Plain Bows, Anyone?

[Diamond Paul]

Just wondering if anyone out there intentionally uses plain old actionwood bows rather than exotic wood bows?  How many of you prefer a very basic bow that you really don't get too sick to your stomach over when you scratch or ding it?  One of the problems I've had with traditional archery over the years is that I love a beautiful handmade bow with exotic woods and limb veneers and have found myself buying new bows I really didn't need just because I wanted a new wood combo or something.  Unfortunately, when it comes time to go to the woods, I spend so much time worrying about the dang bow that I can't focus on anything else!  I've kind of come to the realization that the next bow I get will be plain old actionwood without any fancy stuff.  Just wondering if anyone else feels this way?

[ron w]

I have a Stalker Coyote being built that is just what your talking about. Gray Actionwood, just a plain Jane meant for hunting. Nothing fancy, just a hunting bow. It's not to far from being done, only a week or so.......I hope!

[straight_arrow]

I'm with you Diamond Paul, Less is more to me. A bow is a tool, more interested in functionality than beauty.  But... you can have both if you prefer.

[Izzy]

Nah! I likes me some purdy stuff. Scratches be damned.

[Scott E]

Originally posted by Izzy:
Nah! I likes me some purdy stuff. Scratches be damned.

X2

[V I Archer]

My bows up to now have all (2 sky bows and a 21st century)been action wood cores and plain veneers or black glass.  All the deer and bear that have fell to them didn't care how fancy they were and neither did I.  Arrows fly true and they put meat on the ground.

That said however, I did order a new Caribow Featherhorn takedown in May and I cannot wait to see the wood combo package Abe puts together for it!

[katman]

Originally posted by Scott E:
 

Originally posted by Izzy:
Nah! I likes me some purdy stuff. Scratches be damned.

X2 [/b]

3x

[hvyhitter]

All my bows are hunting tools and get hunted hard. I do like the paring of certain woods in risers but the limb veneers dont matter much to me. I will probably just put black glass on my next bow if I order custom again. Now antler knobs and chunks of antler just stuck on a bow are well, just plain ugly. Also snakeskins are great on cowboy boots but can ugly up a good bow pretty quick..........

[lilbobby]

Originally posted by Izzy:
Nah! I likes me some purdy stuff. Scratches be damned.

X4

[daveycrockett]

Got a Bob Lee Ultimate being built now with black glass. Only thing not black is overlay on riser and tips.   Should ship next week.    

[monterey]

My two main hunting bows are American long bows that I built with in expensive lams, glass and riser wood.  Both have ended up spray painted in camo colors

[J. Holden]

I love my plain bow, but I may have added some bling over the years.  Skinned it, antler bolts, that's about it...

 

-Jeremy  

[BUCKY]

Kanati longbow with gray actionwood riser and limbs with black glass. A meat and potatoes bow.

[Diamond Paul]

Funny thing is, people that I know who love pretty bows are also pretty sane about it.  They see them as tools, and use them accordingly.  I have never been able to do that.  I have found actionwood to be very consistent in terms of shootability, though, more so than some other woods.  I like bamboo limbs, but I've had some with veneers that I didn't think shot that well, and some that did.  The best shooting bow I think I ever had was a Wes Wallace Stealth in green actionwood, which I bought from someone here used I think.  It was a touch heavy, but I shot it like a house afire.  I wrote this post because I talked to Wes today and might order one of his Pardner bows, which are straight actionwood with no accents at all.  Same as the Mentor I have, just nothing special to look at.  I do love this Mentor, though.

[Diamond Paul]

J. Holden, what is that bow, by the way?  Don't recognize it.

[Thumper Dunker]

Originally posted by lilbobby:
 

Originally posted by Izzy:
Nah! I likes me some purdy stuff. Scratches be damned.

X4 [/b]

x5

[nineworlds9]

[Diamond Paul]

Habu makes some pretty bows, at least the ones I've seen.  Never shot one.

[nineworlds9]

Originally posted by lilbobby:
 

Originally posted by Izzy:
Nah! I likes me some purdy stuff. Scratches be damned.

X4 [/b]

X6 !!!

Life's too short.  I like plain bows, fancy bows, I like all kinds.  Kinda like females LOL.  

I get where you're coming from.  So far though stalking the woods I'm not sure how I'm gonna damage my fancy bows unless I deliberately abuse them or if I threw them in the back of a pickup with no regard.  A coat of wax protects from a lot of light contacts btw.

Its funny to me that these same concerns wouldn't be given a second thought on a $1100 Hoyt wheelie machine or a rifle.  To me that just goes to show how we truly revere these fine traditional hunting weapons.    

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Some of my most favorite bows I consider Ugly but My buds think they look sharp.

Whatever.... They shoot out the front... as Big Jim once said.