Post by BT on Nov 15, 2006 21:47:54 GMT -5
O.K.....here is the scenario.
I had a 10 year old Mamba Recurve that split a limb and had to be replaced so this is a great opportunity to review a recurve and a company over a 10 year period.
This is pretty rare for me so I am doing my best to be honest and keep an open mind.
The Mamba was dropped from the martin line for a couple years and then brought back with some changes.
To describe my previous Mamba I would have said it was a very accurate bow that had great energy with the only downside being a fairly heavy stack in the limbs.
The finish on the previous was perfect on the day of arrival and the lines of lamination perfect.
Todays Mamba has only a couple of similarity's and I would not have bought it if viewed on a shelf
The finish is great on the riser but the limbs are assembly line quality without any sign of craftsmanship.
The limb tips look to have been ground into shape freehand with a 40# disc grinder
The lamination at the tip is a joke when compared to the previous bow in as much as the uneven depth across the section down to the string chase.
The final finish on the backside at the tips used to be maple but now looks to be a paint that is grained to look like maple.
I am not buying the look from arms length
The limbs come to a blunt end unlike the previous Mamba which had a perfect flowing finish ending in a sexy narrow waist at the chase.
The limbs themselves are limp like willows in the wind and finding the flex point would be like trying to find the strongest point in a piece of cooked spaghetti.
The Original limbs were stout and had two flex points that were easy to locate when stringing the bow.
The Grip of the New Mamba is far superior in my hands as to it's width which was very good prior.
Now it has a trade off of feeling like cheap wood yet having a better alignment due to the fashion.
I'll keep the trade off
The sound of the bow is less harsh when being fired but that may well be due to either the willow like limbs or a lack of speed compared to the old model.
I will get back to this over the weekend at the latest.
Both Bows are rated 50# and the new model feels far easier to hold at full draw but again.... this could be due to either the lack of stack or an actual weight loss
Again....I will get back to this.
Shooting is the real difference.
At first I could not shoot light out like I could with the original
but then I let go and let the bow lead me.
WOW!..................I MEAN WOW!!!
It was better than lights out
I always had to shoot big time rigid as to form but now I was able to relax and wing it with the same results
I spent an hour shooting today and already I am far better than I was prior.
Now is this due to the lower weight/stack
If it is a weight issue then I am going to be upset
If it is a stack issue then I am going to be really happy
Back to the Bow
Is it worth $100. more than it was 10yrs. ago?
NO!.....................not to me
If you ask me to recommend it I might well say yes , as it certainly is alot easier to shoot than the old model.
( which I would not have recommended for the beginner
)
It will all come down to the specs that I have yet to determine and if I believe the bow will have any life span relative to the old bow.
My belief so far is that the bow itself will not be around 10yrs. and if it is it will be as a wall hanger .
Therefore I would say that you should be aware of this before taking the plunge.
I might be able to change my mind this after all is just a one day observation so hold tight and wait till I get a little more time on it before jumping in on or with me as to this review.
I had a 10 year old Mamba Recurve that split a limb and had to be replaced so this is a great opportunity to review a recurve and a company over a 10 year period.
This is pretty rare for me so I am doing my best to be honest and keep an open mind.
The Mamba was dropped from the martin line for a couple years and then brought back with some changes.
To describe my previous Mamba I would have said it was a very accurate bow that had great energy with the only downside being a fairly heavy stack in the limbs.
The finish on the previous was perfect on the day of arrival and the lines of lamination perfect.
Todays Mamba has only a couple of similarity's and I would not have bought it if viewed on a shelf
The finish is great on the riser but the limbs are assembly line quality without any sign of craftsmanship.
The limb tips look to have been ground into shape freehand with a 40# disc grinder
The lamination at the tip is a joke when compared to the previous bow in as much as the uneven depth across the section down to the string chase.
The final finish on the backside at the tips used to be maple but now looks to be a paint that is grained to look like maple.
I am not buying the look from arms length
The limbs come to a blunt end unlike the previous Mamba which had a perfect flowing finish ending in a sexy narrow waist at the chase.
The limbs themselves are limp like willows in the wind and finding the flex point would be like trying to find the strongest point in a piece of cooked spaghetti.
The Original limbs were stout and had two flex points that were easy to locate when stringing the bow.
The Grip of the New Mamba is far superior in my hands as to it's width which was very good prior.
Now it has a trade off of feeling like cheap wood yet having a better alignment due to the fashion.
I'll keep the trade off
The sound of the bow is less harsh when being fired but that may well be due to either the willow like limbs or a lack of speed compared to the old model.
I will get back to this over the weekend at the latest.
Both Bows are rated 50# and the new model feels far easier to hold at full draw but again.... this could be due to either the lack of stack or an actual weight loss
Again....I will get back to this.
Shooting is the real difference.
At first I could not shoot light out like I could with the original
but then I let go and let the bow lead me.
WOW!..................I MEAN WOW!!!
It was better than lights out
I always had to shoot big time rigid as to form but now I was able to relax and wing it with the same results
I spent an hour shooting today and already I am far better than I was prior.
Now is this due to the lower weight/stack
If it is a weight issue then I am going to be upset
If it is a stack issue then I am going to be really happy
Back to the Bow
Is it worth $100. more than it was 10yrs. ago?
NO!
.....................not to me If you ask me to recommend it I might well say yes , as it certainly is alot easier to shoot than the old model.
( which I would not have recommended for the beginner
)It will all come down to the specs that I have yet to determine and if I believe the bow will have any life span relative to the old bow.
My belief so far is that the bow itself will not be around 10yrs. and if it is it will be as a wall hanger .
Therefore I would say that you should be aware of this before taking the plunge.
I might be able to change my mind
this after all is just a one day observation so hold tight and wait till I get a little more time on it before jumping in on or with me as to this review. 
