Is it the Bow or the Bowyer?

[HighNTree]

What do you consider to be more important when looking for a new bow?  Is it the the bow itself or the reputation and track record of the bowyer?  For me a bow is only as good as the man or women who stands behind it.  Some bowyers have a stellar reputation for not only building a great bow but for being honest, reliable, and all around stand-up guys.  For me, a bow is only 40 percent of the equation. 

What are your thoughts?

[TattooDave]

I would agree with that to certain extent. Given quality is equal, I've been known to pay extra for a product based on the reputation and customer service.

Tattoo Dave

[Crash]

Interesting question, one that you can see from different perspectives for sure.  I would lean towards the bow being more important, without discounting the bowyer.  I have a longbow that is an extension of myself, can pick it up after a long layoff and hit consistently.  It's no longer being made, as the bowyer has retired, but there is no way that I am going to sell it.

[V I Archer]

Interesting question. I can name several bows I would like to shoot or better yet own based upon the reputation of the Bowyer alone (Jerry Pierce, Earl Hoyt Jr., Glen St. Charles, Paul Schafer, Ed Scott...) 

That said there are several production bows that I would not turn my nose up at; hatfield takedown, a number of the iconic Bear recurves, I would even argue that Black Widow is at least in part a production bow.  There is no way of knowing the bowyer responsible for turning out these fine bows, but I would own and shoot them just the same.

[Yooper-traveler]

For me it's 100% the bow itself. If a bow doesn't feel right or fit me right, down the road it goes.

[pdk25]

Great question.  It is both.  Certain models may be great, and fit you to a T,  but if you can't contact the bowyer, or they keep pushing the scheduled build date back, it may be more aggravation than it is worth.  Another instance is when another bowyer takes over for an established bowyer.  Sometimes the quality isn't nearly what it was.  I have experienced that one personally.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Interesting question. If I am buying a used bow, it's 100% the bow.

If ordering a new bow, both factors are equally important.

[Jim Wright]

Honestly I've never had to choose. I am fortunate in having dealt with Dan and Jared Toelke from the beginning. My bows have always been exceptionally fine shooting, beautifully made customs and you will never deal with better people.

[1Arrow1Kill]

Interesting question . . . after some deliberation I've decided that the bow is most important to me.  It must feel right, shot great and perform in all the conditions I place it.  The bowyer, while the bow's architect, is less important to me than the final product during the life of the bow.  I take the bow to the woods, not the bowyer. 

Same with vehicles, clothes and other gear . . .  as long as it feels rights, works great and performs in all the conditions I place it, I really don't care what manufacturer's label is on the item.

I can understand and respect other's feeling differently.    

[LC]

For me it's BOTH. But I am both. Been building my own for so long now I can't imagine any other way. My complaint department doesn't put up with anything I can't handle!

To the newbies reading this thread. YES you can totally build your own bow. To YOUR liking. You don't have to be rich just have the desire. Let me assure you I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I've worked two to three jobs my entire life while raising twin daughters. Watched and saved my pennies, lived within my means and I've went on some incredible successful hunts all over the North America and Canada using my own home made bows. The list of animals taken by me and my bows, not to brag but is a long list. Some or most P& Y.

As a old timer told me once it's not the bow it's the archer BUT I'll put one of my home made bows up against any custom or mass produced bows made. The resources out there now cut the learning curve down unlike anything I had available. Including the Trad Gang bow builders forum. Just food for thought for the young bucks out there reading this thread.

[olddogrib]

If I felt those were mutually exclusive and I'd have to choose between the two, I'd save my money and look somewhere else.

[GCook]

For me it's BOTH. But I am both. Been building my own for so long now I can't imagine any other way. My complaint department doesn't put up with anything I can't handle!

To the newbies reading this thread. YES you can totally build your own bow. To YOUR liking. You don't have to be rich just have the desire. Let me assure you I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I've worked two to three jobs my entire life while raising twin daughters. Watched and saved my pennies, lived within my means and I've went on some incredible successful hunts all over the North America and Canada using my own home made bows. The list of animals taken by me and my bows, not to brag but is a long list. Some or most P& Y.

As a old timer told me once it's not the bow it's the archer BUT I'll put one of my home made bows up against any custom or mass produced bows made. The resources out there now cut the learning curve down unlike anything I had available. Including the Trad Gang bow builders forum. Just food for thought for the young bucks out there reading this thread.

Many young people could learn from that example.   Living within one's means, getting out of debt through hard work and self discipline will take you a long ways in life. 
I'm sure the satisfaction of hunting with the boss you make is worth more than the money in the end.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

[Gdpolk]

Both are important to me with almost any product that I buy, including my bows. 

I'm not settling on quality of the product to get an experience that I want.  I'm not putting up with BS, apathy, or dirty dealing to get a quality product.  We are fortunate today to be in a place where we really can choose to have both exceptional products AND exceptional customer service.

[Bowguy67]

Both are important to me with almost any product that I buy, including my bows. 

I'm not settling on quality of the product to get an experience that I want.  I'm not putting up with BS, apathy, or dirty dealing to get a quality product.  We are fortunate today to be in a place where we really can choose to have both exceptional products AND exceptional customer service.

I feel exactly the same!!!!

[Jwilliam]

The person building the bow is every bit as important to me as the bow itself. We’re very lucky to have so many talented bowyers, that are straight up great people as well. They will go above and beyond to make sure there customers are taken care of. I feel very fortunate to have built some life long friendships with some of these fine men. Just one of the things I really love about shooting traditional bows.

[Trenton G.]

For me it's the bow. If I can't shoot it well, or it doesn't feel right, it doesn't stick around. I have a PSE Blackhawk, which most would consider a pretty cheap production bow. I have never met the guy who made it. I don't know what kind of person he is, but that bow shoots just as well as most customs I've shot and will stay on my bow rack for as long as I can help it. On the flip side, I had a custom bow that was made by a very reputable bowyer and just an all around great guy, but I could never figure out how to shoot it. It was a beautiful bow, but I just didn't get along with it and that one hit the road pretty quickly. While I love the idea of helping people out because of who they are, at the end of the day a bow isn't cheap and I want to make sure that I'm getting something that works for me.

[Caddo]

I'd say both. First and foremost, it's the bow. If it doesn't shoot for me, then I don't want it. I don't care who made it. The bowyer is also important to me because I would have a tendency to look to the more reputable bowyers first. However, I don't care how good a bow shoots, if the bowyer is a jackwad, I won't deal with him. So I'd say both play a significant factor.

LD

[rraming]

Strikes me as strange why people post the same question on multiple websites

Both - can not tell you how many bows I purchased from bowyers that were messed up in my observations. Better have a great bowyer and a decent design

[Kingstaken]

Strikes me as strange why people post the same question on multiple websites

Both - can not tell you how many bows I purchased from bowyers that were messed up in my observations. Better have a great bowyer and a decent design

The same reason ppl answer the same question on multiple websites    but most likely not all are on multiple sites.

The bow design is more important. I don't hold and feel the bowyer.
But I also have a sliding scale with regards to the price I would pay for a well established bowyer and that to a newbie. I'm not gonna pay top $ for a newbie to build me a bow he may not be around in a yr or two to back it should it fail.

[pavan]

i shoot bows that I made, Nate Steen and JD Berry made.  When shooting shooting another makers bow, it really helps that they get the personal specs of the individual built into the bow.   That keeps guys like me from needing to alter the bow in anyway and sometimes these expert bow smiths, do things that the person didn't think of and find that it really helps.