Hi
I will be travelling to the West coast of the US from the UK later this year. I would love to purchase a bow while I'm there and already have a number of US made bows.
I've done some research on the web, but it's proving a little difficult to get a good picture of what's around.
I will be flying in to Seattle and driving south to San Fransisco. I don't mind a reasonable detour along the way but I will only be there for 2 weeks.
So any suggestions of bowyers making bows in the region and open to a visit. Ideally due to transport it's more than likely going to have to be a takedown but more than happy for any suggestions.
Just to add I'm not expecting to just turn up and purchase a bow off the shelf, although that is an option, but I'd be equally looking for something custom which I would order now and pick up (of course depending on any wait times etc)
Regards
Andy
look into bezeleel bows- andy mccoy. he is in tenino washington and makes two beautiful take down styles; the cougar and the real mccoy. i've shot all of his bows and they are all great lookers and shooters. he always has a wait list though of at least a few months.
May thanks Lordswarrior, they do look great and it wouldn't require much if any detour.
Happy to hear more.
I suggest JD Berry. He is in Medical Lake, Washington.
God bless,Mudd
Stalker Stickbows - South Cox - Fortuna CA.
Bigfoot Bows - Kirk Lavender - Mulino OR.
QuoteOriginally posted by Mudd:
I suggest JD Berry. He is in Medical Lake, Washington.
God bless,Mudd
Yes, meeting OE in his environs would be worth the detour.
Blacktail Bows. Located in central coastal Oregon. One of the very best IMO. Good luck. Scott
Wes Wallace, Beaver Creek, Oregon, bit of a dogleg on your way south... He makes a pretty sweet takedown longbow!
And no fleas on his recurves, is my understanding!.
Raptor archery hood river Oregon.
Al kimery eagle creek Oregon
Big foot bows and black tail bows I second as well.
Eaglewing and Bigfoot would have to be on my list to visit.
+1 on Raptor Archery. More of an archery museum than an archery shop, and Hood River is a beautiful and dramatic part of Oregon. Fox Bows in Wallowa Oregon is one of the best, although perhaps a little to the east of where you want to travel. If you're interested in self bows, John Strunk is almost a legend in his own time, in Tillamook, OR.
These folks all travel too, so best to check ahead and make sure they're going to be there before you stop by.
Also be aware that the North American Longbow Safari will be held near Petaluma, CA (just north of SF) this year on July 2 and 3. This is a wonderful opportunity to see and shoot bows from many different bowyers, as well as meet and shoot with many longbow shooters on a very interesting and beautiful course.
I would recommend Bigfoot, Wallace, Bezaleal, Allen Boice, Blacktail, Not much to look at with Eaglewing as I build completely custom bows one at a time and to the individual., I never have any stock to speak of. But you are certainly welcome to stop by and I'll have coffee on.
God bless, Steve
Don't know if he will be close, but, Liberty Bows in Oregon. I bought the Edge, my favorite bow!
If you want something really unique, check out Ravenbeak Natureworks. They are in Powell River BC. Jamie McDonald makes ELB and American flat bows out of yew. Beautiful pieces. Some are selfbows, some are laminates(boo and yew). A cool souvenir whomever you choose!
Good Luck getting as far south as San Francisco...you will be busy visiting a great quantity/quality group of bowyers as can be found in a single geographic area....
Thank you so much for the recommendations, I will check them out over the next week or so.
I'd certainly make arrangements before I went to make sure any visits would be welcomed.
QuoteOriginally posted by cynical_ant:
If you want something really unique, check out Ravenbeak Natureworks. They are in Powell River BC. Jamie McDonald makes ELB and American flat bows out of yew. Beautiful pieces. Some are selfbows, some are laminates(boo and yew). A cool souvenir whomever you choose!
I actually already know about Jamie's bows, I have shot a few and we have reviewed them on archers-review.com. It might be a little too far north for this trip.
Right on! Well good luck on your planning. You have lots of great bowyers to choose from:)
You are more than welcome to stop by my shop on your way through Portland. All i need is a phone call ahead of time to make sure i'm going to be here & enough time to sweep the floor.
Coming south into Portland if you take the 205 loop, i'm only 8 miles from Oregon city.....
Kirk
Liberty, by Allan Boice in Oregon
It might be easier to focus on a couple of woods from that area...I would want a bow with some myrtle and some yew in it...the only bow I have ever had from that area is now in the possession of that Cunningham gentleman a few posts up...you could do a lot worse than a Blacktail
DDave
If it were me, my first suggestion would be Blacktail bows. Blacktail Bows is in Reedsport, Oregon, which is right on the coast about 2/3 the way down the state. Norm Johnson builds some of the most beautiful bows made anywhere. I doubt I'll ever own a Legacy series bow, but I'd sure love to pick one up. And, for me, his Elite VL bows are still more beautiful than most.
You definately will not regret visiting Norm Johnson.
Second, for myself anyway, would be Wes Wallace... He's in Beavercreek, Oregon. That's near Portland, Oregon. I'd love to own a Wes Wallace bow, and one day may very well have Wes build one for me. ... I am fortuante enough, however, to own an original Brackenbury Bow. (Jim Brackenbury is the reason for Wes Wallace's "Mentor" bow). ... Lot of history there, along with lots of terrific bows.
Definitely Raptor archery in Hood River. Plan to stay at the Mcmenamins Edgefield which is about an hour west of Hood River. Youll be able to stop at the many waterfalls on the way out to see Ted, and the Edgefield is a unique experience in itself. Great food, movies, and even a little golf course. I've stayed at the Edgefield almost 2 dozen time and always had a good time. Am just headed home from there now and yes, I went out and saw Ted yesterday. Have fun
http://www.trinitylongbows.com/
Wow, I had no idea Oregon had so many bowyers! I was just on the Bigfoot Bows website before I read this and if it was me I would definitely take Kirk up on his offer for a cup of coffee. Too many outstanding bowyers to visit just 1 though.
Jay St Charles in Washington, he is just east of Seattle about 45 minutes ...
yeah...8f you get a chance stop by and see Ted at Raptor in Hood River.....really neat shop.
Fox archery
QuoteOriginally posted by ARCHER2:
Stalker Stickbows - South Cox - Fortuna CA.
Bigfoot Bows - Kirk Lavender - Mulino OR.
I just quoted that so I would not have to type as much!
Bisch
I would definitely mentioned Fox but they are a trip by themselves distance wise.
Check out my site , Drink my coffee but don't expect mush to see here except personal bows. I stay sold out with no stock. But no way would I miss visiting Kirk. He is my best friend of a reason. (Grin) He is extremely knowledgable and builds one of the finest bows in the world.
God bless, Steve
God bless, Steve
I would recommend RAINY DAY BOWS and LEGENDS
I'd pay JD Berry a visit if I were in Seattle :D
+1 on JAY ST CHARLES, son of the famous and legendary Glenn.
Less than 1h from Seattle.
Very nice pacific yew longbow. What esle for a gentlemen from UK? and it's an advice from a frenchman of Normandy! remember battle of Agincourt....
if you call Jay right now, your bow should be ready in few weeks!
Many thanks to all those who have replied, I really appreciate it. I've already checked out a few in detail and will be catching up on the others soon.
Really can't recommend Raptor Archery enough. Great guy and a cool shop to hang out and shoot the breeze. Scott.
Allen Boice at Liberty Bows is as good as it gets !
Trinity Longbows near Weed, California would be worth a stop. Edward Boyd is the bowyer and the most personable guy I have ever ordered a bow from. I shoot his Falcon model longbow and would highly recommend the product and the producer.