Good morning TradGang! I don't post here much - OK, not hardly at all. But I hope I can still get an answer to a question. I have a Dry Ridge longbow that I simply love and wanted to get another set of limbs for. Who can make a set for my riser other than the bowyer? My current limbs are 35 at 28 and was hoping for around 44 at 28. I know I can count on you guys to help!!
Marsha,
first off, i am no bowyer, but I do believe that a lot of research and development goes into making some limbs match up to a riser and perform. I'm sure most bowyers believe that different limb pad angles, taper rates, etc make a better performing bow. So they will all vary a little, and thankfully so!
Can i ask why you wouldn't want to go with the bowyer?
JamesV on the bowyers bench would probably help you out, but you'll have to go track him down there.
This is not as easy as it sounds, because bows tend to vary in the angle of the limbs to the riser, and riser length, so a bowyer who knows from experience how to make 44# limbs for his own riser would probably have to experiment to make 44# limbs on your riser unless it happens to have the same length and limb angle as his own risers. This might result in having to make multiple sets of limbs before one hits close to the right weight. Bowyers typically absorb the cost of the occasional missed weight in making their own bows, since the limbs that don't make weight might be used in another bow down the line, but would be less willing to do that for a one of a kind job.
However, call and ask our sponsor bowyers. It is possible that one might make bows that have risers close enough to yours that he would be willing to do the job. Of course, you would have to give up your riser while all this was going on.
Frankly, my own experience with multiple limbs is that either I end up not using one set of limbs at all, or I want to use both sets of limbs so often that I end up ordering another riser.
I should clarify that I have contacted the bowyer and asked if he could help. He no longer makes bows (I believe) - waiting on an answer. I am trying to get possible alternatives if he is unable to help. I love the grip on this bow as much as any I have ever shot and don't want to give up on it and want to try to hunt with it this fall.
Many bowyers are willing to copy your preferred grip, so if you are willing to give up your riser for a few days, or a few weeks, a new bow with a grip very similar to your old grip might be a better option.
My experience is that new limbs cost more than a new riser, and in your case, probably even more than that, since the bowyer would be making one of a kind limbs. So I would guess it wouldn't be that much more to have a complete bow instead of limbs to fit your old riser.
I make limbs now and then for existing risers