Trad Gang

A Jack Harrison HSS takedown, 62",65#'s@28" with a Howard Hill grip

Have owned more than I could remember and shoot many more.  Always had three or four in the closet and now I own one with no desire to own another, so I'm happy to say I have that bow.

DAS Master Riser 2nd generation with XQ-1 limbs.

Do yourself a favor and try a DAS Dalaa before you make a purchase.

Think I'll have to get back to you on that......

Black Swan 3pc. longbow.  The first one I think, the one with the aluminum riser & the curvy lines. Those things just look like sweet shooters.  Or an ACS, either of those would suit me.

Chek Mate King's Pawn Deluxe Recurve

That's easy - whatever TD longbow shoots best for ME.  :)  

Almost ALL trad bows these dayze are worthy bows in terms of build, materials and perfromance.  The tough part is finding which one works best for YOU.  ;)

I have a home made long bow a good freind made for me. The only thing that would be better is if I had him make me another one.

Longbow I love the one I have now a Rod Ham bow.
Recurve when I get the funds will be a Double BB.
And I would like to have a self bow made by Arvin Weaver.

A Great Nothern Super Ghost...

GRIFFIN

Without a doubt, this un...

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/recurvhuntr/Morrison/Picture062.jpg)

Morrison Shawnee, Dakota foam core, carbon backed limbs....for the past month er so that is   :rolleyes:

I don't even have to think about it, my Black Widow recurve.

I am Really partial to my Chek-Mate Hunter 2.
But here I go. I am seriously lusting after a Navajo longbow.

            Good luck ,
                       Ed


 :archer:    :archer:    :archer:

If I had only one bow...hmmm..
today it would be my Schafer one piece longbow...
tomorrow is another story   :D

Without a doubt, my vote would be my custom (read homemade) bow, El Cheapo!  Shoots where I look, kills stuff dead!  Can't help it, I love this thing!  

(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/SOS_321/DSCN2600.jpg)

I've tried Schafer's, Morrison's and Blacktail recurves,all very nice bows, but Jim Neaves Centaurs fit my shooting style and shoot the best for me, and it's not even close!!   Jr.

Howard Hill Halfbreed

Griffin for sure!

Now I would have to decide whick one of my Griffins it would be?

Dean Torges Firestyx!

My Kanati! Hands down, the best bow I have ever had.

now thats not fair as i have not tried enough bows yet.  :biglaugh:

Marriah Thermal 65@28, My friend broke my thermal limbs this year and I almost died of grief. Finally sending the riser to Ric to have another set of limbs made.

I only have one so that is easy, Black Widow PSAX 45@28"

For me that would have to be a Black Widow PMA type bow with a side mount Selway bow quiver.
 
Tim

A Hill-style longbow, about 65# @ 28", 68" length is my stick of choice. I do like to have a backup, though.

As with others I already own my favorite bow.  A mid-70's Hoyt Pro Hunter, 58", 47 lb. @ 28".  I have a half dozen bows that I enjoy shooting but the Hoyt is my favorite.

Vic

Border Black Douglas Swift recurve. First in all those categories you listed.

I have an Ancient Spirit Thunderhawk and have been shooting it exclusively since I got it 2 years ago. I knew this was the bow as soon as I shot it. I have 2 other custom bows that are gathering dust at home.  I got mine at the kalamazoo traditional show.  If you can make it up the last weekend in January, you will be able to see and shoot a lot of different bows.

If you have shot a Thunderhawk and feel they fit you, go for it.

Widow PSR in Tulipwood, I'm pretty much set bow wise for awhile though...boy, never thought I'd ever hear myself say that, I've gotta snap out of it.   :knothead:

David

Northern Mist Whisper

Toelke R/D whip....and you don't have to be as strong as Arnold (pronounced Ah-nulled) to carry it around.

I have tried quite a few, but have settled on one favorite so far.  Great Northern Ghost recurve, with an index grip!  As light as a longbow, but smooth drawing.  I wouldn't trade it for any other right now!  It may change some day, but now I'm happy.

Black Widow PMA

My 60" TD Zipper Recurve. 52#@30. Beautiful. Fast and flat shooting. Forgiving. Can be a little expensive but for the craftsmanship, you can't beat em. They turn heads, especially when you shoot it well.

But, how could you live with just one bow!!! I love my Southern Draw TD Hybrid Longbow and I love my Border Black Douglas. I can pick any one of them up on any given day and be confident that I will hit what I'm looking at, and do it with authority.

I don't think you will find a single person on here that is satisfied with having just one. Besides, you may be completely happy with that one bow for a while but then you go to a show/meet and you pick up something like an Adcock, a Blacktail, a Thermal, or Hope and Faith Striker and you are hooked on that one. It consumes you. It's quite a feeling to pick a foriegn bow up for the first time and shoot three arrows at 30 yards and stick three bullseyes. You tend to start pondering over your bank account and wondering if your significant other will notice an withdrawl of hundreds of dollars! Not that I have ever done that.

Greg

Crow Creek Blackfeather takedown longbow.

I too have had my fair share of bows. If I had to pick one, it would have to be a vintage bear Kodiak. I think they are one of the iconic bows of our generation with a rich history and with proper care, should last a lifetime. Besides all that, they flat out shoot great!

Your mileage may vary...

JL

1964 Bear Kodiak.........bd

My Horne T/D Longbow. It's away at the moment getting a new riser built with a slightly different grip. It's been gone 2-weeks & I feel like I'm missing an arm  :(

Shrew T/D would be a really, really close second choice. The Horne just pips it in the speed stakes, but I'm as comfortable & accurate with either.

This one    :D


(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/fhorn23/2007_1203floridaaquar0005.jpg)

My black locust pyramid self bow.

I have owned well over 100 customs and a bunch of the old production bows, I really have several that would be my favorites and all but two are recurves. In no particular order would be RER Arroyo, Blacktail, Widow PTF only, Robertson and Hummingbird all recurves and the longbows would be Roy Hall Cherokee and 7 Lake LBs. Shawn

Only one bow?? Black Widow PSA,no question. Sure hope it never comes to only one bow though.
Mike

Right now my Zipper,it is an absolute dream.  But i am far from an expert and have only tried 6 makes, 5 of them  top custom. And they all perform much better than me. However from start to finish  my Zipper is incredible.

Probably a Hill.

Easy...Great Northern Jackknife Bushbow; got two, though...don't plan on gettin' rid of either.

Fedora One Piece Recurve, Love the grip, and hits where you are looking.
Rick

A real tough question and a strange thought(just one bow-----) All I know is that I haven't bought it yet.

'69 B riser with #1 limbs.

OOps!http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff82/ygrant87/Picture006.jpg

Hill 68" King of the Mountain" 55 @ 28" Cocobola riser , juniper lams . If I could only remember who I sold it to, I'd threaten them with bodily harm!

I do have only one bow...and it's my Morrison Cheyenne.

If I could have only one Bow it would be ....a tragedy.  (http://www.masterblasterhome.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8704&d=1175485641)  The OWL in the picture would get the nod. If I were going to choose a lam bow it would be really difficult but I think I'd have Jim Neaves build me a Centaur.

I would like a 3 piece takdown longbow with straight riser and straight limbs (reflexed a little) using the ACS cross section.  70" long, 45# @ 29".

Jason

My Trails End take down recurves have served me well since 1988.I guess I would go with my 60" Trails End. But I don't have to chose only one bow...so...I ordered a shorter bow.   :bigsmyl:    :campfire:

Fedora 560 T/D

It suddenly dawned on me, the correct answer is:

TRADITIONAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :knothead:

I have mine, an Appalachian Archery Middle Mountain longbow, 66" 57#@26". It was my first trad bow and it'll be my last. In the meantime, I'm trying to get as many Appy's as possible, just in case    :D

Hands down , 69" Hill

a bow that shoots where i look!!

Palmer

Sovereign Trident, 62# at 28, 60 AMA. Fastest and smoothest bow I have shot. Just a quiet bow.

I've had 75+ bows over the past 7 years.  I had the best of them all placed in my hands this morning at the SCBA State Traditional shoot.  Rod Strickland sold me a one-piece Blacktail, 64", 46#@28".  It is the very first Blacktail I've seen, let alone held.

The bow is drop dead gorgeous.  But the best part about the bow is how it shoots.  It starts with the grip.  I'm the third owner of the bow and I swear I would have had to have spent several days in Norm's shop for him to build a bow with a grip that fits ME as perfectly as this one does.  And the bow is very quick, very quiet and and shoots fantastically.  That is despite the fact that I was shooting arrows that are not tuned to the bow for me.

Bill

Exactly the bow I am shooting now. My Chek-mate Hunter II.Coco riser, black walnut limbs with jarah veneers front and back.62" 48# @29".
Don't get me wrong, there are others I would like to own, but this is the one that I won't part with.
Best of luck in your search.
                           Ed
 :archer:

Bob Lee Signature L/B

Sutto

My 68" HH Big 5 is just about the most perfect bow ever made (for me). It'll zing a heavy arrow PDQ and is just plain fun to shoot.

I'm with Dorris, I have a Voodoo Kustom elk riser longbow. Right now it's the only bow on my rack with no price tag. I have a Firefly and Widow on the way too.

This one for sure!

(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n217/reviveourhomes/Bows/Dscn2508.jpg)

I would love to have a self bow made out of some Osage from the fence row at my Dad's old place.  We don't own it anymore so I don't think that will happen.

It would have to be my Assenheimer.  :bigsmyl:

OK, OK, OK - if I HAD to choose from all the bows I now own, or have ever owned, or have ever played with over the last 5+ decades or so, I'd be a happy camper with just my MOAB, 60", 55# @ 29" ...

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/m1-1.jpg)

If I had to own only one it would be the one I have now.  My DAS Master with XQ-1 Limbs.  I have owned more bows than I could remember and there is only one I wish I never sold and could live with that one also.  The first Granite Ridge Real McCoy Longbow I owned which accounted for more venison than most people take in a lifetime.

Robertson Stykbow, recurve. It's not a bow it's an extension of your hand.  And it's made by one of the most amazing person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Okay.........had a chance to think this over.

Of all the bows I've owned or shot,right now my #1 choice if I could only have one is my 2pc t/d Schafer Silvertip Longbow 66" and #50 @ my 28" draw.I would add antler tip overlays and about 3 more pounds of draw weight though......

Only problem is I have a 3pc t/d Tip on order that is #53 @ 28",but 62" long and it will have antler tip overlays and antlet burr limb bolts,so my choice may change by the end of the year.

1961 bear kodiak 64" 45#@28

longbow - O.L. CX
recurve - Silvertip

but I have something in the works and may change my mind in a year or so    :knothead:

I've shot alot of bows over the last year, Wheeling, ATAR, Denton, a bunch of local shoots, Vermonster's harem, Kalamazoo. Now I have this 45 year old K-Mag;
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/4runr/DSCF1228.jpg)

I refinished it with the help of bowdoc and the Trad History/Collecting forum.

It shoots as good or better than many bows I shot.

21st Century or my Shrew........I can't decide!

Like several who have posted before me over the last ten years or so I have owned well over 100 customn bows,ACS,Morrison,Black Widow,Bighorn,Robertson,Blacktail,Wallace,Border,Pronghorn,DAS,and others I can't remember honestly they all shoot exceptionally well,   but the Holy Grail for me is a Silvertip it's what works for me,I love the grip,smoothness of draw, stability (the most forgiving bow I have ever shot).

Stewart Slammer TD longbow, Riversedge TD,   Schafer TD recurves ,I'm sorry can't play with just one bow.

Bill

For me it would be a tough call.  My Tomahawk longbows have been the best I've ever owned.  One if them is a take-down and that's pretty handy for travel.

I've always had a fancy for the Bear take downs, but I'd have to feel the grip before deciding to buy it.  I have one of the first "A" handle Bears from when they were re-introduced and that one has a sweet grip.  Even today I've considered finding someone to build me a nice set of reflexed longbow limbs for that riser.  I prefer shooting longbows but do like the history of that riser.

Tough call.  I'd say shoot as many as you can and pick what feels best and shoots best for you.

todd smith

The one Arnie built and shot through a big tree with in "Predator." Just right for bunnies and spring turkey, now that I'm older and can't handle the weights I once shot. [- :) ~

Another Lewis Hollow 3piece longbow. Hopefully someday soon.
merf

Always thouhgt it would be my JD Berry. But after shooter a jack kemp recurve and a griffen long bow I see the question you ask is an impossible one to answer and anyone who answers with one bow, their answer is good for maybe only 24 hours...  :clapper:

First of all...Isn't it tremendous to see so many choices??? Is this a great country or what!!!
Now to get serious...Everyone knows there are only 2 kinds of people in this world...Those who own Black Widows, and those who wish they did. Of course everyone will say the same thing about their favorite bow, and they should! For me...My Black Widow SAIII is all I want and more!
Cotton

Another Thundderhawk in the 64 inch 1 pc or 64 or 66 inch 3 pc is what I would get if i wanted to hunt with it as well as do some 3-D shooting.Shot alot and owned alot of bows and the Thunderhawk is at the top of my list in all shooting categories.I just love em plain and simple!!!

Longbow: O.L. Adcock (or A&H) ACS-CX

Recurve: DAS Master (or Dalaa)

If I had to choose only one, it would have to be the ACS-CX...

Schulz yew and bamboo.

Funny.  I had a "off the rack" bow that I shot until I decided that traditional hunting would be the only way for me.  That was five years ago.  I did some research and decided to go to Mark Hornes (north of Ft. Worth) to have him make me a bow.  I wanted to look at and shoot some different bows and styles before I ordered.  He had a bow there that he had just made to be a back up for his regular shooter and I asked to shoot it.  It was "perfect" for me, and he was kind enough (as usual) to let me get that one.  Since then I have bought several custom bows from various manufacturers as well as 5 more bows from Mark.  Nothing though (for me at least) shoots as good as "Trusty".  I just keep going back to her and she keeps putting them where I look.  I like all of my bows but if I could only have one it would be an easy decision as I could never get rid of Trusty.

Kerry, ya got it part right it actually says theres only three types of people in this world: Those who own a Black Widow, those who never did and the worst type is those like me who sold theirs...  :knothead: