Want to start collecting long and recurve bows

[BEETLE GUY]

What bows would you recommend for bows to have. I plan to have RER and Black Widow make me customs but what others.

[TexMex]

Check out the Classifieds here.
and start collecting
I am up to 17 bows.

[Blackhawk]

Gosh, that's a loaded question!

Many of us are like TexMex and cannot stop at one or two.  As far as having custom bows made for you, I would limit that to special or rare editions since most examples of custom bows end up in the various classified sections or on the auction sites.  I have had good luck finding exactly what I want and at used bow prices.  You will find your interests will vary and want to try other models.

Of course, the older Bear bows are the most popular collectible and sometimes bring unrealistic prices.  Others collect Howatts or Wing or Shakespeare or....

Collecting, buying, selling and trading is just another aspect of trad archery that can be almost as fun as shooting them.

[BTH]

That didn't take long    
The only reason I'm a one bow man is my wife. She wants to spend money on stuff like remodeling the house, traveling to Africa, mounting her trophies.
Morrison bows are great. He makes longbows and recurves and has some interesting ideas on new designs.
The older Bear bows are lots of fun. I've had a few of those but sold them to finance my Morrison Cheyenne.
Peruse the classified and make some deals.
You going to be coming down my way over the holidays?

[Tater 2]

And the sickness begins!

  You need to speak with the Rowan brothers.

Danny Rowan,.. better known as, it's Wednesday I need a new bow Rowan.

Donald (Nakohe)Rowan,.. I think that looks nice I'll buy it(well I haven't bought one since... what day is it) Rowan.

  Seriously it is a bunch of fun and Morrison is a good one to pick up I own a couple.

[JEFF B]

i second that on the rowan boys. LOL!!!!!                  and its all fun they love it.i just wish i could do it mind you i have 4 bows at the moment.

[BEETLE GUY]

Not during the holidays BTH. Wife wants to stay home. 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      

[BEETLE GUY]

I want Ghostman's Chyanne but pockets are dry at this time  :(

[TexMex]

Well, if your wife thinks it's a good idea.              

[SCATTERSHOT]

hard to have a representative collection with out a Howard Hill longbow. You could probably spend a lifetime just collecting Bears, though.

[BEETLE GUY]

I want to have a few Bears but I want a collection of bows that are very good shooting from some of the smaller names. Yes I will have a Howard Hill one day  :D

[BobW]

Did I hear you say your wife thinks its a good idea?  

[PAPALAPIN]

HELLO, my name is Jack.  I am a recurve-a-holic.

At the present time, I have over 80 bows hanging on my wall.  Now, by collectors standards, mine is a small collection.

The best advice I can give you about collecting bows is...  "DON'T DO IT"      

The surgeon General has determined that traditional archery collecting is dangerous to your  financial health.  "NUF SED"

Collecting is an interest and a hobby unto itself.   As far as "what to collect" that is very personal, and you collect what "YOU" like.  Don't spend money on a high dollarr custom bow because you think it will impress someone else.  They may like different things than you do.

I like the recurves from the '60's.  Mainly because when I was a teenager, I could not afford the bows that I drooled over reading Archery Magazine.  Over the past ten years, I have managed to pick up a lot of my favorites.  Your best source is he auction site that we must not name, pawn shops, estate and garage sales, tempered with a lot of patience.

My wife walked into my shop one day, looked at my wall full of bows and asked "how many bows can you shoot at one time?"  My answer, "about as many pairs of shoes as you can wear at one time, Ms Emelda".  She never asked again.

Collecting can be a very satisfying hobby; but you have to be careful.  Before you know it you can have a lot invested in the collection, and in most cases, you may never recoup your investment.  You pay what it is worth to you to get a bow, but that does not mean that there will be someone out thhere that is willing to pay that much when you decide to sell it.  Do not do it as an investment, do it because you enjoy it.

I have bows that I paid $1,000.00 for, down to bows that I have a total investment of $20.00.  I have it arranged with another collector that in the event of my going to the "Happy Hunting Ground", he will dispose of my collection.  The alternative would be for my widow to have an estate sale and she may get about 5% of what my collection is worth, if she is lucky.  That is why I say Estate sales are a great source.  They have no idea of the value of a collectible bow.  It is just a piece of sports equipment that Daddy had in the attic.

It is an enjoyment for me.  Ease into it slowley, and proceed cautiously, and you should be OK.

The main thing is, enjoy it.

[Shawn Leonard]

Jack is correct, do not do it unless ya have lots of money. I myself have owned over 100 bows in the last 7-8 years. I have bought very few and traded for most. The most I have had at one time is 15 or so. I now own only 5 bows. A Ben Pearson, Widow PTF11, RER Arroyo, Bear Kodiak Mag and an old York. Shawn

[KPaul]

What Jack said.Collecting is a disease that strikes quickly and silently.I woke up one day and found 38 bows in my workshop.
there is no cure.(I don't think I want to be cured).

KPaul

[BEETLE GUY]

I'll try my best to keep cost minimal and try to collect only bows that I see that I must have. This collection is to be passed on to my children and so on.
There are a lot of makers that I would love to have make me a bow.So, maybe my collection will be mostly from the small guy    I would love to have bows that the bower places my name on the bow so that my children knows that the bow was hand made for me.
That sounds like a lot of money   :rolleyes:

[ks_stickbow]

Collect Selfbows....there are no two alike, and there are some incredible artisans out there.


Look around and see if you can get one by Ferret, John S., Eric K.....ect...

[DEAN]

STICK HUNTER WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD YOUR 2 CENTS?????????????????????

[John3]

It is a sickness.
I seem to love Widows, Hoyt and Sky bows.
Cannot get enough.


JDS III

[Eastern fisher]

Beetle Guy.  Kiss your wife because she is a rare member of that gender and be thankful for what you have.  Good luck with the collection and I hope to see some pics as you purchase them.  Dave from Nova Scotia, Canada