Ekin Built Hill bows an investment?

[Gula]

Hello,
I shoot and really like Hill style bows ,most built by Craig Ekin, and seem to be accumulating a few. I love owning and shooting them and have often told my wife they're money in the bank, an investment.  However I'm not sure it is all that true. They seem to do alright on the resale market but is an investment pushing it. Oh, I'm left handed and wonder if that is a good thing or bad?  Any thoughts one way or the other? Thanks

[far rider]

Hmm,
I am watching this one, as I have a few myself!

Tim

[David Mitchell]

Since an investment is expected to increase in value over time probably not.  I too love my Hills and have three that Craig built for me. I don't expect them to "earn" much of a return but then I didn't buy them for that.  

[Paul_R]

Investments appreciate, bows don't. Though I appreciate a nice Hill myself...

[cyred4d]

I agree with David. I have enjoyed all my bows, but don't think I have  ever made money on any of them.

[nineworlds9]

Well if weighing bows vs. things like shoes, purses, makeup, pedicures..well then yes they are an investment.  Most tangible goods of value like bows, guns, knives will hold some value, but do depreciate gradually.  I would say the fancier the bow and with good middle of the road "goldilocks" specs 66-70", 45-55#, hold value better than bare bones models, and also forget it if too high of weight or too light.  As a personal observation I have not seen an Ekin Hill in good shape sell for much less than $300-325 shipped anywhere.

[Sam McMichael]

Not in my case. Investment implies that it will ne resold at a later time for a profit. I don't sell any of mine. I have 5 Hills. I think, but am not sure, that Craig built all of them.

[JRY309]

Sam if Craig built them they would have a C in the serial number.Like BC******,B for Big Five and C for built by Craig.And the first two digits  like BC66****,66" nock to nock is the bows length.

[JRY309]

Sam if Craig built them they would have a C in the serial number.Like BC******,B for Big Five and C for built by Craig.And the first two digits  like BC66****,66" nock to nock is the bows length.

[Steve Clandinin]

If you got your wife believing that,thats a good enough reason to own at least a few.Funny my wife believes the same thing.If it ain't broke don't fix it ! LOL

[GreyGoose]

Not sure whether LH is a plus or not in terms of value, but I swear it seems to me that a disproportionate number of the classified offerings are for southpaws.  Which is good, b/c I can rule them out.

Now if we were really honest with ourselves, we would have to admit that there is a problem with thinking that one needs more than one Ekin built longbow. Of course, the argument is valid for having at least one lighter set up for when the shoulders are a bit stiff. Then there is the argument for when the arms are feeling a bit strong. I guess one could argue that one could use a honey locus model for lighter backgrounds, but it is always good to have a yew. A couple of years ago I was about to order one Cougar, one yew,one Cheetah, and one with elm at the same time. My wife got sick so I did not order. Really though, the yew I have will outlive me and is a great bow, the yew/bamboo is about as good as any bow that I have shot and it will outlive me. I have as many back quivers as I do bows and the Hill soft leather is my favorite one, so I need one for each setup. I am glad that people collect so many models, it keeps Hill Archery in business.

[Gula]

Thanks, some good thoughts guys.  I don't buy them with investment in mind. In fact can't remember selling anything.  I like my things  more than the money they cost. My thought was that you do get bows by certain builders that fetch quit a price.  Usually builders that no longer make bows or are no longer with us.  John Schulz bows ,still living but not building,made for The Hill company or his own company and there are others. Now I'm pretty close to Craig Ekin in age but one day will his work bring a premium with collectors and shooters? I can look back on lots of things that no one thought much of but are now worth a lot of money. Time does strange things.

[far rider]

IMHO
I doubt there are any traditional bows built today that will be collectible. There are many, many bows selling for well over a grand that sell on the secondary market in "as new" condition for half of their original cost. I don't discount the quality of any of them, but the number of bows being built alone is enough to keep the value from taking off. So, as for Ekin bows being collectable, probably not so much, and I would think Craig himself would agree, but would be happy to see happen!
Now, that being said, the real reason for having different bows from Craig is that he offers so many wonderful models of a tried and true favorite design. His models aren't the same bow with different pretty wood veneers, they are totally different models and they all shoot different.
Examples can be found in the top three sellers on his site. Wesley, Big 5, Tembo. It's not just the number of bamboo laminations, but also the way the lams are laid up. A true Wesley is like a Tembo on steroids in that 4 lams are on the back and one trapped to the belly. The Tembo is 2 on the back and 1 on the belly, and the Big 5 has all the lams on the back of the riser. These all shoot differently mainly because the working lims react differently to each design, and even more, the lengths and weights react differently to each design.
Then look at the models that are assembled in like fashion such as the Cheetah, Halfbreed, Owl, and Wasp. They are 4 lams, (3 back 1 belly) but the different working woods make each model shoot differently. Osage is different than yew, is different than elm, or locust etc.
Then you have the all osage, and all yew bows.
Even the combo wood bows can be laid up different, with the addition of a carbon lamination, or actionboo cores.
Now add three different standard grip designs, three different limb configurations, the addition of tip overlays, and the ability to do things with veneers and custom risers and you get a dizzying amount of options that almost always means that no two bows of Craig's will be the same.

That's why we own a rack full of Hills, but I like the way you think!

[Green]

All Hill bows are an investment.....that pay happiness dividends every time the string slips from your fingers.     :D    

And like Steve said above....if your wife believes they are a financial investment, then you must continue to purchase new ones so as not to (in her eyes) accelerate the depreciation of any single one that you already have.

[Sam McMichael]

Well, I followed up on what JRY309 and concluded that all my bows were made by Craig. They still don't qualify as good money investments, because I have no intention of selling any of them. But I agree with Green that they do pay happiness dividends.