Lofton Longbow

[Bruce Prosser]

I posted this in the wrong forum and thought I would repost here in the PowWow.

This week I bought a longbow that has the name Lofton written on the riser and is 58# at 28, 66 inches long and has a slight deflex from the handle. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. It has dark wood in the riser section probably Wenge or black walnut or Ipe with bamboo  lams under clear glass. It is rock solid!

After making a new string for it I began experimenting with several different arrows spined in the 60s and 70s (wood and carbons) and all of them went straight in the target at 10 and 20 yards. I somewhat expected that I might have the heavier spined arrows kick a bit. I am really happy. Rather than having only a dozen arrows to fling with it, I now have closer to thirty!

Got it at a garage sale, he was asking 275, I offered him 225 and got it.

My question is does anyone know anything about the maker? Someone mentioned in the other posting that his name was Bobby Lofton out of Miss. and that he has passed away. I know that bows are relative that some people just like what they see and buy it, but does this sound like a reasonable price for this man's work? I am extremely happy, and I guess that is what really matters.

Does anyone in the community know what he sold his bows for brand new?

Blessings, Bruce

[Cyclic-Rivers]

If you are happy with the purchase you paid the right price.

enjoy the bow!

[Mike B]

Bobby built some very good longbows.Istill have one.Good price also,enjoy.

[monkeyball]

You probably paid about what it would have cost new
minus a couple bucks. That is what was nice about Loftons, an average guy could afford one an have an excellent shooting bow. I owned a few,as did my buddies. We all liked them.
                            Craig

[Jedimaster]

Being a native Missippian I have read a few things about Mr. Lofton and his bows.  All of them were favorable.  Here is something I picked up on the web:

Bobby Gene Lofton died at home on Sunday, August 3rd, 2008, in Indianola, Miss. He was 73.
Mr. Lofton was born in Skene, Miss. Before relocating to Indianola in 1975, he lived in Vicksburg and was employed at the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Mr. Lofton was one of the first licensed bow hunters in the state of Mississippi. As a world renowned bowyer, he owned and operated Lofton Longbows, along with his wife, Lou, and had been involved with the crafting of archery equipment for over fifty years. He earned popularity among traditional archers all over the country and for the last seventeen years, the Mississippi Traditional Archery Association has held an annual tournament in Grenada, Miss. named in his honor called the "Lofton Classic."
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie Lee and Bertha Morgan Lofton; three brothers, J.B., James C. and James Lofton; and two sisters, Edmonia Gibson and Edna Rickles.
He is survived by his wife, Lou Lofton of Indianola, three sons, Thomas Lofton of Sarasota, Fla., Kenneth Lofton of Excel, Ala. and Martin Lofton of Indianola; four daughters, Sandra Hausaman of Tampa, Fla., Pamela Lick of Jackson, Miss., Regina Gallaugher of Portland, Tex. and Stephanie Guzman of Indianola; one step-son, Wayne Bell of Leland; fifteen grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

I always enjoy a fine piece of craftmanship - even more when I understand some of the story behind it.  Especially when these things are no longer available.  Hope you enjoy your piece of history.  There is no set value on something that is no longer available.  Mr. Lofton would be pleased with your comments I'm sure.

[stevemfwills]

i had one it was an awesome bow..bobby did an extra good job on that one....i have seen them for as much as 300..espicialy down south...when i was down in miss.after hurricane katrina i seen a few down there and they were like gold to the guys owned them...wish i still had mine

[Stringwacker]

I shot a few 3-D rounds with Mr. Lofton in the past. As others have said, he made a very quality bow at a reasonable cost.

He was a southern gentleman in all regards and had a great following of longbow shooters...especially in the southeast.

I once was shooting my recurve and he said if I could hit the 3-d deer in the vitals he would make me a bow...of course the deer was 70 yards away! One miracle shot and a month later I had my new Lofton longbow!

[RonD]

I still have and will always keep my Lofton Choctaw Halfbreed longbow.  His bows generally sold for between $200 and $300. Bobby was a very special person in this area of Mississippi. I don't understand why the Lofton Classic was discontinued and replaced by the Tennessee Classic as some have said.  It's a shame the Mississippi Traditional Archery Association or the Grenada Bowhunters didn't keep it going. Both organizations may have had good reasons for no longer hosting the event. From what I understand it was quite popular and drew large crowds from around the nation. I guess all good things come to an end somewhere down the road of time. I just hope that the archery community never forgets Bobby and the great work he did for the archery community.

[LBR]

I always enjoyed talking with Bobby and Lou (she was the talker between the two).  Bobby's bows seemed to be hit or miss--really good shooters, or not.  I was told he didn't measure anything when building a bow--he just "eyeballed" everything--which would explain why some shoot good, and some don't.  Still, a lot of history behind the man and his bows.  He sold the business a year or three before he died, but the new bowyer dissapeared.  No idea what happened there.

The Lofton Classic is a whole different ball of wax.  There's a long story behind it, but the short version is there was a rift in which the people doing the work were run off when questions about where the money was going were brought up.  

A few years later, the tournament died due to lack of attendance.  It was never the same after the split--not even close--attendance reflected that.  

Basically they cut their own throat.  I don't think Bobby had anything to do with it one way or the other.  He was well up in years by then, and I think the only thing he had to do with it was loaning it his name.  Dang shame--at one time it was one of the best there was, and drew competitors from all over the world.

The TN Classic did NOT replace the Lofton Classic, it just happens to fall on the same weekend.  

The members who were run off founded the Southern Traditional Archery Association (www.southerntraditionalarchery.com).  They did not sabatoge the Lofton Classic in any way, shape, form, or fashion--it died from within when the people that did the real work were driven away.

[RonD]

Chad, I knew there was a rift between people back then but did not know to what extent or effect it had had on the Lofton Classic.  I didn't mean to infer that the Tennessee Classic had taken over the Lofton Classic but had instead become the alternative to the Lofton Classic after it was dissolved. You are right when you say that Bobby's bows were hit or miss in the shootability arena. I got to watch Bobby build my bow and he never measured anything while he working on it. However, when it was finished it shot great. I just hated it when the Lofton Classic was gone. To me Bobby will never be gone. I remember him everyday and everytime I look at the longbow hanging on my wall.  Chad, I believe that a guy from the Gulf Coast bought his business and shortly thereafter nothing was or has been heard from him since.

[Shinken]

I was fortunate to pick up a 30# at 28" Lofton Choctaw here on Trad Gang a while back.  Perfect condition and a nice shooter!  I use it for introducing RH shooters to trad and they usually have a blast with it.

Shoot straight, Shinken

[Wannabe1]

Nice thread about a bow and it's history. How 'bout a pic or two for those of us who have never heard of this bowyer?

Congrats on your find.  

[Raminshooter]

Bobby was a bow building wizard and although the finish was not "perfect" on every bow he could simply out build most boyers out there and he was a tillering wizard.  I have several of his Choctaw Chief hybrid longbows and not one of them has an ounce of hand shock no matter what arrow you shoot out of it.  Bobby could make bows well and FAST and he personally felt that most bowyers simply overcharged for the amount of work that was involved.  Of course,  Bobby has probably made over 10,000 bows in his lifetime so he "walks the walk" on that issue. I agree he was a fine southern gentleman and he is missed.

[LBR]

No problem Ron--just didn't anyone to get the wrong idea about the TN Classic--it's a fine group that puts it on.  You are correct that a lot of people that did attend the Lofton started going to TN, because it was on the same weekend and the TN Classic was (is) a much better tournament than what the Classic became in it's last years.  I really hated to see it go--had some great times there.

I met the guy that bought the business--saw him at Cloverdale, I think, set up with Bobby and Lou and learning the ropes.  Wish I could find out what happened with him.

[mj seratt]

What Chad says is perfectly correct.  We were indirectly involved by having a "sister" club of STA's here in Tennessee.  Those are still some of the best people in trad archery, and we're proud to call them our friends.
The Lofton Classic was a wonderful time, and I have many fond memories of it, including meeting Bobby Loftin.  My wife, Robin, bought a bow from him at his booth one day.  He just looked at her, handed her a bow, and said "Here, Hon, shoot this one.  It oughta fit you just right."
She did, and it did, so she paid him $200.  She still has it, and it's just as beautiful.
It is a Choctaw Chief, 62 inches, 42@28, and shoots wonderfully.

[rhett134]

Lofton bows were a great hit at all the Classics, But Mrs Lous banana pudding was
#1 on the list if you were lucky enough to get some.

[rhett134]

Bobbys bows were always in demand,but there was a greater demand for Mrs Loftons banana pudding if you were lucky enough to get some.

[marlon]

i was lucky to have boby loften he built me very heavybows 100# 120# 135# 150# that i broke.1 longbow 3 recurves.

[gringol]

I had lofton build me a choctow hunter (70#@28") about 12 years ago and love it.  It's a little short for the draw, so it stacks really bad at about 26" so I never get to 28", but holy crap it can fling an arrow. I have to say that for the money it's the best hunting longbow I've ever come across. I still use it almost everyday.

Someone told me recently that it wasn't a "performance" bow, but I'm not even sure what that means.  It'll kill a deer just a well as a $1,200 bow and I'll have an extra $1,000 for beer.

[coltar]

Mr. Lofton was a very generous man also.I had spoken to him about buying some material to build my son a bow about 14 years ago.He invited me to his house(only about 30 miles away at the time).When he gathered the stuff up I asked what I owed,he said nothing ...go build that boy a bow.lol.A couple months later the bow got broke,won't say how,but I called Mr Lofton to see about purchasing some more materials.When I got to his house,once again he would not hear of accepting payment.Soft spoken,gentle giant of a man.And his wife, Lou, was a trip to be around.Great folks.