PRODUCTION vs. CUSTOM BOWS

[jsweka]

Spot on LBR - $1000 for a mass produced Bear makes me scratch my head.  Don't mean to bash anyone who has paid that for a new Bear if that is what you liked and what you wanted.
 
This is partly why I got into making my own.  I refuse to pay that much for a factory bow, but still can't afford a lot of the customs I like.

[George D. Stout]

And that factory, like Martin or Bear, takes care of lots of working folks who make those bows as well.....most of them with domestic woods like maple and birch.  Your money does as well right there too.  Let's study some economics people.

[Dave Bulla]

I look at the other way around.  How the H$!! do mass produced bow companies justify a price anywhere near what a custom bow costs?  Take a look at the Bear bows in stores today.  The fit and finish is a joke.  Martin bows are the only "production" bows I know of with good craftsmanship but they cost just as much as the average custom bows.

I think it's a pretty small percentage of custom bows that break the $1,000 mark.  Most run $400 to $600 and some you can get for less than that.  

I like going to the bowyers house, picking out the wood pieces, shooting some of his in stock bows and getting input on wood combinations or anything else related to the design of the bow.  Then, down the road if you have any problems, you also have an actual person to contact.  The odds of him making good for you on the deal are better too.

I was reading a while back where a guy said he preferred a big bow company (Samik) so that if he had a problem they could just send him another bow from stock instead of him having to wait for a replacement to be built by a custom bowyer.   I guess that is his right but for me, once I've owned a bow or gun, it is mine.  If something happens, I want THAT bow or gun fixed and back in my possession, not just another one pulled off a rack and mailed to me.  That's okay for tools or appliances or something like that but to me, bows are far more personal.  If a bow is not salvageable, I will gladly go back through the process again with the bowyer to have him make another bow that will be MINE and special to me.  Only had to do that once and I still wish to this day I'd have been able to keep the first bow just to hang on the wall.

[Mr.Magoo]

If you want a high dollar custom, just wait until one comes-up with your specs on the classifieds for about half price.

[George D. Stout]

That's true Mr.Magoo, a large percentage go there and they are the big names as well.  

Dave, it can be discussed into oblivion of course, to no one's satisfaction.  We grew up only having factory bows....bowyers were like hen's teeth...and we shot some beautiful bows, and the sale from those bows took care of lots of families.  There is no right or wrong in this debate, there are only choices.  I see that as a good thing.

[GingivitisKahn]

Cabellas currently lists the Martin Savannah for $529.99.  

After I finished adding stuff to my custom HH Halfbreed made from the wood I wanted, tipped with the antlers I wanted, handle wrapped with the leather I wanted, crafted to the exact length, weight and draw length I specified, I think I spent $550 or $575 - something like that.

I'd not deride the Savannah for a second, but I think I got my money's worth with the HH (and then some).

[Shakes.602]

I dont OWN a Brandly New Bow from Either Place!! My "Used" Bows Shoot Just as Well as the $1,000.00 Bow, and the Whole Stable of Bows I Own, I KNOW I dont have $1,000 Invested!! I Love Every One of My Bows, but am ALWAYS on the Lookout!!

[30coupe]

Martin Savannah - list price: $569.99

Martin Viper - list price: $769.99

Bear Takedown Supreme - list price: $1399.99

Bear Kodiak Supreme - list price: $999.99

Bear Patriot - list price: $499.99

All production bows.

JK Traditions Kanati custom longbow - list price: $475.00

Dryad Orion custom three piece longbow or recurve - list price: $550.00

Lost Creek custom longbows - list price $450.00 shipped.


There are lots of custom bows available for equal or lower prices than quality production bows. The difference is not the price. The difference is the fit and the knowledge that the bow was built just for you. We have lots of great custom bowyers, many of whom are members or sponsors here. I have nothing against production bows, but if we don't support our custom bowyers, all we'll have is production bows. Could we get by with that, probably, but what fun would that be?

I agree with George, a skilled archer with a production bow will out shoot an unskilled one with a custom bow. The same would be true in reverse as well. I shoot better with a bow that fits me well. My custom bows fit me and cost less than lots of production bows.

Would I spend $1000 on a bow, custom or production...probably not. I don't have to.

[trashwood]

it is easy question for me.  I want a 64" longbow with a bullet proof riser.  I would not exactly call me traditional by todays standards.  I want a bow that is very adaptable.  scroll down the page to the camo'ed bow.  that is mine.  Mike re-enforced the riser so it would stand the extra stress I put on the riser string walking.  I wanted sight and stabilizer bosses on it......I wanted a 1960's bow   .  the great thing about a custom bow is that you get to work with the bowyer.  

I would venture that this bow and I are are very close to what traditional was in the hayday of what traditional really is  

 http://sites.google.com/site/stringwalkerbowhunter/dryadorion

rusty

[BDann]

I looked for a production bow for quite a while to get what I wanted;  a 40-45lb@30", and I could not find anything.  Seems like all the production bows are made for the average size shooter with a 28" draw.  The bow would have had to be under 40lbs@28" in order to fit my needs.  Finally I had Tradbowyer build me one, and for $200 at that!

[Bowkill7]

Most people in favor of custom bows only comment with feel good answers with no meat.    Do you need to spend your money at a backyard bower because you are anti-factory?  Most people building bows at a custom bower or factory probably shoot them and enjoy the sport.   Do you really need a #53 draw instead of the #50 or #55?  Probably not.  Want a specific bow?  The only options you are going to get from a custom bower that you can’t get from a production are related to looks.

What the factory bows list there bows at is a lot more than what you can actually get them for.  I recently purchased a brand new Martin Bamboo Viper on **** for less than half its MSRP.  I would love to see a custom bow out perform it.

[LBR]

The only options you are going to get from a custom bower that you can’t get from a production are related to looks.

That is incorrect.  I think you can get some customization from Martin, but I don't know of any other "over the counter" bow that offers any.

A couple of big ones to me are you can get is a grip made to your specs and limbs tillered to your specs/draw length.  I really dislike most "factory" grips.  As I said before, almost every otc bow I've shot stacked well before I got to anchor.  I can also get variations in the crown/radius of the shelf, how deep it's cut, inserts......besides little things that personalize the bow whether it shoots better or not--and for the same money or less than a comparable otc bow.  The only drawback is I can't get it as quick.

[OS]

I think some otc bows have gotten better over the last couple years.  I think the big advantige in Custom is in the longer draws.  Example I draw 29.5 inches on my longbows most of the custom bows I've shot and owned have offered a smoother draw out to my draw.  But again there have been improvements a fine example is I was lookinig at the new Bear Montana longbows. A friend of mine has an older one when still 68" the difference in the draw between his and the new one was HUGE (in the same draw wht.)  That being said I've never paid over $500 for my custom bows either.  so what does this all mean to me.  Well now almost anyone can find a nice traditional bow that fits the hand, draw, and wallet!!

[Dave Bulla]

One thing I need to clarify from my first post.  When I said I thought Martin was the only production bow with quality fit and finish, I was talking about current production.  I've got at least 15 older recurves like Bear, Pearson, Wing, Blackhawk (Cravotta Bro's), Root, Herters and I'm sure some others and all are very well made and finished.  It is the current line up of bows being made today that are machine made with huge tip overlays and blocky risers that I feel are overpriced for what you get.

30Coupe's post pretty much reflects my experience.  You can get a full custom bow for the same or less than many production bows.

But heck, I buy most of my bows used.  Of all my recurves I have, I know I paid less than $100 for each of them and less than $80 for most of them.

My "go to" bow is a custom longbow that I got new and is just about the only bow I ever shoot for whatever that's worth.

[joevan125]

The time and effort these guys spend on these custome bows that are over $1,000 are well worth the price. I have shot some of those production bows and really there is no comparision at all.

[Bjorn]

Like many here I have had my share of both. These days I am into customs and can't think of a production bow I might lust after. I like knowing who made it and definitely like having a say in the finished product. As for cost? Production bows are overpriced.  

[Friends call me Pac]

I started out with a take down production bow as a new trad shooter last year.  That bow served me fine and I got 2 deer with it.  After shooting it for a little over a year I noticed the limbs would get out of alignment.  The place where the limbs bolt onto the riser had worn just a tiny bit but it was enough to throw the limbs out of wack.

It cost less than $200 brand new, got me started in trad and got 2 deer for me.  Bottom line is it didn't last very long.

On the other hand I have a Bear Kodiac Magnum that was given to me and it is over 30 years old.  Still shoots like a champ.  It only pulls 38 @28" so I can't hunt with it here but it shoots very well.

This year I bought a custom bow from a well known boyer here in AR.  Shoots great, smooth and if anything goes wrong with it I only have to drive an hour to chat with the man that made it.

[fido dog]

My custom bow ain't that fancy and I love my Kmag.

[James on laptop]

To me it is all about how a bow shoots.I could care less who or where it is built.A good bow is one that fits you,shoots well and will do the job you want to use it for.I am not much for buying bows for art work and if it is one I really like it will get some camo spray paint on it so looks are not important to me and don't justify the cost many custom bowyers charge for fluff. My bows are just tools that need to work and I will not wait months to buy one any more than I would do so to buy a screw driver.    jmo. jmo

[GingivitisKahn]

Originally posted by Bowkill7:
The only options you are going to get from a custom bower that you can’t get from a production are related to looks.

Well that and a bow tillered correctly for one's draw length.  Mine is 29 (could get by with a factory bow, sure) and another poster mentioned his was 30.

Why spend as much or more for a factory bow that will do, when you can get a custom bow exactly like you want if for comparable cash?