How many custom bows you've had & what's your keeper?

[Warden609]

My keepers right now are my Silvertips. Been shooting them for two years. Starting to get an itch for something different, but I'm trying to fight it.    

[Moots]

I've owned a lot of longbows, and a few recurves.  I have seven longbows on my rack now.  My top three are:

Fox Triple Crown with a low / medium grip.  Love that bow.
Black Widow PLX.  Never though I'd like BW's, but this is a keeper.
Timber Point.  This bow is for 3D and target.  Wonderful bows.

And I do have a nice Tim Meigs "Deluxe Bamboo Longbow" -- a real find.  

The Timber Point is the only bow I bought new.

[LC]

I've only owned two custom bows made by other bowyers. A Blackwidow and a Zipper. I started making my own recurves 15 years ago and now each are custom made. Some 13 to be exact. Most given away to friends. My latest, a copy of the 62 Bear Kodiak, is my favorite. Been using it the last few years and can't see me hunting with any thing else. Absolutely love this bow.

[Gdpolk]

I've owned 5.  I've shot closer to 200-250 trad bows at a local shop over the year.  The very best shooting bow I've shot to date is my Sarells in my signature.  My ONLY complaint (if you can call it that) is that I wish it were a two piece so I could drop it in an AR rifle sized Pelican case for traveling.

[LoneWolf73]

75+ custom bows.

1. Voodoo Elk Riser Longbow
2. Hoyt Huntmaster Recurve Customized
3. Texas Recurve
4. Palouse Static Recurve and Longbow
5. Arner Longbow

[ed cowden]

I have had over 100 custom built bows and many I have miss judged. I wish I knew what I know now. My top bow is a Miller Expedition longbow, and I am hoping to get the White Eagle Jerry Hill. Nothing can be compared to the best that Hill shot. I do have a place in my heart for Kim Sha long bows and Bruin and Zipper recurves. You can spend thousands, buy it is up to you to tune and learn to shoot the bow.

[KyRidgeRunner]

I've had 3 custom bows:

Big Jim Thunder Child- 56" 50@28"
Toelke whip 2pc- 58" 43lbs @ 26"
Tall Tines 3pc Recurve- 58" 55lbs @ 28"

I will say all three bows are keeper worthy as they all have features I love.  I absolutely loved the 2 long bows listed  and I think both Bowyers make an outstanding product.  I was having trouble with my elbows so I had sold both of them bows.  The Tall Tines is my current set up and though it's the heaviest of all three it seemed to not aggravate my elbow as bad.  I also saw a physical therapist and had a fellow trad archer show me some massages that helped me tremendously.  So my tall tines is my keeper but giving the opportunity I'd buy back my two previous bows in a heart beat.

[overbo]

Have a new king of mountain Barry Huson recurve

[Bowhunter4life]

Originally posted by Bowhunter4life:
To many to count!  Plus if I actually put it down in black and white I believe that is called evidence...            

Keepers:
 
O.L. Adcock ACS-CX (3-piece Aluminum riser 70# @ 29")
A&H ACS-CX (3-piece Aluminum riser 55# @ 29")
O.L. Adcock ACS-CX (1-piece 53# @ 29")
DAS Master Hunter (46#, 56#, 60# @ 30" WinEx)
DAS Dalaa (two pair of 65# @ 30" Carbon/woods)

Oh, and I've got an Elburg Cheetah, reverse handled 64" recurve that was one of Dr. Ashby's test bows back in the day.  Approximately 110# @ 29"...  Not that it shoots all that well as it is very similar to a strung 2x4, but a good conversation piece none the less...

Also have an O.L. Adcock ACS-CX Apogee on order...  Full Camo (Mossy Oak Forest Floor) with a Bocote medium recurve grip.

 Times have changed...

I don't think I own any of the bows listed above anymore...

Morrison Shawnee, 62", Carbon Foam Dakota, 64# @ 29"
Morrison Shawnee, 62", Carbon Foam Dakota, 60# @ 29"
Morrison Shawnee, 62", Bamboo Dakota, 58# @ 29", and a set of 56" Arapaho 60# @ 29"
Morrison Cougar, 62", 55# @ 29"
Morrison Cheyenne, 58", 67# @ 29"
A&H ACS-CX, 3-piece, 70# @ 29"

Also have a different "conversation piece", Jack Harrison HSS, 62", 101# @ 29", which I would sell if I could get what I have into it back out of it...

Well, times have changed again...  Don't own any of the bows listed above...

Have settled on Widow SA/PSA recurves, and Thundestick MOAB longbows...  Have a couple SA's and a PSA...  Also have a MA...  Numerous sets of limbs of varying weights to fit the situation... Have two MOABs...  Also have a Custom Hill that is fun to shoot...  

Kind of funny, really started with the Widow SA, and after 15 years or so and a bunch of bows landed right back where I started...

[medic77]

Originally posted by Bowhunter4life:
 

Originally posted by Bowhunter4life:
To many to count!  Plus if I actually put it down in black and white I believe that is called evidence...              

Keepers:
 
O.L. Adcock ACS-CX (3-piece Aluminum riser 70# @ 29")
A&H ACS-CX (3-piece Aluminum riser 55# @ 29")
O.L. Adcock ACS-CX (1-piece 53# @ 29")
DAS Master Hunter (46#, 56#, 60# @ 30" WinEx)
DAS Dalaa (two pair of 65# @ 30" Carbon/woods)

Oh, and I've got an Elburg Cheetah, reverse handled 64" recurve that was one of Dr. Ashby's test bows back in the day.  Approximately 110# @ 29"...  Not that it shoots all that well as it is very similar to a strung 2x4, but a good conversation piece none the less...

Also have an O.L. Adcock ACS-CX Apogee on order...  Full Camo (Mossy Oak Forest Floor) with a Bocote medium recurve grip.

 Times have changed...

I don't think I own any of the bows listed above anymore...

Morrison Shawnee, 62", Carbon Foam Dakota, 64# @ 29"
Morrison Shawnee, 62", Carbon Foam Dakota, 60# @ 29"
Morrison Shawnee, 62", Bamboo Dakota, 58# @ 29", and a set of 56" Arapaho 60# @ 29"
Morrison Cougar, 62", 55# @ 29"
Morrison Cheyenne, 58", 67# @ 29"
A&H ACS-CX, 3-piece, 70# @ 29"

Also have a different "conversation piece", Jack Harrison HSS, 62", 101# @ 29", which I would sell if I could get what I have into it back out of it...

Well, times have changed again...  Don't own any of the bows listed above...

Have settled on Widow SA/PSA recurves, and Thundestick MOAB longbows...  Have a couple SA's and a PSA...  Also have a MA...  Numerous sets of limbs of varying weights to fit the situation... Have two MOABs...  Also have a Custom Hill that is fun to shoot...  

Kind of funny, really started with the Widow SA, and after 15 years or so and a bunch of bows landed right back where I started... [/b]

Ha Bowhunter4life, funny thing.  One of your old bows is my absolute go to favorite bow. Big Jim Thunderchild 2pc in black and white ebony.  No amount of money will make me part with it.  (Ok, maybe a slight exaggeration but I do love that bow)

[Brock]

Well, not sure...and not from shear numbers but never really thought about it.

In order of purchase best I can remember:

- Jeffery Royal Hunter*
- Habu (sold to FearlessInColorado for a moose hunt he planned with son prior to cancer taking him from us)
- Habu
- Noble Longbow
- John Strunk Buffalo Runner Spirit (door prize at Trad Bowhunters of Maryland banquet)
- Ben Pearson Mustang
- Joe Mattingly osage "DogLeg" (donated to auction for Joe)
- Joe Mattingly osage "OneHoler"*
- John Strunk Tillamook Spirit vine maple*
- Browning Wasp*
- Browning Cobra II
- Browning Explorer I*
- Browning Nomad
- Protege' Longbows  "Ol-Timer"
- Browning Explorer II*
- Robertson Vision Falcon
- Browning Explorer*
- Browning Safari*
- Robertson Fatal Styk
- Robertson Montana
- Noble Longbow
- John Strunk Buffalo Runner Spirit
- Mohawk Sparrowhawk
- Robertson Primal Styk*
- Robertson Wolfer*
- Blacktail Elite VL*
- picking up one piece Blacktail soon and think another Primal Styk or Vision Longbow is needed...and maybe a Tribal Styk too before Dick stops making bows.
*Still hanging on my wall.

Also have two hickory bows..one started and just a stave waiting to be released that I need to finish one day.   

[Flatshooter]

Ancient Spirits
Pronghorn
Trees
PLX
PSAX
PCHX
PAX
PTFX
Blacktail
Hornes
BigJim Buffalo
BigJim Desert Bighorn
BigJim Thunderchild
Bear Super Kodiak
TallTines
Morrison Shawnee

Kept my BigJim Desert Bighorn and ordered a Thunderchild in October. Two bows is enough for me now!

[1flyfish]

Bear Recurve
Wes Wallace Stealth
Dwyer Dauntless
JD Berry Morningstar
Howard Hill Tembo
JD Berry Vixen (Coming)
Without a doubt JD BERRY MORNINGSTAR

[fnshtr]

10. Kempf Kwyk Styk.

[Bowhunter4life]

Hah, Derrick that is an awesome bow no doubt!!!  Exactly what I wanted at that time!!!   Glad you are enjoying it to the fullest!!!

Truthfully I could be happy with any one of my bows now until the end of time...  But I do have one SA III with 2 sets of limbs that has been named Reaper for good reason...  Critters just seem to die when it heads to the woods...  Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done when asked...  2 pair of limbs, 62# and 73# at my draw...  Both sets have taken game this year and I don't see them doing any less in the future...  Love that bow!!!  The 73# limbs are rough, and could use a refinish/repair but the got the job done again this year...

[Zmonster]

Bowhunter4life, I have one of yours too. A Kempf Kwyk Styk. Sweet bow. Thanks for putting it on the market.

[zagaya]

I've had exactly 4 in 31 years of shooting. A 92 Bill Kerner Allegheny Mountain recurve, a Wes Wallace recurve, an Aspen longbow by Chris, and a Robertson Montana Falcon. The rest were Bear and Ben Pearson factory bows.

The only custom I have left is the Kerner, probably because when I bought it, Bill and I spent several hours working on the riser together, me shooting and suggesting, and him shaping until I said, "Perfect." For that reason alone I'll never sell it, but also because it shoots better than any other bow I've ever owned. However, there is a good chance I will be switching to lefty, so it won't get shot as much in the future.

[BWallace10327]

Seems like I've had a bunch of bows, but I just have a few at a time.  I have had a blast trying them all.
1.   Snowy Mountain Glass backed oak kit bow
2.   Striped Wolf Longbow:
3.   Matin Rebel
4.   White Wolf Longhunter
5.   White Wolf Beowolf
6.   Bear Kodiak Magnum
7.   Martin Jaguar
8.   Howatt Hunter
9.   Bear Grizzly
10.   Greatree Osprey
11.   Bear SuperMag
12.   Saxon American
13.   Martin Savannah Stealth
14.   Yellowstone Half-Breed: Bought
15.   Bear Camo Kodiak Magnum
16.   Gary Sentman Icon
17.   Check Mate Hunter II
18.   Lewis Hollow Hayestini
19.   Wapiti Spike 3/2015
20.   A&H ACS
21.   Black Widow SAG
22.   Great Northern Lil Creep
23.   Black Widow PL II
24.   Northern Mist Witbeck
25.   Bear Kodiak 59’
26.   Big Jim Buffalo Bow
27.   Pronghorn Series IV
28.   Black Widow PCH III (riser) V (limbs)
29.   Black Widow PCH II

[stagetek]

I've had a few. Asbell Bighorn. Wind Walker. Black Widow. RER, and three Pittsley Predators. I still have the Wind Walker and all three Predators.

[stagetek]

Oop's I forgot one. A three week old, Rose Oak Heritage T/D. This one will be a keeper !