Just curious if there are any Bowyers out there that shoot bows other than one of their own making? And if so. what??
Thanks
Jake
Jake,
We have quite a few great bowyers here in Michigan. I've seen them shooting bows their friends (other great bowyers) have made for them at shoots. Also, I've seen quite a few bring out some of their old Bear's when we shoot up in Grayling. You'll see them checking each others stuff out at Kalamazoo and Compton too if you are around after hours. Kind of like dogs sniffing fore hydrants :goldtooth:
Steve
I have always wanted to make it to one of the big trad rendavous and when I do, I will have to hang around to see THAT...LOL!!
It only makes sense though, as there is no doubt some mutual respect being tossed around a bit...
Lots of guys come to Compton in June from Colorado...it is worth the trip!
I don't own a bow anymore that I didn't make. I have bought a few used ones here or there and they just sit on the rack so I sold them. Many were great bows but I just enjoy shooting mine more as they are part of me and what I do. When you build a bow yourself it just feels comfortable and at home in your hand I guess. Chad
I own only one bow that isnt something i built.It is a Tim Meiges long bow.Im a recurve shooter and dont make long bows.But i do own that one.Tim is a old friend who got me started in bow building.I shot Tim's recurve bows for years before i started shooting my own.Now i build a bow with all the things in that i like,so i shoot my own.
Thought I would bring this back up ttt and see what other comments you bowyers have on the subject, have enjoyed them so far.
Jake
There are a lot of great bows out there but if I didn't believe my own bows are the best then I would stop making them. I have shot bows and owned bows by most builders and every one of the well known builders build good bows. Some build great bows.
However , I do not own a bow right now that I did not build. I would like to get one of Gino Bruno's bows someday but he does not sell them. If he ever does I will have to save some pennys.
I've had a few classics since I started building, but currently own only one that I didn't make. It was made by a guy in Wisconsin. The classics were a Great Northern Ghost, a Howatt Hi-speed, and a Bear Grizzly.
Apex,
That bow from Wisconsin sure is pretty.Did you put a Flemish B50 on it?
I did, and she is much quieter for me. I was shooting her just this morning. I plan to kill something with it soon.
I have shot lot's of other bowyers bows but I dont own any. I dont build recurves yet so I still wouldnt mind getting one to shoot from time to time, I had a 56" morrison and it was a sweet shooter but I couldnt bring myself to hunt with someone elses craft so I sold it. :banghead:
I own several bear bows and shoot/hunt with them regularly. I'm still working on my craft and am no ware near arrogant enough to think I'm on the same scale as the designers at Bear archery during the 50-60s.
The only bow I have that isnt made in my shop is by Jack Kempf and it will never be for sale. Its still fun to shoot the bow you learned on.
Shawn
Thanks Gentleman. Its interesting to see the different views. I can certainly understand that a guy would want to shoot and hunt with a bow of his own making, kinda like catching fish with the flies you tied, it brings a great feeling of satisfaction!
I only shoot my own bows. But, if I were to shoot a bow other than my own it would be an Apex Predator.
Well let me see:
JD Jones yew R/D bamboo backed
Mickey Lotz selfbow
Joe Mattingly 3 selfbows
Dano selfbow
Brad Merkle static tipped selfbow
Rusty Craine selfbow
Dean Torges BBO
Mike
QuoteOriginally posted by Apex Predator:
I've had a few classics since I started building, but currently own only one that I didn't make. It was made by a guy in Wisconsin. The classics were a Great Northern Ghost, a Howatt Hi-speed, and a Bear Grizzly.
Apex, got a picture of that bow the guy from Wisconsin made??
Aside from the ones I build, I have an old Indian Seneca 50# @ 28" I shoot it alot. A left handed Shakespear Neceda 40# @ 28", a 60" Robertson Stykbow Perigrene, 60# @ 28".
Bows I really enjoyed shooting at expos and such, Owl Bows by Ed Scott, I like the Preditor Hunter Recurve, the Chapparel longbows.
Old bows I've tried, Anything by Ben Pearson but the Cougar, Palomino, or Mustang in particular are great. I like anything by bear except the 48" recurves, they don't like me.
I'm a wanna be bowyer but, I shoot my Dryad Orion exclusively, and occasionally I dust off one of many friends bows. :bigsmyl:
I like to shoot different bows and on occasion will buy one. I have owned several Dale Dyes ( would like to have one of them back) Zippers , Dryads and A$Hs. I still own several A&Hs and shoot them regularly. I think it is good to try different bows to see how your own bows stack up as well as to learn what really works. There are some bows out there that are really phenomenal.
Bill
G&L
My bowmaking is only a year old. I like the bows I build, but I know very well they are far from a professional bowyer level. However, I find that making them has pretty much put an end to my shooting other stuff, and I had a wall full of fine customs. I sold off half to finance the bow shop and mores as i've gone along. The only ones I can't bring myself to part with are a Widow, a Berry, a Pronghorn and some vintage Bears. There they hang... but when I come to shoot, it's with one of my very simple straight limb, straight riser longbows. I recently went on my first bowhunt, and, yep, the bow that went was one of mine. It's a conundrum, but it sure solves the "I buy too many expensive bows" problem!
I shoot some of Ed Scotts bows that he has made for me as well as some from another good friend in MS. Neal Brown as well as a couple of Black Widows that I have traded for. I love all kinds of bows and appreciate the work and style in them all. It makes me feel good when someone kills something with a bow I made for them and I like killing something with bows my good friends make for me.
Mike
i usually shoot selfbows i made, but when it come to bamboo backed bows or glass, i only own/shoot bows made my james parker.
QuoteI'm a wanna be bowyer...
Yeah, and I'm a 98# runt (for those who don't know me, my shadow will weigh more than 98#). That selfbow you made was one of the nicest I've ever seen--one of the nicest bows PERIOD I've ever seen!
I'm not a bowyer, but I can say that Marc "Cujo" Moriez (bowyer and now owner of Chek-Mate) is laible to be shooting anything at any given time.
Chad
Ahhhh,.... err ... hmmm ....currently shooting a Mathews Featherlite , Target Panic at the moment don't allow me to use a stick for hunting ethically. Although at shoots I play with whatever is hanging around in the 50 lb zone or my fallback bow is a Carbon/ceramic bow French bow made in the early 70s or will be a trying a Hoyt Gamemaster with yew limbs .
If it flings an arrow, its fair game to me..
I ain't a bowyer but I thought I'd take the opportunity to throw Cujo a kudo. ;-) I shoot a ChekMate Kings Pawn (64" recurve) and rarely anything else in the 6 or 8 years I've owned it, although I must confess I have worked on the handle and outer limbs a smidge.
In fairness, I'd shoot a hunderd different ones if I wasn't such a cheap bastid, and the fact I routinely shot so many different bows before that, including the ones I was building, I got to the point I couldn't hit daylight. Anymore I'm a one bow man, an we get along lak peas and carrots.
Mike's got more arms than a octopus evidently, but I envy his collection.
I shoot mainly Dwyer and Leon Stewart bows, but I have a Fedora Xcellerator and like that a lot!!
I like my Mowhawk, but may end up selling it.