Much can be said for such bows inasmuch as they are ideal for working in open air situations, or for children where there may be a higher risk of breakage, and such advantages make up for any loss one might experience from not using a wooden bow.

Today, with Pernambuco wood sources being under serious threat of depletion, several producers have marketed some excellent carbon fibre bows. In many cases they come close to replicating the playing qualities of good professional bows, and one finds more and more professional players using them by virtue of their hardiness, durability and the reduced risk of breakage when exposed to some extreme working conditions such as open-air rock concerts, etc. When combined with a good electric violin, you're well-equipped to take the hammering.

This carbon fibre bow by R. v. Bennigsen has been colored brown to resemble wood, but the norm today is to leave carbon fibre bows black, so one can admire the intricacies of the fibre's weave. It is difficult to obtain information about this company which made them, and apparently it does not exist anymore. The Bennigsen bows were distributed by an English distributor.

What has been documented however, is that the objectives of this maker was to replicate the playing properties of wood as closely as possible. In this case he got close to it. There is almost no difference in 'feel' and response between this bow and a good wooden counterpart of similar weight. It does excellent spiccato and articulates well. It would do well in a rock concert.