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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: snow leopard on October 07, 2010, 09:29:00 AM

Title: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: snow leopard on October 07, 2010, 09:29:00 AM
there was a bowyer in the pacific nothwest, washington i think, that crafted longbows from pacific yew. this was quite awhile ago, and i haven't heard anything regarding these bows or seen any ads; i also don't recall a name. i'm hoping someone can refresh my memory on this, and to whether or not these bows are still being made. thanks.
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: bigbadjon on October 07, 2010, 09:33:00 AM
I believe you are speaking of Jay St Charles.
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: Tom Leemans on October 07, 2010, 09:35:00 AM
If I were to purchase a yew bow from a bowyer, it'd probaby be Jay St.Charles. You weren't thinking of Jim Fetrow, were you?
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: Jerry Jeffer on October 07, 2010, 09:38:00 AM
http://www.selfbow.com/
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: MikeM on October 07, 2010, 09:49:00 AM
Don Adams  might be who you are thinking of. He isn't making bows anymore but he turned his operation over to David Tinsley. Check for the Don Adams Archery website to contact David since I think he is still making the all yew self-bows. I have one made by him right after he took over from Don Adams.
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: snow leopard on October 07, 2010, 10:05:00 AM
i think his wife or daughter made arrows as well, but i very well could be wrong.
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: wingnut on October 07, 2010, 10:08:00 AM
That's Jay and his sister.  As far as I know Jay is still building Yew bows.  Check out his website.

Mike
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: snow leopard on October 07, 2010, 10:27:00 AM
thanks, guys. will do.
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: deaddoc4444 on October 07, 2010, 11:08:00 AM
Don Adams
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: Warberg on October 07, 2010, 11:31:00 AM
You have the right person, Glenn's daughter still makes the best arrows. or look under NWarchery. Her names is Suzanne St Charles. Best of luck, And yes Jay does a wonderful job as well.
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: Wannabe1 on October 07, 2010, 11:49:00 AM
Jay is one of the best guys I've dealt with. He even called me back two weeks after the delivery of my bow just to see how it was working out for me! Now that's customer service!    :thumbsup:  
 (http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp233/TradNut/Archery/bow2006.jpg)
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: Sal on October 07, 2010, 12:55:00 PM
Perhaps you were thinking of John Strunk?

There used to be ads in TB for yew bows by someone named Welch, I think they were called "Welchman" bows.  That was like 15 years ago.
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: Sal on October 07, 2010, 12:59:00 PM
Depending on how much you want to strech the "yew bow" category, other possible candidates are JD Berry, or Stotler.  Does that ring a bell.
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: Bjorn on October 07, 2010, 01:16:00 PM
2 nd generation St Charles Thunderbird by Jay St Charles

(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q291/bjornweb/DSCN1206.jpg)

Osage and Yew
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: snow leopard on October 07, 2010, 05:39:00 PM
sal; that was it!! welchman bows! i have to assume at this point he (they) are no longer around??
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: snow leopard on October 07, 2010, 05:41:00 PM
jeez; i just gave away my age. and, how easily i get confused----------.
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: snow leopard on October 07, 2010, 05:46:00 PM
i just did a search; gerald welchman, ketchikan, alaska; and his website is current, so he's still making longbows. thanks again, sal, for the memory jog.
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: Warberg on October 07, 2010, 05:50:00 PM
That's a beautiful bow Bjorn,
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: SteveT on October 07, 2010, 07:26:00 PM
I have a Tim Meigs Yew bow....
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: Sal on October 08, 2010, 01:54:00 AM
Excellent!  I knew I was good for something.

I remember the ad, it had a beautiful bow in it.  I also remember a story from the mid 90's about a guy who went on an Alaskan hunt with the bowyer.  I remember a bunch of useless stuff.
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: Kevin Bahr on October 08, 2010, 05:06:00 AM
Welchman Longbows were made by Gerald Welch.  He lives in Moose Pass, AK on Prince of Wales Island.  Don't know if he still makes bows or not, when I visited him at his home he was thinking about getting into making Sitka spruce arrows/shafting.  Don't know if he ever did or not.  I was there perhaps 10 years ago, maybe?
Title: Re: pacific yew bowyer
Post by: Ted Fry on October 08, 2010, 01:56:00 PM
Actually Kevin, Gerald lives in Whale Pass AK 907 846-5333 .His address for mail is Ketchikan as thats the nearest main mail delivery. He pretty much put the shafting idea to rest as he is more than busy with pastoring the small church in town and making a few bows. He comes to the lower 48 about once a year maybe twice as he has family in Portland.