Lofton Choctaw Hunter LB

[Avid Archer]

Does anyone have any info. on these bows, quality, value, etc.

AA

[joebuck]

Bobby Lofton was a bowyer from Indianola, Ms. He recently died last year in his early 70's. Bobby by trade was a tool and die maker for years at a local business in Indianola. He once made his own compound with handmade parts in mid 70's i remember vividly. Bobby basically made several 100s longbows and some light frame recurves under the Choctow namein the early 80's through  late 90s. He sold his bows new from around 150-300. He made a bow everyone could afford.As far as shootability, they shoot great. Bobby didn't get into the "fancy" stuff could have if he wanted. His basic clients around those parts just wanted a good hunting bow and not have to pay out of the nose for one.. Thats what Bobby built. He built alot of things most in this business will never know of his genuis. One thing comes to mind was a single tapering machine. He made this tumbler that nock tapered shafts......Quality and value are subjective but i say you have a durable ,functional hunting bow for many years of service. To me the man was more valuable a story than his bows....others knew him well on here will probably chime in.. Bobby was a gentleman and kind friend to all traditional shooters in the ArkLaMs area.

[DCM]

I bought a sleeved takedown longbow from him in the late 90s.  It was well worth the price, around $250 I believe.  As a point of reference, to buy the materials for such a bow would cost around $125 in those days.  It performed as expected.  I've since re-tillered, basically just taking some width and shortening slightly to reduce limb mass and it's an exceptional shooter.  Boo facing lams under clear glass with osage core are typical for him, he processed his own lams from raw bow.  This makes a good combination, boo in particular.  The performance was typical of commercial bows, slightly overbuilt to ensure durabilty.  Like JoeBuck said, they are not the top quality fit and finish you see on some other products.  But I'm a pragmatic person and honestly see no difference in this bow and any other of similar design, other than the asthetics.  Look your bow over well, shoot it some and then decide.  The ones I've seen, again like JoeBuck says lots of folks in the area have them, they are a good value.

[RonD]

Around here Bobby Lofton's passing was a definite loss to the archery community in this region and around the coumtry. Bobby made a basic hunting bow that served its purpose. He special built me a hybrid longbow he called the Choctaw Halfbreed. I still have that bow and shoot it with some frequency. That bow will stay on my bow rack and never be for sale. You had to know Bobby and the contribution he has made to archery and bowhunting to really appreciate what he was about and the good works he did. Bobby gave away a number of bows to folks that could not aford one and sold some below what it cost him to make them. I hope people never forget him.

[luvnlongbow]

I have a Chocktaw Chief made by Bobby. It is one fine bow. When I ordersed it he told me he would make me a good bow. In my opinion it is a great bow. Affordable and shoots where I look.