I find Oneida bow interesting, I have shot a few. Although I have no desire in owning one, I won't bash them.

They do have interesting look to them... but I think the biggest reason that not too many people are shooting them, is that they are slow compared to modern compound bows.

Let's take their latest offering for example: 2021 Oneida Phoenix is rate at 305 IBO, While 2021 PSE EVL 32 is rated at 341-345 IBO. With hunters that like speedy arrows, Oneida definitely lose out there.

Also, while I do like the looks, it is not for everybody...

Now, I do like the draw cycle on the Oneida, But Evolve cam of PSE draws good as well, so if given choice between the two, I'll pick PSE. but that's just me.

 

Do you believe there is any advantage to their design?

 

Advantage? I don't believe so...

If you want to shoot arrows at faster speed, just go with compound.

If you are Trad type that like simplicity, stay with recurve and learn to deal with heavy arrows at slower velocity.

Oneida bows, while interesting in design, just can't compete with modern compound in performance and can't compete with recurve in looks and handling. It kinda occupies this space between compound and recurve for those that want more performance but don't want to step to compound bows. It is step forward but not quite up to the level of other...

Oneida certainly have its fans, which is great. But they are niche bows that fill certain wants, that's about it.

 

My experience with Oneida goes WAY back.... Back to the early 1990's.

The bows were GREAT. They weren't the fastest thing out there but they were fast enough. If tuned right they were the quietest thing on the market. If not tuned right they sounded like a .22 going off. You could also get 100% letoff!! I have actually changed strings on one without a press. At the time, back wall was none existent so you learned where to anchor and how to be consistent with it. They were heavy but only had cast risers at the time.

I'd really like to get my hands on a new one just to see how they felt.

 

I thought I was looking at their older bows...I was wrong.

I didn't know Oneida still make bows... apparently the do, and they aren't Cheap!

Phoenix

Strike from above with the smooth shooting, silent, hard-hitting energy and accuracy of the Oneida Eagle Phoenix. Silky smooth draw cycle Machined aluminum riser prepared to take the worst of abuse New draw stops and timing wheels give the Phoenix a custom feel and a solid back wall New...

oneidaeaglebows.com

Anyone has one that can give some review on it?

 

I love my phoenix. Oneida is for guys that like shooting barebow with fingers like me. Also you can work on it at home without a press. I think they are fast bows but I'm used to recurves. I shoot heavy full length arrows. They can survive dry fires better than cambows. They are kinda unforgiving though compared to finger compounds. They are good for preppers. Just have a set of extra cables and string.

 

I don’t have any desire to hunt with a Oneida. But I’m a big bow fisher and they all but own the bowfishing market of your big into it. I love the osprey, I’m sure the Phoenix would be a good hunting bow but I like my hoyt. Oneida have a really good resale value also.

 

Just checked out their website. They are more expensive than I expected! I don't have any local shops that I could try them out at. And at that price, I wouldn't buy in unless I absolutely loved how it felt.

Haven't tried bow fishing and don't have a desire to. Would rather jump in and spearfish instead.

 

Has one once & just couldn't get used to it, so tried to sell it & almost had to give away.

 

Ha, now they bring more than any used bow out there! Try getting $200 for a 1982 Hoyt.

 

I got sucked into the gee whiz factor and wanted one... in 1990.

Expensive, weird and they don't solve any problem.

 

Don't know if you ever noticed, but there is a dedicated Oneida section that's somewhat active. Just not a lot of Oneida shooters here cause they got their own site.

Oneida Archery Discussion

For Archerytalk users to discuss all things Oneida Archery.

www.archerytalk.com

 

Been shooting only Oneidas since 1982. They’re no speed demon but I don’t care. They’re different. That’s why I’ve always liked them. Can work on it myself with basic hand tools. Not for everyone, but that’s ok by me.

 

I had one given to me to use for demonstration in my booth. They weren't speed demons but overall we're a pretty good bow. It was definitely hard to get anybody to work on one. The only advantage I saw is one could draw the bow sitting down, take the outboard bottom limb and rest it on their leg and that would keep the bow at full draw. That could be handy with a deer feeding toward the hunter. One could have the bow drawn for 10 minutes without a problem at all.

 

Best drawing bow for sure, just smooth! Back in the day they shot heavy arrows really well, some new bows drop drastically with heavy arrows, would be an interesting test to see their speed with some logs!

Had a customer bring one in the shop locked at full draw back in the day, he just put it on the counter After he left I grabbed the bow and string, walked outside and threw it in the grass, bam like a bear trap, drew it and same thing locked up, back to oneida it went!

I actually have one that was a friends Dad's who passed, need to get a string and kill a deer with it!

 

They're very fun to shoot and offer a middle ground between compounds and recurves. Problem is, that middle ground is not something a lot of people are looking for.

Also, they are very expensive, and pretty much impossible to get where I live.
I picked one up second hand by some miracle, and although it is ancient, it still shoots fine. Made to last, back then at least.
But I don't shoot it very often because replacing strings, cables, components etc. is not going to be easy in Europe.

 

I loved my old Tomcat and it was actually quiet in the 90's compared to other bows. But now with parallel limb technology they are loud not real fast mechanically over built for a bow IMO. I can't see shooting one again.

 

I still shoot my X80 aero-flight when I want to shoot fingers. It is nostalgic for me to shoot and remember the old days. I do not hunt with it, much better shot with my newer compound.

 

Advantages:
very easy to draw
No press required, easy to work on.
very cheap string
actual center shot, very east to tune.
bow fishers love them
Disadvantages:
slow (305 IBO) remember how easy they are to pull above!
loud
new ones are expensive
old ones are a little hard to find parts for
I shot for Oneida back in the day, won state tournaments in early 90's when a 300 IBO was considered fast.
I still have one, they don't compare well to todays bows IMO.

 

Oneida is the biggest disappointment in the archery world if you ask me. They have one of the coolest designs ever created and for the last i dunno, four decades, did nothing to improve it other than shorten the riser. The Oneida lite mag is the only bow they made still that is worth anything. Good luck finding one. They are extremely accurate, center shot, smooth draw. But they are slow, outdated, way overpriced. IMO the owners were just lazy folks who did nothing but count the dollars. They could have done so much more.

 

Every bow manufacturer is over priced, and every accessory manufacturer is overpriced....I have 5 Oneidas look in my avatar.... I've been shooting Oneidas since the 80s...Go join lever lovers on facebook, they will give you the real skinny on Oneidas, few of these guys on here don't know what there talking about, but that's there opinion......Oneidas will compete with any bow on the market, sure they are a little slower, and the older ones was a little noisier, but you could quiet them down..I've killed lots of animals with them.....they are very accurate and tune easy.....

 

I shot Oneida for many years, many models, I saw zero cons to owning one......except the price, as for bow, smooth, plenty fast, easy to work on, tune, etc, just too expensive

 

If Oneida's would be reasonable priced I think I would get one.
It's pretty interesting bow and I always liked how it looks.
Never shot one or even know anyone who has one here... so I can't go and test.

Maybe for bowfishing.. or just for fun with fingers and without sight.

 

When the owner of the company doesn't hunt with one that kind of says something

 

Oneida was and has been a Niche Market Bow Company. The times it was Oneida Labs and Then CP Oneida they serviced Majority of the Models for many Years that was what made them a decent Bow Company. The design slightly change over the Years but not dealing with a String's Cable Guard, was 1 factor that I liked about Oneida's, second is that You do not need a "press" just 2 1/2 pieces of PVC and You can change the String quickly even in the field (what other bow can you change a string on? None) As for 100 Left Off maybe a custom one but most were 80% but the Stealth but had issue out of the box and majority were return because they locked up at Full Dry and put Oneida Labs into financial straights, that and the Discovery Model. It was delay and many opt to get their $ back when they were to come out it was delayed for too long. Lots of poor business practices they closed and possible Claude Pollington who was a parts vendor for Oneida Labs was owed $ and with that he bought the Company as he was an Oneida Dealer for many years here in Michigan. The only model he was not interested in was what was the Discovery. He worked on getting the newer design closer to what the Draw Cycle was on the Tomcat, Aero Force and Lite Force and Lite Force Magnum. The 2000 Black Eagle was very Different as the geometry was change when the cams were attached closer to the riser with no pylons. He work on it for several years talk was that the Black Eagle II was closer but so was the cost went up but then again they could not buy the Billet of material for the riser in a bulk to get the better deal and that start pushing up the costs. I have been shooting an Oneida since 1995. When they were sold at both Cabela's (Mail Order back then and a better sporting good Company that what it was for the many years and what it is now) and Gander Mountain (also a Mail Order back then) That was when they just started opening ttheir retial stores. Back then there was No Archery Forums and most shops were hit and miss as to getting a Bow Set Up Right. This is why I started shooting and Oneida. found s Bow Tech that knew about them and set me up the the Right Arrow Spine when I was shooting a Darton then a Martin my arrow never flu Right took to a couple shops got charged and they sold me more wrong arrows and a couple of rests depending on who was at that shop when I took these other bows in to get it fixed. Never DID! A friend order a Aero Force from Cabelas and let me shoot it and I found it to have great arrow flight and easy to work on. I have never looked Back still have my first Aero Force as well as a couple Lite Force Magnums shorter than the AF and lighter as it is 44 and my AF is 48. I also have a contact that worked at Oneida Labs and then in New York CP O. He has always been a good resource but the new Oneida does not Support any bows older than maybe 7 or 8 years so finding Parts is not easy. I saw this when it was CPO and picked up OEM Parts so Just in Case I need something I have it. The Parts available now are similar but cables are not the exact same diameter I have been told by some looking for replacements. I can say that because they Sold Parts not like other bow Companies as most only have maybe for 5 years if that. So As I always post shoot what You like and can shoot well. I will stick with my LFM's sure not the Fast Bow but they shoot a 2514 straight thru all the deer I have taken a shot AT. The Rumors that Oneida's come apart is because most were shooting a light arrow and the bow could not absorb all that energy and it had to go some where! And I have never worried about Noise because I shoot a Heavy Arrow which Oneida's are known to Like. I get that Oneida is not for everyone. Okay shoot what Works best for You I will keep shooting a 1997 Oneida as it does all I Need and here at Archery we all should know Archery is all about Personal Choice some here do not understand and some are Fan Folks great but when You read how bad Oneida is How many have you used and shot? Rumors are Just That if Set Up Right which as others have mention is not hard. They Work They have all the parts other Compounds Have just laid out different as to cams cables etc. I cannot see buying a New one as the Draw Cycle on my LFM is what I like and I can shoot well with it. SO Shoot the Bow You like some here change to often to really know what bow is the Best one for them. But that is that Archers CHOICE! As hunting with an Oneida I know that Claude Pollington DID and Others that worked at Oneida Labs did. Now they are more used for Bow Fishing.
I will leave it there as again Oneida is a niche (small) Market las others are some are bigger and so be it.
LFM

 

I love Oneida for a bowfishing bow but I’ve never hunted with one

 

Honest question

Why are they so big in the bow fishing world?

 

Because you can snap shoot them. And so easy to work on.

 

Good bows

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

If I came across a Phoenix for about $400, I would buy it. I can buy great used bows for $400 so I'm not going to pay more for a slower, noisier bow. As for the easier to draw, I can just turn my other bows down 10 pounds less than the Oneida and still be faster. Buy for some strange reason, I still like them LOL!