Want to start collecting long and recurve bows

[L. E. Carroll]

I started out very simple collecting Damon Howatt Hi-speeds now I have 31 bows hanging on the wall with 15 recurves, including 6 customs and 16 custom LB's that include 2 Pronghorns, 2 Great Plains, Shrew, RER, Bighorn, Raptor, Blackhawk, Thunderhorn, Tomahawk, Stewart "Slammer", Liberty, a couple Self bows, and  the Griffin that just came in yesterday. It does mount up, as it took several RF/DF LB's to find just the "RIGHT ONE". [ At least that's the story I keep giving to the "Better Half".] Getting Closer!!! Good luck.

[el cazador]

quote:Originally posted by BEETLE GUY:
The reason I started this thread is because I talked to my wife and she thought it would be good for me to be able to have a collection. And yes, she knows how much these bows goes for        

I do strongly urge those who have the means to buy NEW custom bows.  This acomplishes two major aspects of trad bow collecting, it keeps the bowyers in business and it helps to supply the TG classifieds!

Have fun and Merry Christmas!

[el cazador]

Oops! Must've been post happy!

[Widowbender]

Welcome to the dark side....    

David

[Colonel]

I got the bug while buying my grandson a bow for this Christmas. I had, earlier this year decided to get back into traditional archery for hunting, in part because I remember how much I enjoyed it when I started in high school (1960, or thereabouts). I was so pleased when I had finally saved enough to buy a Bear Grizzly, which I still have. Another reason was the incredible complexity of modern compounds.

After I bought matching bows for my grandson and son (PSE Takedowns), I started looking on **** (seems like a dirty word here - I did not use asterisks in my post), and discovered hundreds of recurves for sale. I decided to collect Bear bows, not because they are necessarily the best available, but because of the man, and my early association with his bows. I now have 15 and counting. Trying to get an excellent example of all the one piece recurves he made. In addition, I now have a new sample of the current models. I may have paid too much in some cases, and too little in others, but it sure is fun.

Gerry

[Brian Krebs]

I want to put my two cents worth on this.

 Its great to collect bows; they do not make the old bear and other bows anymore; so to collect them makes logical sense.

 However if it is your intent to find the most hard to find bows; the antiques of the world; the artifacts of the past; the works of art; the symbols of our heritage; the remaining laminations of history- and then take them out and shoot them - and take the chance of them breaking- well

         

 There. I said it. I feel so much better now    

[PAPALAPIN]

WHOOAA!!  PAUL!!  

I had no idea that you got so involved so quick.  Seems like yesterday the I sent you an old Ben Pearson to see if you liked Traditional.  At the end of your trying it out I had the impression that it was not for you.  Then I see you poping up out of the blue, and now I find you are into some serious collecting.

It's kind like someone that has never used drugs, takes a hit of something just once, next thing you know he is a "Crack Addict".

Collecting is a fast addiction and a hard one to kick.  Real Monkey on your back.

[PAPALAPIN]

BRIAN

It all depends on what "YOU" like in colleting.  as I said before.  Don't colelct to impress others, collect to impress yourself.

You are a luckey man to have stumbled upon a grumley".  Like you, I would never shoot it.  However, if some one collects Grumleys, and their interest is to shoot them, I consider that their business.  I like the bows fromt he '60's, but my shooters are the later model Jack Howard bows.  Personal choice.

As far as Widows go, some guys would die if they lost their widow.  I've had them, and personally, I think they make great kindling.  Just my personal opinion - for me.

On the other hand, to modify a phrase from Will Rogers, "I never met a recurve I didn't like"

Longbows?  You can have them.  But I know many guys that love them an feel that recurves are o waste of material.  It all boils down to personal choice.

No matter what you have in your collection, or how many, or how much they cost, my collection is better.  Why?  Because it is mine.

[Brian Krebs]

I have made up my mind and counted to three.


   

[MI_Bowhunter]

I believe a bow left unshot is a waste. (forgoing any known defects)

I rather have the experience of shooting it and hanging the pieces on my wall if it breaks then to just hang it all on the wall and wonder.

Just my 2cents.

[BEETLE GUY]

I'm in this sport to shoot So, I will want functional bows and if someone wanted to give me a rare bird to hang, cool. But my money will be spent on those bows that still shoot  

[TexMex]

I did spend 12.50 on an Indian Archery '21 model.  :p

[Eastern fisher]

I pcked up the recent copy of Traditional Bowhunter and there where a PILE of bows for sale in it.  One add had 150 used bows of all sizes and prices.  Might be worth checking out.

[BEETLE GUY]

Sounds like it could be a good deal. I think I may try to go to some of the bowers, that are making bows, and start with them. This collection is for my children and there children. I would love to have bowers place my name on it so that the bows, when they passed down, myself and the bowers were the ones that started the history on it.

[Colonel]

I am collecting shootable bows, and not just wall hangers. I am carefully trying them to be sure they are safely shootable, especially because several of them will end up as gifts to members of my family.

I did recently have a bad experience, however. Last year I took my 2 Bear bows that I had owned since the late 60s to an archery proshop for inspection and new strings. (One was a Kodiak Hunter and the other a grizzly) When I went to pick them up, he told me that both were fine. He had installed new strings and shot each a couple of times. When he turned to get them from the rack in his shop, he discovered that the Grizzly had fractured. He had left them strung on the rack for about a week before I went to get them. I have been shooting the Kodiak without problems.

You never know.

[d. ward]

I've done work (ie repairs and or total restorations)on bouts every make model size and shape bow ever made.Compton,Art Young,aPope bow and several Grumleys to Glenn StCharles Bear Kodiak Spec.(he arrowed the moutian goat with and it later delaminated).Howard Hill originals built by Howard himself.I've owned and or shot about all models long bows and recurves,customs to the production models.I've lossed arrows from a StCharles baleen back and belly static tip to several different Grums,and some of the cheepest bows ever made.Even early aluminum lam Bears(they suck for shooters).But I have always liked them all,I never met a bow I did not like in one way or another.I archery,therefore I am............ I did not inhearit these bows from my father,I am just takeing care of them for my Childern...bowdoc

[laddy]

Just to slow yourself down a bit.  Consider doing blanks from Howard Hill.  when I am done with my all bamboo project i am going for a reverse handled Hill blank.