I shot all the checkmate recurves in a local shop (one time it pays to be going into a Canadian archery shop) The firebird was the only one that had real zip. They are all nice, don't misunderstand me, but the firebird was the speed machine, and quite compact of course. I would have bought it, but for the fact that they only had a lefthander, and also the crusader longbow is just outstanding. I didn't buy the Crusader either, it was a bit expensive for me, but it was enough of a distraction for me not to really know what the heck I wanted.

Odly neither of the local shops that stock a large number of Crusaders, stock the Firebird any more. Locals just seem to prefer the Hunter series.