12 replies to this topic

[Urban Legend]

Anybody see the Slayer crossbows yet?  I just found out about them.  Looks like Bob Walker is heading this brand up.  I guess no more Walker Signature series bows from Kodabow?  http://www.slayercrossbows.com

[CBRon]

Looks the same as a Maximus recurve...  Did he take over the Maximus plant in Canada???    Ron

[Urban Legend]

CBRon, on 04 January 2012 - 11:20 PM, said:

Looks the same as a Maximus recurve...  Did he take over the Maximus plant in Canada???    Ron

I don't think so.  I think the new Maximus will look nothing like the old ones.

[vixenmaster]

Most models are abit slower than the other recurve makers models. I see a company going to be very slow in sales!

[Jack Pine]

I clicked on the link and went to the Slayer site.  The crossbow on the site, except for the front foregrip, looks just like the Chinese-made Excalibur knock-offs called Chace crossbows.  
A while back I considered going into the crossbow business and obtained 2 of the Chace models, reputed to use Gordon limbs.  One was a 225 draw that looks just like the Slayer except for the front foregrip.  The other was a 150 draw compact model.  Nice crossbow, well made, but vastly underpowered for hunting; could not get enough height adjustment from 3 different scopes and 1 red dot sight I tried.  
The 225 had some problems of its own.  When cocked, looking to the front of the 225 crossbow, the string lightly touched the left rail, but did not touch the right rail.  I believe this was due to the limb pockets being a little wide, allowing a little too much play.  Could be shimmed and would probably have been OK, but the thing was huge and I didn't like the size of it. Only shot it a couple of times and the rail scarred on the left side, then farther down on the right instead of wearing evenly; looked like the arrow wasn't travelling straight down the rail.  I sent them both back, cured of wanting to be in the crossbow business, at least for now.

[xbowguy]

My hats off and I applaud Bill Troubridge of Excalibur for having one of the most copied crossbows in the World.  Guess all I can say is that "Imitation is the best form of flattery"!

Why do some want to just run to China and buy products from a catalog that are also sold to others and try and build a business around that?  Whatever happened to hard work and innovation?

Today the crossbow industry has a lot of sharing.  Just start taking a close look at some of the new models and you can see who is trading pieces parts.  It’s like mix and match anymore, a regular buffet.

Be careful of the marketing smoke and mirrors and buy wise.

[Jack Pine]

xbowguy, on 06 January 2012 - 06:58 AM, said:

Why do some want to just run to China and buy products from a catalog that are also sold to others and try and build a business around that?  Whatever happened to hard work and innovation?

Be careful of the marketing smoke and mirrors and buy wise.

The Chace crossbows I looked at were EXACT clones of Excalibur, right up to not having the self-engaging safety on the 225, and having the string claws release from the top.  As far as I'm concerned they were well-made in some areas but sloppy in some others.  One thing I would NOT have cloned would have been the immense size of the 225 [I'm no runt at 5'11, 240, I just didn't like the size, it won't fit my stealthy style of hunting; others love the size I'm sure] and the low 150 poundage of the smaller one, but that's just me.  The speed rating of 350fps for the 225 was obtained using arrows in the 350 grain class, unrealistic for hunting IMO, so the real-world speed would of course be less for many 20" arrows of around 450 grains.  Didn't have a Chrony at the time so I didn't test them.  The overall quality was the reason I opted not to have my name associated with these crossbows, AND the possibility of Excalibur initiating some sort of legal proceedings against dealers selling what are so obviously clones.  Some of the clone dealers and "manufacturers" may live to regret some decisions.  
If you lift up the skirts of some of the "new" crossbows, you might find some of them being made by Jindao of San Li Da Outdoors in China.  
What's the appeal?  $  $ saved in setup and labor, and $ saved in purchasing.  A fully equipped Chace 225 including arrows, quiver, multi-ret scope [non IR], cocker, stringer, and one-year warranty [US facility] RETAILS for $399.99.  All you need to buy extra are broadheads and a hunting license.  An unsuspecting first-timer will think that's a bargain.  The reason I personally considered selling imported crossbows was not money but because of the quality issues of some American-made crossbows whose mfrs demand 1st class prices for. I'm sick of being told that all crossbows have issues, there's no excuse for it.  Some American mfrs just keep turning out 2nd-class quality crossbows as fast as they can because buyers are waiting.  Little chance they're going to fix problems right now I think.  American mfrs had better beware because IMO they are in EXACTLY the same situation American auto makers were in, in the '70s and '80s, and had better wake up before they get the very rude awakening of some foreign maker getting it right [BTW, you DO realize that if you're an American, Excal and Middleton are foreign, don't you?].  
For now, it turns out the Chinese have some quality issues of their own, and bad quality is bad, no matter where it comes from.  There are of course some American mfrs who make premium quality crossbows, but some are priced out of the range of many shooters today.  
I don't remember who made the quote I learned in grade school so many years ago, but it's still appropriate today:

"There is hardly anything that some man can't make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and those who consider price alone are this man's lawful prey."

I can't say the the Slayer is Chinese in origin, but I can say it sho' do look like it.

[randyxx75]

By the specs. they're already obsolete,,, a 200 lb draw and only 305 fps. @ over $600  ??? not me ...

[Urban Legend]

randyxx75, on 07 January 2012 - 02:57 PM, said:

By the specs. they're already obsolete,,, a 200 lb draw and only 305 fps. @ over $600  ??? not me ...

My guess is that they're posting the true speed with a hunting arrow, not a 350 grain arrow like other recurve companies.  Just guessing though.

[lastinline]

yup looks just like the old Maximus-Chase Star- Cannonbolts you see on the net and ebay. funny thing is the photo of Bob looks like some generic picture off the net. wonder if  its just an endorsement thing. you can add a tacticle fold up handle or rail to many crossbows. ive done it to a few of mine. you can get a spray on rubber clear coat from places that do camo dip or spray your own with duracoats rubber spray on finish.

[Urban Legend]

I have actually talked with Bob about this new venture of his entering the crossbow arena.  From our conversation, what he expressed to me was that he was trying to reach a specific market with the new Slayer line of crossbows.  He is not trying to hide the fact that these are imported.  What he is trying to do is to provide a bow that someone with a limited budget, or that is considering trying a crossbow for the first time, can purchase without breaking the bank.  It sounds like he didn't just run out to any import manufacturer and had them build a line of crossbows so he could put his name on them.  He told me the process he went through to choose the specific manufacture, and if any of you know Bob, and what he has done with the Walkers Game Ear, then you know he is not the type of guy to put something out he does not believe in.  Like all new crossbow companies.  Only time will tell.

[vixenmaster]

All i can say to all of those just starting their crossbow companys is good luck. It will take lots of hard work & no models breaking  or having trouble. Any model that starts having issues can put a bad strain on a company breaking out.

[lastinline]

at those price points i dont see much sales. from what i see the market to be in is the 200$ and under club. id go after the first time buyers who spin the wheel on ebay for those cheapo 150lb. xbows. theres already quite a few top name brand xbows that have proven track records in the 250$- 350$ range. if he can get the prices down to 200$ heck id try one.

Edited by lastinline, 07 February 2012 - 07:40 PM.