easier. As an attendee, we opted to have a shooting lane as well as a booth. Many dealers were seeking out Kodabow looking to add Kodabow to their stores .......and in many cases, they were replacing existing big name crossbow lines. You will see these dealers in 2012. Our reputation as a quality and dependable US crossbow maker is growing fast.
Thank you to Big Shot Targets for supplying us with their new range target for the three day event. (Very nice and VERY LARGE target that we avoided hauling around.) On the shooting line, if we had a dime for every time someone said this Kodabow trigger is "the best crossbow trigger available", we would have about $10.50 which is a lot of dimes when you think about it.
There were 513 companies attending ATA and just over 60 companies were new exhibitors so there were plenty of booths up and down the aisles and things to see. There is a company --- their name we can't remember but their tag line we cannot forget.
We say "Strike with Deadly Precision".
They say "The Worth of Transcend. Time and Space." Who can argue with that.
One big improvement over last year was our location -- last year, we were across from the skunk scent company. Not good. Kodabow is moving up in the world so we had clean air in 2012. Some manufacturers show products a little ahead of their time at ATA and every once in awhile, these bows don't work so well on the shooting line and quickly and covertly disappear never to be seen again. Loud noises are not good. It is OK. Things happen.
We enjoy the the writers and editors --- this should be no surprise but in some settings, a large amount of paid advertising by a company results in a very favorable magazine product review regardless of actual product performance. (Didn't someone say you can't believe everything you read?) Other editors tell it straight up. Those editors are better. We think there are about 500 outdoor TV Shows on various networks now and it seems like everyone is filming their hunts. We sponsor two young men who host a show called Killbillies Outdoors. They are a lot of fun to be around. If you have some free time, start your own TV Show and stop by the Kodabow booth next year. Everybody needs work so that is how the game is played.
We enjoy talking with attendees and dealers since they visit from all over the US and overseas. Competitors are also always nosing around comically acting "as if they are not nosing around." We suppose it is better to have the competitor companies show interest in Kodabow technology than if they all walked past without stopping. They all stop. It is nice to be noticed. One competitor engineer was pulling our Kodabow pretty hard thinking we must have designed the world's worst trigger. Eventually, he figured out that he still had the crossbow on SAFE. We say nothing in these situations .... well...maybe a "Mmmmm". Look for a Kodabow ATA video that we will post shortly. Glad to be back and off the carpet. Looking forward to the Eastern Outdoor Sports Show next -- February 4th. See you there.
12/21/2011 11:10 AM
Pricing, Crossbows and Costs of Different Things
How does pricing work and what is the value of a purchase?This past weekend, we spent a few minutes thinking about "cost." It began with travel to Penn State University to attend a graduation ceremony. After checking the internet, we found a nice room for $99.00. We called the same hotel directly to ask a few questions and they mentioned they had a "Special Graduation Room Rate" for this weekend. Well that sounded even better until the young lady said the special rate was $132.00 -- same room. Yes - a bit deceptive. That is 33% higher for the same product. We could only laugh and the young lady did as well. The internet is a great tool for information sharing and we felt good about our $99 purchase.
A graduation ceremony can be a long affair as a few hundred students are called to the stage one after the other -- and really, most family attendees have travelled a long way only to hear one name called and see that student walk, get a handshake and rightfully smile. There was plenty of free time to think about the economics of education. College is an expensive proposition. Again, the wheels began to turn and we noted the student we came to support graduated in 3.5 years vs. a national average of 4.7 years to receive a Bachelors Degree. The cost of moving slower vs graduating earlier cost 34 % more. (That difference could buy a lot of Kodabows.) We felt good a second time. What does this have to do with crossbows? When we make and sell crossbows at Kodabow, we look at value in an unconventional manner. We dig deep. In the past week, we spoke with a consumer who had purchased a competitive crossbow only to give up on that product and buy a Kodabow. It was an extreme case. After the 5th time his crossbow failed and after numerous replacements, he just totally gave up on his initial choice and bought a Kodabow. Initially, he placed a lot of value on this first bow and the warranty that came with it but he became flat "worn out" shipping his bow back and forth and dealing with customer service and it all became worthless. It was a 100% loss. Same for the man who bought a crossbow that came with a cheap scope that required replacement before he could confidently head to the woods. Another gent stopped by and described how he had just spent $100.00 to replace his cables and strings on another relatively newly purchased brand and that math calculation showed about a 15% cost penalty if he could have avoided that event. In today's economy, value is very important. There is also a lot of misinformation and a consumer needs to be smart. At Kodabow, we think we measure up and we will always give you straight answers and not be deceptive. Many of our customers are serious hunters and hardworking people who do not toss their discretionary income around casually. Buying a Kodabow is a big decision. We appreciate that viewpoint because we look at value the same way and believe the long term cost of Kodabow ownership is low. We know crossbows are complex products and things can go awry from time to time ...... but we will also tell you that we make a maximum effort to deliver honest to goodness value without cutting any corners and we hope that if you handle a Kodabow, own a Kodabow, shoot a Kodabow or ever visit with us, you can clearly see the value in our product. We feel good about that - third time in a weekend.
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12/14/2011 12:24 PM
Hunting, Crossbows and the Funny Stuff
Success --- you have taken a nice animal and it's picture time. Some of the best memories are the funny things and the funny people you meet along the way before the photos are taken. When in Africa and being introduced to my PH (professional hunter) by the Head PH, he said you will enjoy hunting with Frans - we call him the "human bush." That was a strange name. It was a few days later before I realized the significance of the nickname. When Frans was leading the way, he was such a big man that no one could see past him - hence, the "human bush" moniker. Missing a shot always involves mysterious forces that magically appear to disrupt perfect execution. "Tetonka" as he is affectionately known at Kodabow still hunts Indian style with a pull back bow and arrows with feathers. He stalks quietly through the woods and when he sees deer, he can get very close. It doesn't mean that the shot will go as intended. Just as the arrow is released, a strange force can surface that pulls a sleeve into the string path and the arrow is pulled far left. The story may begin with the phrase, "You are not going to believe this" and can end with something as unusual as "if you see a big 8 point with a broadhead stuck in his antler, let me know." The most common supernatural force is the dramatic appearance of a small sapling between the archer and the intended target that sucks an arrow directly into its wooden trap. Many a deer walks today saved by a tree. The two most important words in the crossbow hunting world are PAY ATTENTION. When a hunter pays attention, he/she has the best chance of circumventing a disaster in the field, earning a nickname, and avoiding mental anguish. Yes -- last Saturday, a hunter we all know quite well sat for two hours without realizing that there was no arrow on his crossbow rail.Thankfully, Mr. Big did not show up. And then later, our good friend who stopped by Kodabow in full camo describing the excitement of his morning hunt with his Kodabow until we advised him that deer season closed two days earlier. He narrowly escaped a major problem. Opening day of Deer Season one year was very memorable for an old friend named Jim who had high anticipation for sunrise the next morning. The cabin decided to turn in at midnight to get a good nights sleep. As Jim dozed off, the alarm clocks were set back to ring at 12:45 AM instead of 5:30 AM. As the bells rang, the rest of the cabin quickly jumped out of bed with high Opening Day spirit and began getting dressed acting as if 6:00 AM had just arrived. Yes ...it was 5 hours early but Jim didn't know. Every hunter had eyes on Jim. For some reason, his quiet remark loosely quoted as "Gee, I feel like I just went to sleep" brought boisterous laughter across the mountainside. Then we all went to bed. (I guess you had to be there!) The nice pictures are great but all the stuff that happens before the camera goes off are equally memorable and often the reason we enjoy being in the field so much.Wishing you a good, safe and funny winter hunting season!
Your Friends at Kodabow
11/29/2011 04:57 PM
Ground Stands vs. Tree Stands
Imagine a deer glancing in the brush looking for the deadly serious Kodabow hunter.When it's hard to pick out the human shape --- you have unlocked the secret of selecting a high performance ground stand.
It is official. You can get a lot closer to deer on the ground than you ever will from being up in a tree. Close is 3 feet ---- probably too close but when everything works, be prepared for many memorable close encounters. After spending hours in both trees and natural ground blinds, it is evident that ground blinds offer many advantages that are often overlooked. After the leaves have fallen in late fall, treestand hunters can be seen hanging exposed at great distances. Give me a good ground blind or deadfall instead.
1- It is easier to shoot more accurately from a ground blind. Notice how this hunter is using the tree trunk as a natural rest. Any shot will not be at a severe downward angle. Unfortunately, many treestand shooters (who only practice on level ground) do not make the required correction for shooting from an elevated position. They miss until they learn the hard way that "practice" means shooting under expected field conditions.
2 - In the picture, the hunter is set up overlooking a field and several deer paths but his feet and hands are well hidden and slight movement is undetected. He can make minor adjustments during the day without detection. His position is comfortable and he can remain alert for hours. He made very little noise when he silently slipped into position in the morning.
3 - Tree stands have their place and always use proper safety precautions when you go up but the point of this article is that you do not need to hunt in a treestand 100% of the time. A crossbow provides many options. And some days, it is just not attractive to haul in the climber and finally get up 25 feet only to accidentally drop your backpack, release or grunt call. Note: The stand in this picture would be less useful for a vertical bowhunter because there is simply no room to draw the vertical bow in the deadfall. Conversely, it is an ideal crossbow stand.
4 - Using an aerosol like "Buck Bomb" or equivalent (selling for about $9.00) to lightly spray leaves and bushes in the immediate vicinity of the ground stand can help mask human scent. A few sprays will knock down human odor significantly and deer will travel on the nearby established routes without alarm.
5 - The hunter has selected this stand for an early morning hunt with the sun at his back which helps him hide in the shadows. A face mask is a key component of his hunting gear.
Enjoy your Kodabow .... and use the flexibility of your Kodabow to explore new hunting methods that you might may have not fully considered.
11/23/2011 11:17 AM
Whitetail Deer - Admirable in Every Way
Whitetail deer are impressive in every way. Look closely at this 8 point buck taken a few years ago. This style of mount is called a "European Mount" and displays the exposed and whitened deer skull on a oak board. This style has become popular and now plastic replica skulls can be purchased that allow the antlers to be easily attached. Its a nice shortcut but I like the real thing -- the real skull -- even if it means more cost and time. We know archery hunting requires ethical shot palcement. Here is a story about the other side of the coin. One afternoon, a phone call from the taxidermist gave me background and information about a deer that I never realized. He said, "Did you know there is a broken off arrow and the remnants of a broadhead in the skull of the deer I am preparing for you? The bone has grown over the aluminum shaft." Upon close inspection, you can see the pointed end of the broadhead still exposed. The transverse length of the shaft and broadhead combined is 4 1/2 inches and it runs completely though hard bone from one side of the skull to another. The brand of the broadhead was a NAP Thunderhead and the 3 blades were destroyed by bone at impact. The full story about this deer requires the use of one's imagination. Did a hunter make a bad shot and hit the deer poorly? Was a poacher hunting at night and attempting to take this good animal illegally a few months earlier? That is my guess. There were reports of illegal night hunting taking place in the area at the time. The bone growth indicated the event was not recent. When the animal was being field dressed, I felt a sharp point as I handled the deer but thought nothing of it at the time. When the animal was killed, he was feeding with a doe and exhibited no unusual behavior. Just an unusual story and an unusual deer. One can only admire the toughness of a mature whitetail deer --- tough winters, hunting pressure, illegal hunting activities .....and once in awhile, the story can get more interesting long after the hunt. 
11/02/2011 09:20 PM
Crossbows and Tree Stands
Just finished a phone call with a gentleman in the hospital. He fell 30 feet from his treestand and I agree with his surgeon that he is "lucky to be alive." Lots of broken bones but he will walk again. 30 feet is a long way. The odds must be something like a 1% survival rate for a 30 foot fall.We will call him Fred. I asked him how it happened.
Fred told me had climbing sticks attached to a tree. As he reached the top rung and was swinging over to the platform stand, the top restraining strap broke holding the climbing sticks to the tree and he was headed down fast. (In the picture, it would be the yellow strap.)
Fred was wearing a harness but planned to connect once he was on the platform. He had no chance when the strap broke. Does it make you think about your own practices? Yes -- I bet most of us sometimes will take a calculated risk thinking we have everything under control.
I have the same stand setup. It is only about 15 feet high but we all know that a fall of any height can do you in. It would have been better to use multiple straps on the climbing sticks. It would have been better to clip in with the harness before swinging over to the hang on stand. I often do that but I sometimes don't. As hunters, we can get so excited about "the hunt" that we can lose sight of reasonable safe practices. "Sun is rising. Need to get in the stand. Let's cut a corner."
We have all been there.
Hindsight is 20/20.
Equipment can fail so be careful.
Don't take chances and become careless for one moment. Plan your tree stand ascent and have everything organized from hand placement to foot placement.
Look at every piece of gear and think about the outcome should that ratchet strap fail or nylon strap tear.
I count among my best friends others who were not as lucky as Fred. They fell far less distance and were hurt a lot more. Sometimes, a helicopter medivac is your trip home as another freind related his 22 foot fall and compound leg fracture. Mike was going to crawl back to his vehicle. He only made it about 4 feet before the pain became unbearable.
Hindsight is 20/20.
Keep in mind that a crossbow can provide very decent ground hunting opportunities and your hunting season will not end prematurely with both feet on the ground. It is something to consider.
Be safe.
Crossbow Perspectives
"If we were only interested in "selling", we might make a cheap crossbow, put on bells and whistles or bring it over from some distant land. That is not Kodabow. We build a crossbow to kill, and it does this extremely well.
Chuck Matasic
CEO of Kodabow and Kodabow Hunter
"Kodabow builds crossbows that meet the demands of rugged field use. You can hunt with confidence knowing that you are using solid equipment that delivers exceptional performance. The bow is well thought out and very straight-forward."
Dirk Macfarlane
Navy Seal (Ret.); Former Commanding Officer of Seal Team Five
"Kodabow makes me proud to be an American! One awesome crossbow. Watch me shoot a Kodabow."
Patrick Elswick
Killbillies Outdoors TV Show Host, Versus TV beginning July 2011
We're giving away a great prize every week for a month. Just visit our Kodabow Facebook page, like us, and post "I just discovered Kodabow" on our wall to enter!
HUNTING TIPS
Use Shadows
Whether stalking on the ground or setting up in a tree stand with a climber, use the projected position of the sun as it moves across the sky...more tips >>
Merchant Services
Kodabow
Distribution and Administration Center
1045 Andrew Drive C-2
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: 610.620.4352
Email: kodabow@gmail.com