I really don't know all the answers myself, even for CM. I do know there's a lot more work involved in making a Crusader vs. a Falcon, plus (don't ask me why) you can get yew limbs ($85 option on other bows) in a Crusader at no extra cost. Marc has made a few "quicky" longbows for me to play with (straight limbs, no double tapered lams like are in the Crusader), that he can knock out really fast, but they aren't a lot better than a Martin stick--nowhere near the shooter the Crusader is. If anything, the Falcon is too cheap--I don't have a clue how they can turn a profit with them. I'vehad several bowyers ask me how the heck they can do it, and one shop owner, not a CM dealerget flat-out mad about the price, and demanded they be sold for more. He sold his business several years ago, and the new owner folded, so no need in going into details on that.

The ACX (now made by A&H Archery) is documented by Norb Mullaney to be the fastest traditional bow he's ever tested. Doesn't just run off and leaveall others inthe dust, but it is fast. I believe O.L. and John (Havard) have been working on a recurve limb for a while, it just hasn't come together yet. The ACS pushes the limits in a lot of ways--it may not be feasable in a recurve limb.

How long have you been playing guitar and shooting pool, vs. shooting a bow? The reason I ask is it will take most a good bit of experience to figure out the differences between one and another. I can pick up most any bow and shoot it, but I won't shoot it like I do MY bows, I won't have the same confidence with it, and it won't feel the same. Heck, I won a tournament a few years ago with a borrowed recurve--I hated the way that thing felt, I wouldn't pay $5 for it if I had to use it (no, it wasn't a CM), but I could hit with it.

Art also makes a good point--a lot of it boils down to supply and demand. Products will sell for what they public is willing to pay. Some products could easily sell for a lot more (i.e., some bows that sell for one price with one name on them and the exact same bows sell for quite a bit more with a different name on them), but generally prices are set by what folks are willing to pay beyond cost. Do you think it really costs that much more to make a pair of GUESS jeans, vs. a pair of Lee? Do they really wear any different? But look at the price difference--most folks will pay a whole lot more just for a label. 'Course a lot of the big names got that way, in part, due to good advertising and a lot of it--that ain't cheap either, and has to be paid for.

I think the namehas a lot more to do with it than getting "connected" with a bow, at least for most. That, and the more it costsand/or the harder it is to get, the more attractive it is to the masses.Folks read the ads, drool over the catalogs and brochures, read the reviews, and say "I gotta have me one of those!". Then they get it, and......well, seems to me that's one reason there are so many "new" used bows for sale.

Chad