Anybody have a Frank San Marco longbow??

[Sean B]

The threads on John Schulz got me thinking of Frank San Marco, anybody have one of his bows??  Hunt with them??  A picture or two would be nice!

[joe skipp]

Back in '86 when I was writing for Western Bowhunter, I visited Frank at his home in Mahopac for a story on his bows.

A very gracious host...his all Yew bows at that time had a 5 yr waiting list. Nothing fancy about performance but unequaled workmanship. Not the best pic as I took photo from the original. I hear Frank is back building bows on a limited basis.


 

[shick]

Sean, I sent you some photo's.  My wife Marg and I picked up the bow from Frank at the Pennsylvania Bowhunters Festival in Forksville about 12 years ago. Since I was a 'bow-a-holic at that time, she says, 'no way are you going to sell this one'.  And I haven't.  I just started shooting the HH style bows this past year and the SanMarco is filling a 'void' that I have had.  I believe Frank only made one style and that was 3 lams of yew with brown glass and a shedua riser.  Early bows had leather lacing for the grip while later ones have the one piece leather.
Give me a shout when you want to talk about the bow.  
I'm not capable of posting phots's here.  Sorry about that.
Shick

[Sean B]

Thanks Shick, I got'em!!  Great pics!! Thanks.  Joe, I just got his number, I'll give him a call soon...JUST in case I may be in the market for a longbow  

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Gee Sean, you think you can wait five years??? LOL

I have never seen one of his bows but have heard great things about them.

[Sean B]

Ha Charlie, that'll give me time to save!!  I just told a buddy of mine, that he IS going to leave me his in his will!!!

[The Whittler]

Dan Bertalan did a great write up of Frank in Bowyers of America (I think that is what it was called). Great read and great book.

[adkmountainken]

i believe Zmonster does.

[Jock Whisky]

Dan's book was Traditional Bowyers of America. Great read re trad bowyers in the late 80's

[Sean B]

I'm going to look for that book!!

[killinstuff]

I had  one of Franks bows for a while and loved it but I never "liked" it if that makes sense.  Very whippy with those skinny tips and slow compared to my Harrison's.  Felt soft on the draw all the way to the end. Pretty and light in hand but not something I could use well for killing stuff. Sold it to a fella in Colorado, hope he's enjoying it.

[David Mitchell]

Back in the early 80s a buddy of mine contacted Frank about building him a bow.  At that time the price was $600 and a six year wait! No way could the guy have had a six year waiting list.

[duncan idaho]

"Nothing fancy about the performance"

"5 or 6 year waiting list"

What? with whats out there now, someone would actually do this? Dont really see it the point.

[mnbwhtr]

Saw one up on ****, got it really cheap, I think there was a five year wait then. Craftsmanship was OK, pretty bow, nothing really special about it. It shoot OK but not any better than what I already had so I sold it. No regrets, made some money.

[Mint]

He had a six year waiting list since he only builds a few bows a year. He mainly builds violins, at least he did when I talked with him back in 1990.

[md126]

The wait was due to the fact that he built them at his own pace, often taking long gaps in between working on bows. That's fine of course but when people would put $$ down and are waiting it seems a little extreme  

I almost traded a Schafer for one because they are so rare. I think I would've regretted that move greatly

[jackdaw]

they are like anything else, if you want it bad enough and are willing to wait the time ,and it's worth it to you?.. do it....!!! if you're looking for really great craftsmanship and you want a bow made by Frank... go for it...!!!!!  you don't buy one of Franks bows because somebody told you they are good, you purchase one because you appreciate what he did......