Who makes the most expensive Trad bow?

[Dave Bulla]

Most expensive bows I've ever seen sold were ones where the bowyer never got a dime.

How can that be you ask?

Well he isn't with us any more but (dang it, the name just went right out of my head and I can't remember it) anyway, the guy from Illinois who made the Choctaw with the (Ah ha! just came back to me Jerry Pierce) Pierce points never sold a bow but his bows donated to various state bowhunting orgs for auction or raffles sold for thousands.  I saw one of the last get auctioned off at the UBM banquet one year and I think it went well over $4,000.

His Pierce points are now being copied but to me, they've never been equaled as a total bow design package.

[LKH]

I've helped Jack Harrison make bows, just the slug work, over the last few years before he sold to Fisk and I'll tell you  this, most of you wouldn't work for the money they make per hour.  That said, just the Dall Sheep horn on my last bow was $150 for the horn and that didn't include the hours to cut (has to be cut w/drill) and flatten it for use.  It also has rattlesnake skins and is priceless to me.

[Al Dean]

A while back I received a new bow from a bowyer.  I strung it up and gave it a draw to see how it felt.  It exploded in my face bloodying my forhead some.  Could have put an eye out.  That would have been a very expensive bow.

[Dave2old]

Who makes the most expensive bow? I do! If you need to ask the price of one of my boo-backed osage Plain Jane longbows ... you can't afford it. Because I make so few, they are worth more. And no guarantee, of course.

[Izzy]

Its gotta be Zipper cause I wouldnt sell mine for a million.

[B-DOG]

i bought a bow from a local custom  builder a couple of years ago and it was not but $450 but i had  that much again in gas tring to get it fixed. so is a widow or others that expensive?

[Seeking Trad Deer]

Morrisons with veneers are the most expensive I have looked at so far.

[BD]

The difference between the Habu and the BW is that the Habu is faster, quieter, prettier, and built by a bowyer and not a CNC.

[Brian Krebs]

If the sheepeater bow is an authentic replica; and it costs over 5000 dollars; I have to wonder how much the indians paid for one? I know there just had to be indians as incompetent as I am- and their had to be indians that made bows for  them.

things that make me keep me curious....
      :rolleyes:

[Tree man]

20 Ponies and your daughter Brian. A simple exchange of property.

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

Dave Bulla,

The gentleman you're thinking of was Jerry Pierce.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Greetings BD! Surely you'd agree that "prettier" is in the eye of the beholder? Or perhaps you're just fishing to catch an unsuspecting BW enthusiast such as myself! Cheers, blessings, and good hunting to you! BK

[Ray Hammond]

I agree with Dave Bulla. Jerry Pierce didn't intend for them to be expensive...in fact, he didnt sell bows but gave them away.

But his craftsmanship is so on its own level, and the spirit behind his bows makes them today the most expensive bows out there.

On the other hand, I build bows that cost 10,000 dollars. Would you like one?

[robtattoo]

Ray? I think you must use the same bow-form as me! Mine are $10,000 too!  :D

[d. ward]

Ray and Rob did you two get my new price list in the mail as yet?  You will wanta be setting down for sure.......bowdoc

[Canadabowyer]

Seems there are a lot of $10,000 bows out there.My first one cost about that, sure not worth it though. Unless you count the satifaction of getting your first deer with it ,then its priceless!!!!  Bob

[tippit]

Three weeks ago, I sold my Bear Signature (one of 13 Left Hand ones made) for $5K not including shipping!  I didn't even have it up for sale...new owner found me and asked what it would take to buy it.  Doc

[Craig Warren]

Soooo..., The next question in line might be, WHY are bows, in general, so expensive?  After all, they are mostly just wood and glass.  

One of the obvious answers has been pointed out in this thread, the craftsmanship of the bowyer.  It's hard to place an hourly rate on art work isn't it?  Aside from that, there are other things that nobody has mentioned.  Here are some things that I contend with as a bowyer and I think all bowyers have to contend with similar things.
I am in the process of finishing a new shop at a cost of around 100 K not including machinery but I'll bet I've spent at least 15 K for tools over the years.  Materials are an ongoing expense and their cost keeps rising.

I'm also in the process of getting commercial insurance for the shop and for finished product liability.  Our type of finished products require different insurance than what a cabinet maker needs and costs about 3 to 4 times as much. I'll be spending around 2K PER YEAR on it and have found that that is consider cheap for this kind of insurance.

Recently,I got a patent on my "Bow Bolt" after three years in the process.  I've spent over $6K for that, not to mention the R&D and the manufacturing costs.  I sell those little things for $79 each and a lot of people think they are expensive (I must really love this Trad archery stuff.)  

Advertising will be next.  Those full page ads that Black Widow, Horne, Robertson, and others have in the magazines aren't cheap.  Probably in the neighborhood of 3K each.  

The point is that you've got to be able to make a whole lot of bows at a low price or a few at a high price in order to make any money in this business. Most bow companies are one or two man operations so "a lot of bows" is not possible.

I think most of us build bows because we love to and that is why so many bowyers make such great bows, not the money.  

It has been said, "if you want to make a small fortune in the bow making business, you need to start with a big one."

Craig

[deadpool]

hey I can make you a a fully custom osage bow stained entirely with my own blood for the minimal price of only $12,000

[Labs4me]

Perhaps I'm way, way out of the loop, but are we saying that a Fred Bear Limited Edition Signature Bow in new condition is currently selling for +/- $5,000???

O.k. then, if anyone with a FBLESB is looking for a ultra quick - no, a speed-of-light quick - $5K, shoot me a pm.