Missing a strike plate - typical?

[Tom Anderson]

Just took delivery of a custom bow.  No strike plate or rug/shelf material was provided.  Is this typical s.o.p. these days or am I missing something?  I can't imagine shooting a bow without something on there.

[Sixby]

Unless you ordered one and specified to the bowyer that you want a certain kind it is standard practice to receive real customs without strike plates or nock points on the strings. Most of the folks pretty mcuh have their own ideras about what they want and would just take it off. I usually ask my customers though and have had a few that wanted a strike plate. I do don supply or set nock points though. That is a part of tunning the bow. Steve

[seabass]

i've never known them not to at least supply that.some people like to put on their own style rest,but they sould have sent one with the bow.don't shoot it without one,you'll scratch your bow.give them a call,they may have forgotten it.good luck,steve

[Tom Anderson]

Originally posted by seabass:
...they may have forgotten it...

Which means they probably "forgot" to test-shoot the bow, too....hmmmm.

[wingnut]

Tom,

Most bows are test shot before the finish is applied and shot without the strike plates.  I've forgot them once or twice over the years.  Kinda embarrasing.  LOL

Mike

[Bowwild]

All of mine have had strikeplates and rugs straight from the bowyer.

[Bill Skinner]

Some have, some have not.  Most of the time, if I did not specify what kind of rest or strike plate, I got velcro for both.  They worked but as someone mentioned, I replaced both when I started tuning.  Bill

[Sixby]

What Mike said except I just ask my customer if they want one or not.

[JRY309]

I would rather put my own rest and side plate on a new bow.But most all of the bows I've bought new had a rest put on them from the bowyer,but I still like to put my own on.

[BOWMARKS]

Never received a bow with out them.  

[Winterhawk1960]

I've yet to receive a custom built bow without a side/strike plate on it. Usually a nocking point on it also.......actually, I appreciate the side/strike plates, but would rather tie on my own nocking point after the string is finished stretching.

Winterhawk1960

[Tom Anderson]

Well, based on the responses so far, it appears to be more common to not have one provided than I thought.

Mike, I guess it does make sense to test-shoot a bow before final finish - that way any necessary "refinements" can be done before it's sprayed.  (I hadn't thought of that before).

Anyway, I've got me some Velcro and I'm almost good-to-go.

Thanks, guys.

[Sixby]

I just finished a bow that is going to be sold at the Jackson Hole Charity Auction.  A bow like that gets a rest, string, stringer and bowcase.

When I build for a specific customer I just ask if they want a rest . If they were a complete novice then I would supply a nock point and also an arrow size reccomendation. I have actually had a few that wanted me to order their quivers , armguards and arrows. I did. I even sent them detailed instructions on how to string a bow and which side was the back and which the belly so they didn't try stringing it backwards.

This thread has kind of been an eye opener to me too. I didn't realize that so many trad guys expected to get a bow that was ready to shoot.Its not a problem but  I guess that is because those things like nock point, tuning,. rest ect were always personal to me and kind of apart from the bowyers responsibility. Of course what the customer wants the customer will get.    

[Tom Anderson]

I just didn't know what standard procedure was, as this is my first custom bow built just for me - all my others have been secondhand and ready-to-go.

[TD2]

IMO some sort of shelf/sideplate material and nocking put should be included...but not installed. Nothin sux more than gettin a new bow and then having to drive 20 miles into town to get a dollars worth of supplies to make it shootable.

[Curveman]

Originally posted by TD2:
IMO some sort of shelf/sideplate material and nocking put should be included...but not installed. Nothin sux more than gettin a new bow and then having to drive 20 miles into town to get a dollars worth of supplies to make it shootable.

I agree. Including that is a nice gesture by the bowyer for low money even if most of us do customize our own.

[newell38]

masking tape will do in a pinch until you get your rest and plate.

[joevan125]

I love using Velcro on most all my bows.

[Tom Anderson]

I'm good to go, y'all - I've already got velcro on it and am waiting for it to cool off so I can shoot it.

[Fletcher]

All of the new longbows I have bought have had a leather shelf and plate on them, and I would at least expect something to be provided if not installed.  A nocking point on the string is no big deal one way or another, but it had best have a string.  A bow w/o a string is just a stick.