Lukas Novotny, the artisan behind Saluki Bows, was born and raised in the former Czechoslovakia, where he was trained as a glass sculptor. He immigrated to the United States at age of 21, and after working for many years as a glass artist, he decided to pursue his childhood passion for bows. In 1998 Lukas founded Saluki Bow Company, and has been full time bowyer since then.
Known for making some of the most refined and high performing modern interpretations of Asian bows, Lukas Novotny is also a successful instructor of mounted archery, having given clinics and demonstrations in the USA, Canada, France, Germany, India, Australia and Brazil. Lukas is co-founder and former President of the “Mounted Archery Association of the Americas – MA3” . The Saluki Bow Company is a one man operation, but Lukas is assisted by his wife, the Brazilian mounted archer Patricia Viana.
Saluki Bow Co. takes its name from the most ancient breed of hunting dog. Slender, swift and deadly accurate, the Saluki dogs from the Middle East and North Africa, epitomize what a great bow should be. When Lukas started making his first Salukis back in the 90’s, they were different than anything else found on the market. The unique limb design based on the Asiatic composite bows, sets the Saluki bows apart, and they are the culmination of many years of not only study, but the painstaking process of recreating authentic horn bows. The kind of understanding that can only be gained from the experience of building horn bows of Turkish, Scythian and Mongolian origin.
“I have constantly been in search of the most efficient design, and it is an ongoing process. Horn bows have been my motivation from the beginning, and the rich history they left behind has become a constant source of inspiration for me. I like to think that the use of the most technically advanced materials in combination with outstanding historical tradition sets what I am doing from the crowd.”
Lukas Novotny
IN THE MEDIA
FILM
- CNN “Great Big Story” Modern Day Warrior – piece about Lukas Novotny and Mounted Archery, 2016 https://youtu.be/gumuNn2PAQo
- History Channel “The Warrior Empire: The Mughals of India” As an expert on ancient horn bows. 2006 https://youtu.be/IGcYGwqb3So
- History Channel “Genghis Khan” As a trainer for mounted archery.
- Discovery Military Channel”Chariot Bow” “Weapon Masters Series”. 2008 On Egyptian Horn Bow with Mike Loades.
- Discovery Channel”Mythbusters” episode on speed of arrow in mounted archery.
- History Channel “Ancients Behaving Badly: Genghis Khan” documentary
MAGAZINE ARTICLES
- “Musee de L’archerie…” by Philippe Gouble. Published in the french magazine “Le Tir a L’Arc” n.762, 1999. On Horn Bows.
- “Le Mythe du Composite” by Thomas Kühn. Published in the french magazine: “Le Chasseur à L’Arc” n.15, 1999. On Horn Bows.
- “L’Archerie Asiatique” by Thomas Kühn. Published in the french magazine: “Le Monde de l’Archerie” n.1, 2000. On Horn Bows.
- “History’s Curve” by Lee Lawrence. Published in “Saudi Aramco World Magazine”v.54, n.5, 2003. On Horn Bows.
- “Wenn Uralte Technik auf das 21. Jahrhundert Trifft…” In the german magazine “Traditionell Bogenschiessen” v.9, n.32, 2004. Interview.
- “Ein Besuch bei Lukas Novotny” by Helmut Dittrich. Published in the German Magazine “Traditionell Bogenschiessen” v.15, n.55, 2010. Interview.
- “Arquearia Equestre”: modalidade milenar de tiro com arco chega ao Brasil. by Patricia Viana. Published in the Brazilian Magazine “Tiro Certo”, v.3, n.5, 2010. On Mounted Archery.
BOOK
- “Mounted Archery in the Americas”. As writer and co-editor along with David Gray of Krakow Company. publish by the “The Long Rider’s Guild Press” in 2007
LUKAS AWARDS IN HORSEBACK ARCHERY COMPETITIONS
2018 Duel in the Desert MA3 Championship, Arizona, USA
Grand Champion
1st Place in Korean, Qabac, Scythian, Polish styles
2nd Place in Hungarian style
2018 Traditional Archery Festival, Kiev, UKRAINE
Grand Champion
2018 Al Faris 3rd International Horseback Archery Competition in Amman, JORDAN
2nd Place European Style
2017 S.T.A.R. International Horseback Archery Competition, Seguin, TX, USA
Grand Champion
2016 Battle Track Trophy, MALAYSIA
2nd Place in Mounted Archery
2016 MA3 International Mounted Archery Competition, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Grand Champion
2016 ETRAC, Adana, TURKEY
!st Place Mameluk Style
3rd Place Qabac Style
2016 WHAF 11th World Horseback Archery Championship, SOUTH KOREA
2nd Place Qabac
2015 International Horseback Archery Competition, Toshogu Shrine, Nikko, JAPAN
2nd Place as part of Team USA
2015 ETRAC, Biga, TURKEY
1st Place Qabac
1st Place Mameluk Style
2015 MA3 International Mounted Archery Competition, Oregon, USA
Grand Champion
1st Place Hungarian
1st Place Five Dragons
3rd place Qabac
2014 WHAF 10th World Horseback Archery Championship, SOUTH KOREA
2nd Place Overall
1st Place Qabaq Style
2014 EOCHA International Horseback Archery Competition, MALAYSIA
Grand Champion
2nd Place Hungarian Style
1st Place Korean Serial Shot
2014 MA3 International Mounted Archery Competition, Oregon, USA
Grand Champion
1st Place Korean Style
1st Place Hungarian Style
1st Place Qabac
2014 Eurasian Traditional Archery Competition (ETRAC), Biga, TURKEY
Grand Champion
1st Place Qabac
1st Place Mameluk Style
2014 HUNOCHA International Horseback Archery Competition, HUNGARY
4th Place Overall
2nd Place Shower of Arrows Style
2014 Kassai World Cup, Kaposmero, HUNGARY
2nd Place among international competitors
2014 MA3 Bi-Continental Championships, Texas, USA
Grand champion
1st Place in Hungarian Style
1st Place in Qabaq
1st Place in Texas Hunt Style
1st Place in Texas Comanche Attack Style
1st Place in Texas Multiple Shot
2013 International Archery Competition, Biga, TURKEY
1st Place in Mounted Archery
2013 Grunwald Museum Mounted Archery Competition, Grunwald, POLAND
2nd Place overall
2012 Al Faris International Horseback Archery Competition in Amman, JORDAN
2nd Place in the Elimination Runs (Due to tight schedule Lukas could not stay for the Finals)
2012 MA3 National Competition Texas, USA
1st Place in Overall Score (National Champion)
1st Place in Qabak
1st Place in Korean Style
2nd Place in Hungarian Style
2011 Al Faris International Horseback Archery Competition in Amman, JORDAN
1st Place in Hungarian Style
3rd Place in Turkish Style
2nd Place in Overall Score
2010 International Invitational Horseback Archery Challenge in Oregon, USA
1st Place in Overall Score
1st Place in Hungarian Style
1st Place in Three Shot Korean Style
3rd Place in Single Shot Korean Style
2005 WHAF First International Horseback Archery Competition, SOUTH KOREA
2nd Place in Double Shot Korean Style
3rd Place in Serial Shot Korean Style
