Do you keep or trade/sell bows

[Wudstix]

Question:  Do you keep bows after you get a new girl friend.  Or do you trade/sell the previous love of your life?  I have several bows that can't be replaced even if I wanted to, due to retirement or passing of the bowyer.  Have one the is almost a prototype TD recurve from Damon Howatt.  Have two that may be on the block, but there is not much market for 70#+ bows.
 

[M60gunner]

I have kept a few and sold a few. I have a few bows I will keep for sentimental reasons. Right now only thing I would pass on are a couple I can’t comfortably shot anymore.

[Wudstix]

My Big River bows and MOAB are not going anywhere.  The latest McDonald bow is my lightest.  As fate and fit have it I can still shoot the heavier bows.  Also, the HTD which is a lighter weight, so will be shootable for longer.
 

[dnovo]

Years ago I would buy another new longbow every couple years. Always kept all the ones I had. Had quite a few that way. Then I started selling the ones that were getting too heavy.  After that I sold several last few years that I just didn't shoot any more. So now I'm down to the 6 or 7 that are not going anywhere.  My MOAB, my Wild Horse Creek bows and my Mohawks.  I'm keeping those and for the most part I'm not buying any more.
I don't think

[Wudstix]

My latest Big River 62" 53.5#@27 3/8" mild D/R longbow will be my "old man" bow.  Also, will be my turkey bow.
 

[tippit]

I have kept way too many

[elkken]

When I retired in 2008 I went on a buying, selling and trading binge. So many bows so little time. I wanted to kill something with each one before I sent it on, but I found out it's easier to buy bows than shoot critters with all the new ones. I was definately a classifieds junky for several years and met many fine Trad Gangers that way. At first I just wanted to try other bows but as I aged I was thinning the herd because I could no longer pull the weight. I also donated several bows to the Washington Traditional Bowhunters and St Judes over the years. I am down to 4 bows now. Two Caribows, one a LB and the other a recurve. A Fred Anderson LB and a Border Black Douglas recurve. The Fred Anderson bow is a little heavy for me and I have not hunted it but I think it's a keeper, all the others have drawn blood.

The bow that was hardest to part with was my Bill Stewart multi cam recurve. That was a fine bow and I shot some good critters with it, including the Whitetail in my Avatar. 

[Wudstix]

I'm blessed to still be able to shot my age, but I have a couple bows for when that time comes when I can't.
 

[Hud]

I have sold many, and still have some to sell, mostly longbows.  I intend to build a few T/Ds but not one piece bows.  Shipping bows over four feet in the USA and five or more internationally has gone through the roof. 

[wahoo]

that's funny I just got done shooting and I'm looking at my bows I must have at least 20 and no I don't sell them or trade them just keep shooting them :biglaugh:https://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/Smileys/tg/xxc_laugh.gif

[McDave]

I really have no financial need to sell any bows, and I like having them around, but I’m not getting any younger, and I’m beginning to think about all my bows being more of a burden than a blessing to those I leave behind.  So yes, it would be a good idea if I started selling some of them….tomorrow.

[Maclean]

I remember not too long ago when I said "just this one more bow and I'll be done buying bows". Yeah well that hasn't happened yet, and my collection continues to grow. I don't have a LOT of bows, but I have plenty, and another custom on order. I've traded and sold a few but it's getting to the point where the ones I have are the ones I really want. At some point I've got to stop buying bows, I think, maybe.

[Captain*Kirk]

I have kept every bow I ever bought and have no intention of selling any of them at present.

[Even]

So far, I've kept them all.   It has been nice to be able to introduce a couple people to Traditional archery on my first few lower, incremental poundage bows, so I've kept them around.   My McBroom string follow and 82# Armbruster Zebra Grevy are going nowhere, ever.   The Zebra is like a laser. 

I have a Northern Mist Classic coming soon, I hope, so I suspect that will join the ones I'll ask them to pile on my coffin    Or maybe use them as fuel on my ship burial.

[JDinPA]

I am just starting to sell a lot of my bows that I just don't shoot anymore. I have 10 that I'm going to sell this year. 

[glenbo]

Yes, I do all three. If I Honestly don’t shoot them and hunt with them they are gone. Anything that is too heavy for me and tears my shoulders up I sell or trade. In my thirties I shot 60#. In my sixties low to mid 40# bows are comfortable and still get the job done.

[double eagle]

I am still picky about what I buy.  Being a lefty helps impulse buying.  I don't sell any, but do give one or two away to close friends that want to try them.  The only stipulation is if they don't like them or trad style, they give them back.  The 4 friends that got them still shoot them today. 
    Talk about selling, Bill in Elkland, MO started selling his collection of 450+ bows on around 2010 and still has a bunch.  He only lists them in craigslist for the Elkland Mo area.  I spent an entire day with him shooting, seeing the mass collection, and talking traditional.  Not only did I walk out with about 6 bows, a Young feather burner, and Western 648 knife too.  If in that area, check it out.  He doesn't buy anymore, but will trade for firearms.

[glenbo]

With four grandchildren I will keep a nice stash to give them when they get a little older.

[MnFn]

Interesting topic, Michael.
I’ve lost track of how many bows I’ve owned. My bow buying didn’t start til I was nearly fifty years old.

I was on a search for the perfect bow, one that I could reliably pick up and shoot well. That search took me through numerous bows by the same bowyer in some cases. I’ve owned four Tall Tines, three Pronghorns, four Shrews, (or JavaMan), two JD Berry, three Blacktail, a few Black Widows and a couple Northern Mist for example.

One thing that I found was that for me, I had to limit myself to shooting just a few bows. So I made a decision that I would not buy another bow unless I sold one. I limited myself to 4-5 bows for quite awhile.

Currently, I am down to three bows. A Tall Tines recurve with an extra set of limbs, a  Black Widow recurve, and a Liberty English. I have no desire for more as I am completely satisfied with these.

[PrimitivePete]

I honestly prefer to only keep bows that I have the intention of hunting with, anything else get sold or traded. I admit I prefer trading because I like to get to meet other traditional hunters and get to try new stuff. Lately that has slowed down a bunch as I am more content with what I have and I don't have a good enough reason to get another bow. I did the same with some of my fishing gear and I couldn't believe how easy it was to sell them.