Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Osage1997 on December 17, 2021, 09:28:02 PM
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Hello everyone, although I've lightly browsed this site for many years, I am a new member.
Currently considering ordering a custom recurve in late winter/early spring and would like some assistance in picking a bowyer.
I like to support small companies when I can, so I would love some recommendations outside of the big names like Black Widow and Bob Lee.
Looking for a relatively short recurve (56"-60"). My draw length is 28" on the dot and I intend to get a 60# bow. Would prefer a takedown for easier packing, but I am not totally opposed to a one-piece.
Thanks for the help,
Ryan
Current Bows:
Tomahawk Kiska SS 64#@28"
Bear Grizzly 56#@28"
Osage Selfbow 58#@28"
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I had a Huntmaster Takedown from Bruin Custon Recurves made a few months ago. Turn around wasn't that long and Mike Steliga is good to work with. Just one of many options but I like his bows and is a great small company. I'm already planning my next one.
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I would highly recomend a Tall Tines. He takes limited orders so he can focus on quality awhile still maintaining a reasonable lead time. Communication was great. Sent pictures of the wood he had picked out and the build process. Final product exceeded expectations. I would not hesitate to order another bow from him.
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You'll get many good suggestions but you could do no better than a Chinook by Dan Toelke, stable, fast, exceptionally quiet and beautifully made. The bow bolt option makes one a take-down.
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Thank you all very much for the replies so far. I'll check into all of them.
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Unless you are looking for a 50's style bow, it would be hard to beat a Bear T/D. There is a reason that they have been around over 50 years and the new ones are as good as the ones made in Grayling. A large posting on them down the page a bit. It's worth a read!
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I should also mention that if you are within driving distance of Kalamazoo, it would be worth the trip for the Expo end of January. A person can check out and shoot a 100 different bows if they had an inkling. :archer2:
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Check out Wes Wallace bows. Wes has been making bows for decades, I really enjoy my 3pc Mentor.
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Robertson makes some good ones as well. Why don’t ya wait til a trad shoot and try a bunch? What I or we like may not suit you like something else
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Thanks for the further recommendations gents. I would definitely like to head to a shoot and check some out, but in my area they are a bit sparse. I may plan a spring trip to go to a larger one.
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I’ll second the TallTines. I’ve gotten rid of all of my other bows and shoot this one exclusively now.
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If you do like the 50s style, Black Widow PSR is hard to beat!
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If you do like the 50s style, Black Widow PSR is hard to beat!
I can't say that I am a huge fan of the super shallow grips on recurves, although I do like it on a longbow.
Thanks for the reply!
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What, no photos?
I’ve owned quite a few, sold all of them in search of the perfect bow. I liked a few of them quite a bit.
I had a chance to buy this one back and am very glad I did.
It is a Tall Tines and I plan to keep it this time.
For shooting enjoyment and hunting these days, it will either be this one or a Tall Tines Stickflinger .
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What, no photos?
I’ve owned quite a few, sold all of them in search of the perfect bow. I liked a few of them quite a bit.
I had a chance to buy this one back and am very glad I did.
It is a Tall Tines and I plan to keep it this time.
For shooting enjoyment and hunting these days, it will either be this one or a Tall Tines Stickflinger .
Beautiful bow, thanks for sharing. Looks like tall tines is getting a ton of support. I was leaning on Wes Wallace but maybe I'll reconsider tall tines.
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Pictures don't do it justice
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Fox High Sierra made by Ron King with Fox Archery. I've been shooting one for years and is an amazing bow.
Ron is great to deal with. He's currently got a new set of limbs made for me.
Couple videos...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DH2ag5qBGtWS439z8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Hupdapkwjp4oB7ST9
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You may want to try and come to the Kalamazoo Trad Expo the last weekend of January and try some bows there. We will have a booth there as well as others. www.stjoeriverbows.com
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Fox High Sierra made by Ron King with Fox Archery. I've been shooting one for years and is an amazing bow.
Ron is great to deal with. He's currently got a new set of limbs made for me.
Couple videos...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DH2ag5qBGtWS439z8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Hupdapkwjp4oB7ST9
I shot a friend of mines High Sierra and I can confidently say that it is by far the smoothest drawing and shooting recurve I have ever shot. Fox is definitely one of the companies I am considering. Thanks for the reply.
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You may want to try and come to the Kalamazoo Trad Expo the last weekend of January and try some bows there. We will have a booth there as well as others. www.stjoeriverbows.com
For everyone recommending the trip to Kalamazoo, I checked it out and its only about a 5-hour drive for me. I'll be there.
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I don't know where in Ohio you are, but I would take a long hard look at Striker Bows. I think they are in Minster Oh?
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Check out Sierra Blanca bows by Jess Stewart :thumbsup:
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I don't know where in Ohio you are, but I would take a long hard look at Striker Bows. I think they are in Minster Oh?
I didn't know they were an Ohio company. Minster is about 2 and a half hours from me. Have you had any experience with their bows? They seem pretty solid.
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Toelke all the way.
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Well, the danger in asking a question like that here is we all have our favorites! And generally we are a bunch of enablers 😬.
So the suggestion to go to a place where you can try a bunch of them is a great idea. The first custom bow I bought was based on what a well known hunter used. Huge mistake, hand shock and I couldn’t shoot it for beans.
BTW,
There are some very good deals on bows in the classifieds right here. Someone else will have taken the hit on taxes and depreciation. That Tall Tines recurve I posted on was bought secondhand from a member here.
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check out Caribow, Abe makes a 1 pc, a 2pc and a 3pc. great shooters, hi performance.
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Rather than telling you which bow I like best, let me offer this advice - for me, the right recurve is all in the grip. For me, it must feel right in the hand. If it isn’t comfortable, I will never shoot it well. For that reason, I can’t shoot old 50s style bows worth beans. You should try out as many bows as you can to find one that fits, then if it shoots well - smooth, no hand shock, etc., then you will have “the one”. I have found several that fit me. My favorite just happens to be a Tall Tines. I probably went through 35 different bows to find the one that fit the best. Close second is probably the Caribow, but even the lowly Samick Sage fits pretty well. Shoot a bunch before you plop down a lot of cash on a new custom bow or you may end up with something that doesn’t fit and you can’t shoot well.
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You may want to try and come to the Kalamazoo Trad Expo the last weekend of January and try some bows there. We will have a booth there as well as others. www.stjoeriverbows.com
Yep, that’s your best starting place. Take your shooting glove or tab and some arrows
For everyone recommending the trip to Kalamazoo, I checked it out and its only about a 5-hour drive for me. I'll be there.
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This thread went all the places everyone thought it would! :goldtooth:
My favorite brands are; Blacktail and Black Widow. I'm 5'6" (with 2 pairs of socks on) and I prefer 58" recurves. A custom bow to me is one where the buyer has a lot of choices; woods, specifications, grip design, and tiller. Having written that, I've bought more "customs" made for the first owners than ordered myself .... saves money and lots of folks have better taste than I have!