St. Joe River bows

[1/4 away]

Anybody have contact info for Craig Potter? Thanks

[Onions]

I have two of Craig's bows. One recurve and one longbow. He is not building bows anymore, I had to beg him to build me one last year. WOW! Am I glad I begged. First night in the woods with Craig, I killed a big doe with it. Been a killing machine ever since. Just a great shooting bow!!!
It's too bad he is no longer in business, I have yet to find a bow to out perform his.
His phone number is (517)849-2939

[bluemoonrising]

I had 2 of Craig's bows. What shooters, and how stupid of me to get rid of them. Craig's quite a character and I hope things are going well for him. Peace!

[Onions]

Craig, had some illness last year. Something to do with his lungs. He is quite healthy, but has to use a inhaler now. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to hunt with him this fall. Although I did talk to him around Christmas and he was doing fine.  
Bluemoonrising.......why did you sell your St.Joe bows?? Like I said I have 2. A 60" recurve at 51lbs and a 62" bamboo longbow at 58lbs. Awesome bows. Wish I could convince Craig to keep building them.

[1/4 away]

I had one of Craigs longbows and like a fool I was selling it to a fellow in kansas when the Post Office broke it in half during transit. Craig had contacted me awhile back saying that he was working on a new design and was going to start making bows again. I never heard back from him. I called him just this past week and left a message. Hoping to hear from him again.

[bluemoonrising]

Onions--it was one of my many stupid decisions... I had 2--62" recurves that spat fire. Out of all  the many talented bowyers in the midwest,Craig's designs fit me the best and for a fair price. The only negative, in my opinion, was having to apply the linseed oil. Hopefully, Craig gets back into the biz. Also, Craig knows Nugent and had some "interesting" stories about him. Peace!

[Onions]

Bluemoonrishing---I heard some of those Nugent stories. Craig ever tell you the day he met Fred Bear? Fred was a friend of Craig's Dad. Craig's dad took Craig to Grayling to meet Fred. Craig and Fred (Criag's dad was not a bowhunter) shot their bows behind the Bear office. Then Fred said, " he's good enough to hunt with me". That night Craig at the ripe old age of 12 killed his first deer, a buck, while hunting with Fred.
Yea, I never did understand the linseed oil thing. But I always enjoy putting it on at the end of the season.
Peace to you also
onions <><

[Bowmania]

I have a number of bow that out perform Craig's speed wise, but NOTHING is more forgiving.  Once I had it tuned I never had a left or right miss, only up or down.  That's very impressive.  When I was shooting his bow one year at about this time I decided to try carbons, because I had a very expensive hunt to go on the next fall.  I had been shooting 2216's.  When the carbons came I couldn't wait to shoot 'em.  Glued on some tips and put one in the fletcher.  Took a bare shaft and shot it through paper at about 8 feet - a bullet hole.

If he ever goes back in business I'm ordering a 64 inch longbow at 50 lbs.

Bowmania

I've gotta say more!!!  The form of his bows (longbows) are a thing of beauty.  The R/D bows of today have a straight limb right out of the riser.  His bows have a gentle D shape, but shoot like a R/D.  When you see them unstrung their like crooked and you'd never believe they turn into a D when strung.

[Onions]

Hey Bowmania,
I will agree on the forgiving part. Esp. my longbow. Doesn't matter what arrow I put through it, it shoots right where I am looking. My longbow is not the fastest shooter in the world, but my 50lb recurve is a quick as my 57lb Robertson, with the same weight arrow.
You are right on the carbons, both my bows love them. Shoot Bemans with wt. tubes in the 'curve and Goldtips with 100gr. inserts with the longbow. For some reason neither shoot woods very well, esp. the 'curve.
Interesting on the missing to the right or left,
only up or down. I have experienced that exact samething. I thought it was me, but most likely would be the bow.  
The cast of the limbs is crooked looking, I have had a number of people comment about it when it was unstung.
onions <><

[bluemoonrising]

Onions--I don't know about the Bear stories. Craig would tell one story and then another, and another, and so on. I tell you,the first time I saw Craig shoot (one of my bows), I said Wow! That guy can really shoot. Then he said: hand me my bow. I quickly realized his bow that I handed him was left handed and he had been smokin' arrows with my right handed bow. Definitely a talented guy. I hope he gets back in the business and his health is strong. Maybe, some time this spring, I'll have to take an hr country drive to Craig's shop. Peace!

[Holm-Made]

Any pictures of these bows?

[Terry Green]

So what was the deal with the linseed oil?

[Onions]

The linseed oil is for a protective finish...I guess. Takes a few minutes every year to rub the oil in.
I don't know how to post pictures on this sight. Once I figure it out I will post pix of both of my bows. I have even done this on my other bows.
My 'curve has Craig's "fall fenceline" camo pattern. It's awesome in color, but in a black and white photo the bow disappears in the woods.
My longbow is a hickory riser and bamboo limbs all died in red. Really Cool!!
onions <><

[Onions]

OOPPPSS!! I should have previewed my last post. What I meant to say is that I put linseed oil on some of my other bows as well. Sorry for the confusion.
Also....Bluemoonrising.....I have seen Craig shoot many times. I too am right handed and Craig shot my bow as good as he shot his left handed bow.
Craig told me that he shot a buck a number of years ago, that ran into a cornfield. Few minutes a buck came flying back out of the same corn field. He assumed it was the one he just arrowed. So he thought he would get another arrow into it. He hammered the deer on the run. He paced the shot off and it was 80 yards!!! Once he walked upto the downed buck he realized it was a different buck! He went back into the corn and just inside the first few rows laid the first buck he arrowed!!
onions <><

[1/4 away]

Onions, If you email me the pics I will post then here for you....Fred

[Onions]

Fred,
I will try to get some pix tonight.
Thanks
onions <><

[Holm-Made]

Some of the old timers used to rub linseed oil into their gunstocks.  My grandpa used peanut oil.

[1/4 away]

Here are some pics of Onions St Joe River longbow & recurve....