2009 Liberty I

By Bill Krenz

2009 Liberty I

Archery and bowhunting should be fun. That happens when things are fascinating, exciting and especially when everything is fresh and bold. A new hunting area, a new hunting partner or a new bow can do that. 

One of the freshest, boldest new bows going is the Liberty I. The Liberty I is unique. It is the shortest, lightest adult compound bow on the planet. At just 20.5 inches from axle to axle and weighing just 2.3 pounds, the Liberty I is simply remarkable.

It’s also a bow that generates instant questions. Is the Liberty I for real? How well does it perform? And inevitably, can I shoot it?

Yes, the amazing Liberty I is a genuine, power-packed hunting bow. Because its advanced design is so light and so compact, it’s a joy to carry anywhere. And the truth is that it’s actually an overachiever in the performance department. Everyone is surprised when they first shoot this diminutive bow. The Liberty I is fast, powerful and accurate.

It’s also just plain fun to shoot. From what I see there are two sorts of bowhunters buying Liberty I bows. The first is someone open-minded enough to see the Liberty I’s potential as a primary bow in a variety of bowhunting situations––in treestands, in tight ground blinds or while stalking in close. The second sort is someone simply looking for a second or third bow to introduce even more fun into their shooting. An amazing Liberty I is guaranteed to spice up any shooting scenarios, anywhere and anytime.  

Either way, the Liberty I is an outrageous, advanced compound bow that’s both effective and loads of fun.

 

How It Shoots

Two things stand out when you shoot a Liberty I bow for the first time. The first thing is how well this bow performs. While the Liberty may be small in stature, it’s definitely not small in performance. My typical carbon hunting arrows weigh in the neighborhood of 370 grains ready to go. With those arrows, I’m knocking on 290 feet per second with the Liberty I. That’s fast.

The other thing that stands out is how much fun this bow is to shoot. The compact Liberty I is one of a kind. The draw is surprisingly smooth, and the letoff is gentle. Because the bow is so short, the string angle at full draw is quite acute, and that takes some getting used to. But with a D-loop on the bowstring and the specially angled Liberty Archery peep sight supplied with the bow, consistent shooting is no problem. I’ve found that I can stack arrows with the Liberty I at most reasonable bowhunting distances and have loads of fun doing it.

The bow’s angled grip totally eliminates any potential wrist-slap problems, and its distinctive shoot-through riser-and-limbs configuration provides an amazingly clear view of the target. 

Carrying the Liberty I on the range or into the field seems almost a luxury. When bowhunting, I typically use a back-mounted CatQuiver or a hip quiver with my
Liberty I in order to preserve the bow’s wonderfully compact and lightweight nature. With that approach, the Liberty I seems almost to float along with me. At times, I simply fasten the bow to my backpack and head up the mountain. Nothing could be handier. When using a larger backpack, the Liberty I can actually be tucked right inside. 

Little bow. Big performance. Wonderfully portable. Loads of fun. It’s up to you to decide whether your Liberty I is your primary hunting bow or a secondary, bold and fresh fun bow. Either way, you’ll enjoy the Liberty I ride. 

You will, however, have to put up with the fact that everyone else will want to shoot it.  

 

Key Features and Benefits

Shockingly Short

Call it cool or just convenient, the ultra-compact nature of the Liberty I is astonishing. At just 20.5 inches from axle to axle, the Liberty I is nearly 10 inches shorter than most other short compounds.  For transport, the Liberty I fits into a custom, padded Liberty Archery nylon case that measures just 29x16x7 inches. That’s a handy package anywhere. 

 

Wonderfully Light

Serious bowhunters recognize the advantages offered by compound bows that weigh less, and the Liberty I weighs a whole lot less. At just 2.3 pounds, the Liberty I weighs approximately half of what many compound bows weigh. On a long hike, near the top of a tall ridge or way down in a big canyon, the featherweight Liberty I is a standout.

 

Big-Bow Performance

Don’t be fooled. Just because the Liberty I is significantly shorter and lighter than other compound bows, don’t even begin to think that it doesn’t perform. The Liberty I shoots with big-bow authority. In fact, the little Liberty I may be faster than your current bow. Because of the bow’s acute full-draw string angle, a D-loop and a total-containment arrow rest are good ideas. But with those accessories, the Liberty I is easy to handle, packed with power and capable of fine accuracy. 

 

Balanced Shoot-Through System

Much of the Liberty I’s excellent performance comes from the bow’s uniquely balanced  split-cam and split-cable eccentric system. That system complements the bow’s shoot-through riser-and-limbs design. An arrow is positioned between the two sets of cables and is actually shot through the riser and limbs. That spreading out of the cams, cables, riser and limbs balances everything nicely. 

Ergonomic Angled Grip

The unique grip on the Liberty I is comfortably shaped and cushioned, and it’s angled at 29 degrees. That angle moves your bow arm out and away from the bow’s string and cables, naturally creating generous arm clearance for the shot. 

 

Total Arrow Containment

Given the total-containment nature of the Liberty I’s shoot-through riser and total-
containment arrow rest, there is no way that an arrow can be dislodged when the bow is being held, drawn or shot. That’s always comforting.K

 

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Comments

This bow is sweet, very portable.

By Dan Smith on 04/26/2010

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