Magyar · 9th–10th c. · Carpathian Basin
The Griffin
A bow of myth and mastery.
A modern homage to the horn bows of the Hungarian conquest, modelled on the Hungarian Bow Foundation’s specification.
Draw it yourself
How the Griffin comes to full draw.
Weight beyond 28″ is a linear estimate for guidance only. Every bow is weighed at 28″.
Shoot the Griffin on the rangeIn the round
Turn the Griffin in your hands.
A 3D model built from the Griffin’s own measurements: hardwood riser and siyahs, laminated bamboo limbs, phenolic tips and string bridges.
The story
A bow of myth and mastery
From the late 9th to the mid 10th century AD, settlements across Frankish Europe fell to devastating raids by the Magyars, the founders of what became Hungary. Recently settled in the Carpathian Basin but originally from the Urals, their chief weapon was the powerful horn bow of their light cavalry. At the three-day Battle of Pozsony in July 907 they all but wiped out an East Frankish army.
Robert has again produced an Asiatic bow of supreme yet prosaic beauty, modelled on the specification of the Hungarian Bow Foundation. Why “Griffin”? It is the quintessential mythical beast of West Eurasia, and no country embodies West Eurasia more than Hungary. Short limbs and long straight tips make it very stable, and it is fast even at moderate poundages: as speedy, strong and stable as the steppe horses themselves.
Materials
What it’s made of.
- Riser & siyah woodsAmerican Ash, American Maple, American Cherry
- Phenolic overlaysBlack or brown, on the bow tips
- Fibreglass laminationsClear or black, in any configuration
- Limb coreBamboo
- ConstructionStrengthened with a polymer composite for longitudinal and lateral stability
Options & prices
Make it yours.
Riser finish
- Cow-leather cover with cow-suede arrow passesIncluded
- Built-in dual hard-wearing arrow passes, no leather coverIncluded
- Hard-wearing arrow passes with leather grip£20
- Stingray arrow pass with leather grip£15
Limbs
- Dye stain on the bamboo core (clear glass only, up to #50 @28)£10 per side
Decoration
- Kirinte overlays on the bow tipsColour options on request£20
- Semi decoration on the limb backs (no calligraphy)Discussed with you before work begins£70
- Full calligraphy on the limb backs, by a professional calligrapherPaid up front when ordering£150
- Hand-painted grey cattle-horn imitation on the bellies£50
Plates
The Griffin, close up.
From the archers
“You commission a work of art.”
What archers say after the bow arrives. Five-star reviews on the Paragon Bows Facebook page.
“When you buy a bow from Rob you commission a work of art. You also get a bow that shoots fantastically well!”
Pat FitzGerald★★★★★“Robert Pozderka is a master bowyer and pours his heart and soul into each bow. The bows are truly spectacular and a true delight to shoot! Would truly recommend a bow from Paragon Bows.”
Trilochan Singh★★★★★“The bow made by Paragon is not only an ultimate performance bow but also a piece of art, and a must-have in the collection of any traditional archery fan.”
Tomasz Matuszewski★★★★★“Amazing bows, wonderful communication, incredible quality.”
Jose Claure★★★★★The rest of the collection