Except for the curved carbon fiber limbs, you’d think it was a combat rifle.

by Christian Lowe

Except for the curved carbon fiber limbs, you'd think it was a combat rifle.

The ported aluminum fore-end. The AR-15-style pistol grip. The Picatinny rails running down every angle of the bolt retainer. An adjustable M4 buttstock. You name it; all the Gucci furniture an AR-lover would want can be attached.

But this isn't a SCAR, ACR or improved M4 we're talking about.

With a pedigree stemming more from assault rifles than archery equipment, the Kodabow crossbow is unlike any "horizontal bow" in the industry. Borrowing from its tactical rifle cousins, the so-called "sporting arm" is built with the precision and attention to detail that you'd expect to see in the Colt factories of Connecticut or the finest arms-makers of Italy.

"We wanted to build a product that holds to the feel and function of a firearm," said Chuck Matasic, CEO and founder of Kodabow. "It's simple, well-made and not ‘plasticy.' "

"It's elegant."

Matasic, a lifetime hunter who's stalked everything from waterfowl on Maryland's Easter Shore to big game in Africa, took a more tactical approach to design because of his long relationship with gun parts manufacturers from his career in outdoor industry. He wanted to build a bow in America out of parts made in America.

Now he has 39 suppliers for his crossbow – many of them close to his West Chester, Pa., headquarters.

"And I know all of them on a first name basis," Matasic said.

But what makes the Kodabow crossbow different is more than its aesthetics. The crossbow takes a retro approach to its function, using recurve limbs rather than the more ubiquitous compound bow mechanics. Matasic claims a shooter gets just as much speed and power out of a shot from his bow than a hunter would shooting a standard compound crossbow.

In the field, the Kodabow feels solid and balanced. Pressed into the shoulder and with a good cheek weld, it's more like firing an AR than an arrow slinger. In my first time shooting a crossbow ever, the 200 lb Kodabow "Bravo Zulu" fired less than an inch outside dead center of the bull's eye at 60 yards using a 4X scope.

Later, I tested a more consumer-oriented "Koda Express" with a 200 lb draw weight and fired four inch shot groups from a standing, sitting and kneeling position out to 60 yards.

"The transition to be an effective bow hunter with this crossbow is very fast," Matasic said. "This is a more efficient and effective method of bowhunting for those that don't have a whole lot of time to go to the range and practice."

While some hunters may flinch at the increased "elbow-to-elbow" width of Kodabow's recurve system, Matasic argues the simplicity and maintenance ease outweighs the compound's compact frame.

"If you're in the field and you knick your string, with a compound bow you're done," he said. "With a recurve, you can change the string in five minutes."

The Kodabow design also allows the hunter to disassemble the bow into a compact kit, easing the headache for sportsmen who travel for their trophies.

But with store shelves filled with an ever-growing list of crossbow makers and designs, Matasic has a steep hill to climb in edging out his competition. This is the first year he's sent his bows to market, starting with select archery pro shops that cater to a customer wanting a specialized product whose price mirrors its craftsmanship, but the list is steadily growing. And with the recent hiring of former Horton chief operating officer Mark Bower as Kodabow's director of sales and biz dev, Matasic believes he can edge out his cheaper competitors with a quality argument.

"It is a terrific timing for Kodabow to have a crossbow industry veteran join the team as we are building out our distribution network," Matasic said in a release announcing Bower's hire. "He [is] enthusiastic about the Kodabow vision, product quality and performance."

Kodabow offers several different models with draw weights from 185 lbs to 225 lbs and two different sighting systems. The bows range in price from around $900 to just over $1,100.

Find out more at www.Kodabow.com.

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