PRODUCTION vs. CUSTOM BOWS

[raideranch]

Why spend $1000+ on a custom bow when you can buy a Bear or Martin that performs just as well for half the price?  Most production bows also look great and last for decades. What do you think?

[robslifts]

i like the feeling that the bow you get was made specifically for me it just feels better

[wingnut]

Who the heck would spend 1000+ on a custom bow?  You can put everything you can think of on one of ours for $700.  And buy a basic model for the same as the production bow.

Mike

[kevgsp]

[sw]

I have never understood the higher prices of bows. Same materials, same construction in my opinion your paying for a name.

Now when you start getting high polished finishes and the like - THEN i completely understand your paying for the labor in finishing. But again a satin finished bow shoots as well as a high polished one - without the added cost.

Its upto the bowyer to make the bow stable, smooth and consistant - fast is good too - but speed means nothing without the first three. I'd rather sell four 300.00 bows in a month then one 1000.00 bow personally.

[Frenchymanny]

 
F-Manny

[jacobsladder]

I think design is the key...some bows shoot better than others... some bowyers have put alot of time and effort in developing a stable, quiet, quick shooting bow and then add very good fit and finish to it.... Ive had production bows that shoot better than some customs...but the firefly i have now is one that i would have no problem paying extra for......dont tell Jim that...  

[owlbait]

I like my custom bows and would rather spend money to support my custom bowyers then big manufacturers who don't know me from Dick or Jane.

[Steel]

Yep there is something about being able to pick up the phone and talk with the guy thats building a bow for me. They can build the grip just perfect for me,Make the bow length perfect for me,poundage and so on. You can also get some very good custom made bows at production bow cost. That said I have never really had any major issue with any production bow I have owned in the past. The most important thing is a bow fits you, you shoot it well, and you like it.

[billy shipp]

I'm pretty sure this is the FIRST time this topic has came up....bout time I say !

Now everyone has a new topic to comment on    

[vtmtnman]

Not to stir the pot on this...

After shooting production bows for most of my archery life,I can tell you there IS a difference.A large one.I love my silvertip.

 

[Toxophilite]

"Factory Bows": Good performers for the money.  

"Custom Bows":  Custom laminates, custom handles, specific draw weights, specific tillering, superior fit & finish, personalized service. NOT THAT MUCH MORE $$$!!!    

My 2 cents worth...

[mcgroundstalker]

Production Bows vs. Custom Bows is like the age old Apples vs. Oranges debate. They are NOT the same in many ways that I will elect not to mention here. That being said...

The man behind the bow is the key to good, accurate shooting. If you are a new-bee to trad there is no way a $1000 bow will make you shoot any better than a fella at it for years with a yard sale production bow. I read somewhere that the ARROW being matched and tuned to the bow is most important.

Then again I just dig some of those custom jobs out there but won't bring myself to spend alot of $$$ on the "high-end" stuff anymore. That's why I'll grab 'em here used on Trad Gang.....   :rolleyes:  

... mike ... Missing my Martin Dream Catcher ...  :(

[George D. Stout]

A guy who knows what he is doing with the Martin Hunter, will outshoot an also-ran with a fancy custom made.

You pay for work, woods, fit and finish. If it's worth extra to you, than buy it.  There are lots of reasonably priced customs as well.

[Ragnarok Forge]

I bought two customs, one for the wife and one for me.  Love them and just ordered the wife another one from the same bowyer.  I picked a bowyer close to home.  I visit his shop to pick up and order bows. This way we get face to face customer service and really enjoy interacting with him.  The extra touches, being able to pick the woods we want, and personal interaction and direct customer service made it well worth paying the high price for the bows.  I paid $825 for my take down.  It is absolutely gorgeous, shoots great, is smooth as silk, has no stacking thru the full draw length, and is deadly quiet.  

For me custom was the only way find a bow that fit me.  Make no mistake, if a factory bow at half the price fit me, I would have gone that route.  Lots of great factory bows out there.  I just prefer having a perfect fit with the personal touches.  I have no intention of ever selling the bow, and I am ordering a second one as a back up with different wood here shortly.

[k. sisco]

If you don't want to spend the extra money for a custom bow great,...but as for me they are worth every penny extra for a custom bow.
In fact some are under priced for the time and effort it takes to produce one....IMO
But to each his own.

Ken

[RLA]

It comes down to personal preference. I like seeing my money go to the little guy over a large factory. Buy the best you can afford it's just money you can't take it with you when you die. So shoot what you like and enjoy!

[tradtusker]

Originally posted by raideranch:
Why spend $1000+ on a custom bow when you can buy a Bear or Martin that performs just as well for half the price?  

Because quite a few do not perform the same, also you dont have to spend $1000 on a custom bow you can get a custom bow for half that.

thats the beauty of archery mate, you can shoot whatever bow YOU want    

[Tsalagi]

Well, because some custom bowyers will do a trade if you have something you want. The factories don't do trades. And having something unique and exactly the way you want it is a quality all its own.

[LBR]

Why spend $1000+ on a custom bow when you can buy a Bear or Martin that performs just as well for half the price?  

Last time I looked you can spend $1,000 on a Bear, and Martin has been working on closing the gap.

If you know where to look, you can get a custom bow for the same or less money than most any Bear or Martin--new, not used.  The down-side is the wait.

I personally have never spent near $1,000 on a single bow (although I have owned several that retailed in that range), and I don't plan to.  I don't give up anything in the performance, durability, craftsmanship, or warranty categories either.

I prefer custom bows due to my draw length.  Most all "over the counter" bows stack well before I reach anchor.  Besides that, I can get a bow made for me, much nicer looking (IMO), in my choice of several different options, for less money than a comparable "over the counter" bow.  I have bows to shoot so, although I don't like to wait, I can stand it.

Chad