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The modern recurve bow looks very different when you compare it to its medieval ancestors, but it still uses the same principle. The main difference between a recurve and the traditional long bow is that the former has an outward bend to it; this little detail is what makes the recurve a more efficient weapon than the traditional longbow. These extra bends allow the recurve to store a lot more power when the string is drawn, unlike longbows where you need to increase the length of the bow if you want an increase in power.

The recurve bow was first used by the ancient Mongol hordes during their conquest of Asia and the surrounding areas. The small size of the recurve allowed the Mongols to shoot down their enemies even while they are riding on their horses; this is the weapon that made them such an effective fighting force. But even though the recurve replaced the longbow as the preferred weapon when it comes to war, it was not long before even it succumbed to modern weaponry.

Even though the recurve is no longer used in times of war, there are still a lot of people who use it as a hunting tool; the top of the line models can even take down large game animals. There are also a lot of enthusiasts who prefer shooting the recurve bow than firearms, so it will never be forgotten, at least not in the next dozen of years or so.