Expensive bows

[LBR]

Shoot what you like.  Just know that more money doesn't always equal more bow.  Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.  A friend of mine has about $1,000 tied up in a bow that can't be shot...and it's not pretty to boot.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Any fishermen in the house here?... Good example might be saying an "Eagle Claw" fiberglass rod catches just as many fish as a "Lami-glass certified pro" does....

 but..... once you've fished with a top of the line rod, it's really difficult to go back to fiberglass....Night and day difference.

For the discriminating archer, there is nothing finer than a high quality custom bow..... Kirk

[Bowwild]

Our tastes and priorities vary that's for sure.  Archery, is pretty much my only serious "hobby" (life-style really). I'm going to own the best performing, best looking (according to my tastes) that I can afford.

I have found that bowyers like Kirk at Bigfoot can ask a customer 2-3 questions and custom build a bow that fits too a "T" and will be a top-performer. For Kirk to do this he only need's a persons: I-Q, Favorite Color, and Social Security number (I didn't like sharing my favorite color).

I also have a mass-produced bow that is an really good performer but it is pretty plain Jane looking.

[Moots]

I have five bows.  A couple are expensive bows that I bought used, so I got a little better deal.

Each of my bows feel a little unique . . . like a little different personality.  I have a bow that I paid $250 for that I like as much as a bow that I paid over $600 for (both used).  I don't want to sell either, and when I am shooting, I never remember how much I paid.

[kat]

My passion is shooting trad. bows.

If I can shoot one, and have it be a real looker, that is like a two for one.

[threeunder]

Agree with everyone about liking how much better a custom bow looks.  But here is what I found as I "made my way" from production bows through custom bows.
My first longbow was a Barta bow in2006.  I shot and shot and shot that bow trying to "discover" my form.  There was nothing bad about the Barta bow to me.
Late 2007, I acquired a Tomahawk Diamond SS.  Wow, that little bit of handshock I didn't even realize was there was gone.  I was a lot more accurate with this bow too.
I lived life with only those 2 bows for a couple or three years.
Then I started trying some custom bows.  Stalker, MOAB, Thundrchild, Whip.
Now, and I still have a long way to go, I can see what an improvement these bows are over the Barta bow.  Any of you that know me know I am an unabashed MOAB fan.
Yes, when the string is drawn and released both the Barta bow and the MOAB spit out and arrow.  There, though, for me at least, is where the shooting experiences diverge.  The difference in handshock, sound, smoothness are quiet different.
I've never shot a Bear Montana. I do, however, own 4 Bear recurves and they are fine, fine bows.  I'm sure the Montana follows that line.
I could care less what the guy I'm hunting with is shooting.  I have had buddies in the past who have something negative to say about everyone else's gear, but go on and on about how perfect their's is.   That is a huge turnoff for me and I rarely share camp with those people again.
It's funny, but it took me a while to realize that I am the only person that has to be satisfied with my bow.
Ken

[jackdaw]

You can catch trout on a 5$ dollar yardsale special shakesphere flyrod.....or on a $600.00 graphite Winston flyrod...or on a 4,00.00 dollar Payne split bamboo/cane flyrod and all will work. The question that beacons is which do you get the highest degree of satisfaction out of using and better yet owning???? If it's the $5 dollar Shakesphere...then go for it...there's absolutely NOTHING wrong with that. I just personally like something with a little finer finish and appointments.....it gives me great pride in owning it. Not a wrong answer here....

[LBR]

I have several bows that money won't buy, even though most aren't worth that much on the open market.

In no particular order.....

An Osage selfbow a friend made for me.  Won a lot of trophies with it, including the Howard Hill...twice.  Cost:  $0

My first selfbow (hickory).  Actually the only one I've made to date--made this one with a LOT of "adult supervision".  Won the Tennessee Classic Selfbow Challenge with it.  Cost:  $0

An Eric Krewson BBO.  This one is a constant reminder of Eric's character and what kind of friend he is, as that's the only way to get one.  Cost:  $0

Vintage Herter's recurve.  Haven't even shot it yet--kind of afraid to, because I don't want to break it.  Given to me by another good friend.  Cost:  $0

A "fake Chocktaw".  Made with Mr. Jerry Pierce's woods, with his equipment, on his form...by his son-in-law about a year after Mr. Jerry passed away.  Mr. Jerry's son, Lenny, gave me this bow.  Cost:  $0

The longbow I killed my first deer with.  Can't remember if I bought it or traded for it.  Either way, cost:  CHEAP

These are all (well, except the Herters, which I'm not sure of) excellent shooters as well.  

Some are beautiful (the Eric Krewson BBO is a functional work of art), some unusual (the "fake" Choctaw has gold nuggets inlayed in the riser and gold dust under the limb glass), some have character (my osage selfbow), some are pretty plain (the selfbow I made), etc.  

No "custom" bow could ever replace any of these, regardless of how they shoot or look, and nobody is any prouder of their bows than I am of these.  

Sure, you can fish with cheap or expensive...but at the end of the day, who is the most impressive?  

The one with the most fish, regardless of what pole they used...and that's usually the one who had the most fun fishing too.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Obviously you've never handled a Lami-glass certified Pro Rod  Chad.... you missed the point...

Some folks may never experience the difference, or truly appreciate it.... others just don't care.

The thread was about "are expensive custom bows really worth it?"

I can safely say there are a lot of guys out there that do think it is worth every dime.  Kirk

[Sixby]

wouldn't marry an ugly woman with no fire in her and won't own an ugly bow with no fire in her. thats my story. I have during my entire life loved and appreciated the best. When I bought a rifle I bought the best. When I married a woman I was blessed with the best. When I bought bows I bought the best, When I bought or made arrows I bought the best or made them the best I could. When I build a bow it is going to be a bow I would be proud to own. If you are happy with what you have then you are indeed blessed but you may not have the best. I continually see people saying on these threads that such and such a bow is the premier bow of all time and the absolute best. Sometimes they actually believe that but until they have tried out every bow of that type and actually done that with no bias their touting is in vain. Even then they may have only the best for them. Not for me and vice versa.
Quality does come with a price.; Unless a man charges enough for the quality and time for his work he will not be doing it long. So to survive he must charge for that time , ability , material and overhead to not only cover the cost but to provide incentive to continue. This means true quality costs and it is expensive.

I can use Snapon tools or I can use tools for 1/4 the price. Both will get the job done. One will last a lifetime and one has a short lifetime. So onetime I spend the money to get the best I know of and have used and I do not complain but I proudly put them in my Snap0on roll-away and have them to use.


One thing when I see these threads.People bragging that a certain builder is the best and his bows are the best and nothing else is comparable. Yet those people have not tried all the bows of that type. therefore their testimony simply says , Hey this is a great bow.

You may pay out a lot of money and actually get a great product and it not be the best. The price does not mean its the best. But in bows if you get top design, top workmanship, top quality in all respects and you love the bow then its worth whatever price you paid.; If you don't love it then its absolutely worthless regardless of all the hype and reputation ect./

God bless you all, Steve

[vtmtnman]

Production bows don't hold a candle to a custom bow.

That's merely my opinion though.The fit and finish,the shootablity,the speed,everything.

[Sam McMichael]

If most of us who have had good luck with standard production bows were asked why we choose to to go to more beautiful and expensive custom bows, I suspect the most common answer, if we are truly honest, would simply be "Because I can".

[ron w]

I have had some very nice bows that were custom made for someone else. The classifieds let that happen at a fraction of the cost. It let me try some great bows and sort out what I like and then led me to custom stuff like Northern Mist and Holm-Made, which I have several of now! It all depends on what you like or want.

[Butternutz]

I look at it this way if you can afford it why not ,you only live once. Don

[duncan idaho]

Steve,
       Great post.....people should read it twice...then think about it and read it again.

[joe skipp]

As a former trad shop owner...YES they are worth it. I dealt both production and custom bows here and 90% of the customers who went Custom, shot production bows and wanted something more tailored for their shooting style and eye appealing.

I believe Martin Archery made the best production bow for the 15 yrs I ran my shop. Quality and Performance in each bow. BUT you got a standard model, with standard grip, riser shape etc..You had to adjust to the bow (especially the grip) to become proficient. Limb woods...whatever they used.

The custom bowyer will detail your bow to the exact specifications you want. Shape the riser, offer low/med/high grip, tiller the bow for you if you shoot 3 under, offers many different woods for your riser, limbs and overlays. It's a work of art with quality in every aspect of bow building. Plus, ONE MAN is doing all the work.

One man building bows, time consuming with alot of overhead. Belt sanders, grinders, tools, shipping materials, grinding lams, epoxies, sealers etc...His time is worth more than $10 an hour. If your satisfied with the Bear, Great. Nothing wrong with that. Just remember, it came off an assembly line where many hands performed the final finish once it left the press.

[Flying Dutchman]

Yessss! They are worth it. Every penny...For me at least.... When a bowyer does his job right, AND you are skilled enough to describe what you like in a bow, you will end up with a bow who meets your needs exactly.
It will be a great shooter for you, with the right grip and that fantastic look you like. It is a joy to shoot such a bow and it makes your hearth sing to shoot with it...

[Bowwild]

Flying Dutchman made a great point about getting the most of a custom order. If you really know what you like, beyond the aesthetics and obvious specifications such as draw weight and length, one can maximize the value of the custom bow.

Personally, I  think the most important thing to know is how your bowhand should be set on the grip. Then go for a grip that helps you do this subconsciously without variation.  I've bought several used bows (and sold and traded them as well). I think that is a great way to get into a top-notch bow without waiting for months or years and to save a few hundred dollars (some times).

However, the grip on these acquisitions will be a coin toss whether or not you are going to like em. Most are too thick at the throat for me - I like a grip throat smaller than 5" for instance. Locator grips (finger grooves on the back-type) can be perfect for one size hand/fingers and not spaced properly for others. Some like checkering and some don't.

I find it somewhat of a duanting task to set aside many hundreds of dollars and then making these decisions. For better or worse, most bowyers will give you what you want, then it's on you.  

My first custom bow is a beautiful thing that is no longer made. I picked the woods, accent, etc. I went a little too wild I think. The woods used were exceptional for the species but together with a very contrasting accent stripe it is a bit overwhelming.  Thank goodness the bowyer slowed me down a bit -- I'm probably his only customer who ever asked for a BLUE accent strip. He didn't do it, thank goodness.

I have had to talk a couple fellows in to installing a Bear Compass in some pretty nice bows. Two of three did it and I love those bows -- still have both of them. Another bowyer forgot to do it. In fairness, he offered to make it right but I didn't want to return the riser. I don't have that bow any longer.

[Flying Dutchman]

I had a whole conversation with Abe from Caribow about the grip and heel-height and width of troath. He made it just perfect for me. I think most bowyers can do that. But it is important that you yourself know what you want. If you can't formulate what you want, the bowyer can't make it!

[eflanders]

Originally posted by Izzy:
If you like purty things they're worth every penny. Some are beyond function and become works of art.

I think Izzy really summed it up pretty well for standardized customs.  However, the service, fit and unique support one can get from anything custom made for the person is sometimes forgotten when the item is truly being built uniquely to the buyer's needs vs. the buyer's wants & desires.  

I also believe a great deal of genuine friendships are often formed during the custom build process and you just can't put a price on that!