Hey guys, just curious if any of you have ever gotten a crazy good deal on a bow? A guy came in the shop tonight to get a string and some arrows. He had a 69 Bear Kodiak Hunter in near perfect shape. Hadn't shot in 15 years. He said he picked it up at a garage sale for $20. We offered to double his money but apparently he has a vague idea of what he has. I've never found that good a deal on a bow but wondered which of you guys have.
Back when everyone was going crazy over compounds and getting rid of their old recurves, I picked up a used Bear Grizzly for $25. Even though it was a long time ago, I still think it was a pretty good deal.
Picked up a Black Widow Graybark for $375. I thought that was good. Also a mid 70's Bear Grizzly in mint shape for $75. Traded the Bear off, should'a kept it! I also got a real nice Mahaska longbow on the classifieds for $160 shipped, its now one of my favorties!
I believe in miracles!
During a period of low cash flow some years ago, I found myself without a bow for an upcoming archery season and out of the blue a gentleman I had spoken with on the phone about some previous bowhunting experiences gave me a mint condition, high dollar custom longbow TO HAVE in time for the upcoming archery season!
Man, I was blessed!
So last year I encountered a situation where a father with 3 boys were relatively new to archery. The father had basically "sold the farm" to get his 3 sons decent archery equipment and get them started in the sport; but he did not have anything left and nothing comin' in in the near future due to the seasonal nature of his work. After a couple of conversations I finally got him to stop by the house and I got him set up with a "loaner" longbow, a dozen arrows, and a hip quiver to be able to shoot alongside his sons whenever they could get out. He was feeling good!
After getting a couple of reports that things were going well for all of them and he was re-livin' his childhood shootin' that stickbow, I let him know that I did not expect to get the "loaner" back and that from that point on he should consider it his. Was he excited or what! They are still launching those arrows together as a family - ain't it great?
:~)
Man, I was blessed - again!
Thanks for reading this long-winded story about a couple of good deals, but the timing was right for me to share them....
Shoot straight, Shinken
Shrinken thats a touching story,the generousity of people in our sport is what makes it special.
bought a 45 lb 56" Bear Grizzly for $5 and a 50 lb 54" Browning Safari 1 or 2? for $15 at yard sales, both in very good shape..still have the little Browning. 12 years ago could have bought a signed Bear custom Kodiak with the gold clips and wood presentation box for $750..I was still in college and just couldn't do it, I heard this bow sold for over $5000 a few years ago..
i bought a Pearson Spoiler with cloth camo limb covers and a quiver and about 2 dozen arrows for $15 at a yard sale. I also have a friend that offers me a bow or two nearly every time I go to his house, never took one though.
I used to see re curves at garage sakes for between5 and 20. I was a kid and wheels were the way so long story short someone got a good deal.
I was recently given two old bows. They need work due to improper storage but ,hey the price was right.
My da bought his vehicle from a guy who had about 50 bows piled up on his porch, he said those were the bad ones and that he had hundreds in the house. They were all garage sale deals. Now I know where all those bows went :p
wen i was about 7 ,I got two bows at a garage sale for $0.25. A 35# pearson and 50# bear, I cant remember what the bear was but it broke wen i was shooting. but i still have the other one, and i killed many birds and stuff with it. i was one happy little boy.
I got an awesome deal on a brand new Big River longbow I ordered recently! Best bow I've ever shot! :goldtooth:
Bought a used BW SAIII Autunm Oak for 400.00 at sporting good store and it was pristine!!!
Bought a used BW SAIII Autunm Oak for 400.00 at sporting good store and it was pristine!!!
i pick up a 62 kodiak 45# at a garage sale for 25 bucks
I once bought a Kodiak Hunter and a salmon rod and reel for $35. The rod and reel are since long gone but I still have the Kodiak Hunter.
John
54 Kodiak Compass bow. 55 lb with a quiver full of Bear arrows. Knife and file kit from Origonal owner. all in used but perfect condition. Only the rest showed wear and crazing on finish showed age of bow. 40.00 . His price. I sold the bow on **** for 675.00 the quiver and arrows for over a hundred and kept the knife.
At that time I had no Idea whether it was a good buy or not. I had never seen a compass bow but I did know it was in great condition for its age. I immediately started looking for old Bears LOL.
110#@28 english longbow looks exactly lke the one pope used and from the same era.Price cleaning out a friends attick.
Was at a local flea market and found a Shakespeare
Ocala that a fella wanted $20 for. I ended up paying $13 for it. I was at a yard sale years ago and picked up a Pearson Hunter recurve for $3.
Both of these bows were in great condition. I still have the Ocala, its my best shootin' bow, just wish it were 45# instead of #35
I got a 64# 1952 Bear Grizzly for $5.00 at a g-sale once.
Funny thing, I was on my way over to visit with Bowdoc and the g-sale was in his neighborhood, boy was he pissed at me. LOL!
i got a 1970 super K at a garage sale minty cond. plus a quiver full of old alum's with bear greenies. all for 40 bux.... does that count ;)
Not me personally. A friend of mine was give a Bear Kodiak we he bought a Hill longbow at a yard sale. He paid $15.00 for the longbow. They guy said the two bows had been to gather forever and he hated to see them separated.
Paid .25 cents for a Shakespeare Wonderbow. shot a fox with it that year. Two years ago bought a Factory cammo Bear Kodiak Mag with the brown 4 arrow screw on Bear quiver for $10.25. 10 for the bow and a quarter for the quiver.
If I don't include the generous gifts of several trad friends, then my craziest and best deal is my most expensive. In over 30 years of bowhunting with both stickbows and compounds, I had never paid more than $190 for ANY bow. But I had an itch a couple years ago to try a heavier, TD recurve.
I checked into the classifieds here one morning and saw a Hummingbird Kingfisher TD with 2 sets of limbs and 5 or 6 extra strings (3 of them Mountain Mufflers) for $450. This would be well over $1200 new. The limbs are 71# and 82# @ my 30" draw.
I have fallen in love with this bow and while it is the most money I've ever paid for any piece of hunting equipment, it is easily the best deal I've ever gotten. Thanks Scott!
Bought a Bear "little Bear" recurve at a garage sale for $2. taught my 3 boys to shoot with it and now i am getting it ready for my grandson. I would say I got my money's worth, I passed on dozens of bows at ridiculous prices in the '80s just because I didnt need one- my biggest regret was at a store that sold stuff they bought at factory closeout or bankrupt businesses. they had 4 barrels stuffes with Ben Pearson, Shakespear and others makes of recurves for $10 your choice- most were hunting wieght. Wish I had a do- over on that one
When I was about 12 years old.I bought a Bear Kodiak Magnum for $15.I will never forget the old gentleman who sold me the bow.He was quite a character.His name was Clyde Fields,and we leased his ground for farming.Mr.Fields was in his 80's and arthritis had bent him badly.Yet I can not remember a time when Mr.Fields was not smiling, and he always had a story to tell.I still have that bow,and always will.
Bill
Pristine Bear Grizzly at a garage sale a few years ago for $5......
I picked up a no name long bow (looked home made) one time at a yard sale for 10 dollors with 4 wood arrows,i started back to the car and the lady said holdon... you forgot the box that go's with it.the small box had 42 glue on bear heads in it.
I just bought a all curly maple Zipper w/ matching quiver for $295.Got a Fredrick longbow at Denton Hill for $90 also.
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Like new Morrison Cougar, 60", 70# @ 28", $1400 bow new, got it to my doorstep for a lot less...
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Another like new Morrison Cougar, 60", 68# @ 27", $1250 bow new, on my doorstep for again a lot less...
Heavier bows go for quite a bit less, but those two really stick in my head as "can't pass that up!" Especially when a guy is looking for just those type of bows!
Now, I haven't found some of the deals like you all have, but these two have made me happy...
I bought a brand new BW takedown for $50 in the 70s from a Bear dealer in Sioux Falls.
A few that I have made over the years:
Garage sale bows:
69 Super Kodiak $25 (thought I was paying too much but liked the way it shot)
Kodiak Magnum $5
Shakespeare Necedah $3
At an Auction: Kodiak Magnum (covered with gray primer paint, cleaned up beautiful after four hours and sold the next day for $150), 18 Bear arrows (12 with Green heads), a box of miscellaneous tips and two dozen Bear Greenies new in the package, and miscellaneous railroad hobby stuff: $18 (then sold the hobby transformer for $12 to the guy I was bidding against).
Was at a 3D shoot at a Browning dealer and saw a old box covered with dust. It was a 60 pound Browning TD bow that was never strung. It was my first FF compatable bow. He sold it to me for 200 dollars, shoots like a 50 pound bow. I get more deals in the compound shops then any other place. Got a Silvertip with a dozen arrows and two sets of limbs and case for 500 dollars last year.
Caleb my luck seems to go the other way where I give $100 for a bow thats worth $20. And then can't sell it for $20...
In 1984 I offered $75 for an original Bear Customm Kodiak, #1 limbs, 55# in excellent condidition. The fellow (bulletin board @ Blythes Sportinng Goods, Valporaiso, IN) was asking $150. I was shocked when (over the phone) he agreed! I wasn't a recurve shooter at the time. Then, in 1996, still not shooting traditional I switched to LH shooting. I sold the bow that year to a fellow in Arkansas for $250 (his offer). I got a great deal and so did he.
Of all the sporting equipment I've ever sold, that TD is the one I would most like to have back -- for my son.
In 1989 I bought a 67½ SK for $25. After a couple of years, I sold the bow for $35. A few years after that I bought the bow back for $50. It's a great shooter and I'm not letting it go again.
Yup, after installing satellite internet for a guy and talking hunting pretty much the whole time, he pulled a Browning Nomad out of the rafters and handed it to me. He says "My draw is too long for this bow, it looks about right for you". Cool stuff, and a friend for life now.
For a guy with two daughters in college and limited funds for bows, I've been blessed with a few incredible deals over the last couple of years:
1976 Kodiak Hunter 60", 50# in Excellent Condition - Free From Brother-in-law.
1966 Grizzly 58", 49# Factory Camo in good condition - $25
1969 Kodiak Hunter 60", 40# in Excellent Condition - $30 - my youngest daughter uses this one when she shoots
Late 60's Browning Safari 60", 44# in rough shape (to be refinished) - $1 at thrift store
1968 Ben Pearson 7330 Signature Take-Down 58", 50# in good condition with case - $25
And my latest and greatest find:
1960 Bear Kodiak 60", 55# in Excellent original condition - $55 at an estate sale.
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Brian
Not as good a deal as some posted on here but I was very pleased:
Yesterday I got a Predator Classic model recurve in almost pristine condition with 2 strings(one still sealed in the plastic, never used), 2 bow stringers(1 is a new Selway), 6 cedar arrows and a new glove for 400.00
There's not a mark on this bow, and the only reason I say "almost" is because the strike plate is a homemade affair with shaved deer hide. This bow was shipped in the original box with the reciept showing the original owner paid over 700.00. 46#'s at 28 " and a real shooter! I am very happy!
I would be remiss if I failed to post on this one.
I got this one as a gift from another Trad Gang member coaster500. I am still in shock and awe over such a magnificent gift. (Thank you Kip!)
Lost Creek 60" 49@28
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God bless,Mudd
When my wife ask how much I just paid for a bow and I tell her she says I'm crazy. If that counts as a crazy good deal I've got a bunch of them.
My wife brought home a 1968 Kodiak Hunter, in very good condition, from a garage sale once. 5 dollars.
The best deal all around i came across. I was on my way to Moses lake archery shoot in 2003. We stopped by a thrift shop/ fruit stand about half way there to stretch our legs. On the 3rd floor I seen a Martin Balboa 45@ 28. in unused condition. The tag said Bow and arrows 60.00. So i got the bow and box of Stemmler arrows tipped with bear razor heads unused. The Big boys from Martin archery were there at the 3d shoot so i took a piece of steel wool and rubbed the finish off enough to Have them all sign. 6 signatures on it and had Bowdoc refinish. Favorite 3d bow. Great topic. Great finds guys, Warberg
I bought a 60" 55# mahaska recurve a couple tears ago for $75.00. I also got a river raisin recurve for $50.00.
I had been fortunate as a boy. I grew up on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, and just about any archery equipment that was dated seemed to just pass my way. How I miss it! I lost all my gear...every last bit when my father got arrested for murder, and my family's cabin was seized for "evidence". Most everything was ransacked, stolen, or vandalized and I have just now gotten the heart to look for a decent bow and get back into "flinging sticks" as my old man used to call it. But my fondest good deal was my first "real" recurve...a Bear Black bear 35 lbs. I got that bow for 25 cents and the promise of a rabbit hide when I was 9 years old...I spent all that summer before school started traipsing around like a threshing machine trying to get one! But later that fall, I was fortunate enough to catch a big snowshoe literally standing for me just past my old bag target...Easy enough to take. I got him, tanned him out, and was the happiest boy on the Kenai when I gave up that pelt. This thread has caused a lot of memories to flood back. Thanks all!
I picked up a Grumley sinew backed flat bow for my boss, $30.00. Then bought a t/d Grumley bushmaster in the original case for $300.00 and eventually gave it to my next boss. Haven't had a really sweet deal like that for many years. Still on the look out for one... :jumper: todd
I bought a Bear 72 Super K for 150.00 ....perfect shape with a dozen razor heads with spare bleeders and camo cloth limb covers. Bought a Predator Hunter for 145.00 last month with 12 cedar arrows with Wenzel Woodsmans and a camo leather quiver.
In 2001 my wife and I bought our first house. A friend wanted to see it so we took her over there for a tour. The owner was still there and having a garage sale before moving, we asked we could show our friend around, no problem. While upstairs I spot an old wood arrow leaning in a corner, thinking that's cool, I look into a closet and there is an old recurve in there, a WCE (?) 42# lefty. It's a lovely mint green color but the limbs were straight and my wife shoots left handed, so to took it down to the old lady and offered her $5 for it. Sold! Still have that bow, though I painted it since it's so ugly. Shoots great though and I'm using it to learn how to shoot left handed. Anyone ever heard of a WCE bow?
Also got '65 Bear Grizzly from a coworker for $40.
Bid on and won an old Red Wing Hunter recurve (58" 45@28) in pristine condition for $35 at an auction one saturday morning.
I've been pretty lucky over the years to stumble into some sweet deals. I traded some old fishing equipment, probably had less than 100 invested for a 59 Kodiak, a Pearson Hunter, and an old Indian recurve. Bought a factory camo 65 Kodiak off of a friend for 20 bucks....it is one of my favorite bows! Last but not least I picked up a lefty Bear Greenstripe TD with 55 & 60lb limbs and a nice hardcase for 300.00 The same day I sold the riser to a friend that had been looking for one for 200 so I ended up with 2 sets of limbs and a hardcase for 100 bucks and we were all very happy! Always on the lookout for good deals but it seems like they are getting harder to find. Last week a buddy gave me 8 Bear cedars with razorheads that had never been shot! That was a pretty cool deal for sure!
Jack Howard Classic..35 bucks at an estate auction. Schafer Silvertip..250.00 ****,
Not a bow but I bought two Lone Wolf hang on's and a Lone Wolf climber for $50 each! At that time that was a savings of $500.
A local sports shop was selling these year old, still in the box, stands to make room for new stock.
my buddys wife picked up an ambadextrious bear bow at a garage sale for 8 bucks with a little research found out it was made by fred himself in michigan...thats the best deal ive ever herd or saw ive personally shot the bow...its quite humbling to shoot somwthing fred himself made .
I'm usually the victim of these kind of deals...
Within the last year, my wife took my hunting boots and dryjoys to salvation army(on accident)and my mother sold a $500 bike I left at her house for $50 at a garage sale...She was so excited when she gave me the money! :knothead: