I was in The Archery Shop after work yesterday evening getting my new string set up for shooting, i.e., nock point and string silencers. A fella who was in the shop said "Is that a new bow?" I told him I'd had it 3 or 4 months. He said "That bow is too pretty to take in the woods!" I responded, "I have to take pretty bows in the woods because I don't buy any ugly bows!"
Bill
I know what you mean. I don't own any ugly bows. As for not hunting them. That would be like not driving a Ferrari or not touching your smoking hot woman. Just plain silly either way you look at it.
I buy pretty bows so when I am sitting there for hours while hunting I have something to look at if it's slow. Life's too short to shoot ugly bows!
EXACTLY RIGHT! Good post! I have a hard time deciding which beauty to take with me when I shoot or hunt. Usually 2 or 3. Felix and I are discussing that right now in PMs.
OK, I have to admit, I have a ugly bow and she is named Ugly Betty. Found her kicked to the curb at a bow meet/swap for $200 (with a leather selway quiver). She's a all ash Big East TD with dings/marks all over her. She ain't much to look at but she sure can dance! First time I tried her, she gave me a 4 arrow 6" group at 25 yards. One of the fastest, smoothest bows I have ever held.
Just remember, ugly bows try harder to impress... :thumbsup:
JL
QuoteOriginally posted by Ringneck:
I buy pretty bows so when I am sitting there for hours while hunting I have something to look at if it's slow. Life's too short to shoot ugly bows!
X2 Ringneck.
I like looking at pretty bows.
I have a strong liking for "Rat Rods" too.
An Old bow that looks beat to death that just plain shoots great is pretty cool too.
I can't only immagine to buy a bow that I don't find it pretty,and everytime I try to improve the look of the next one and push the bowyer to make something special.Modern custom are really works of art and bowyers are really talented.
The only exception is for the vintage ones that,where pretty on their times,but not comparison with the newer ones.Only 15-18 years ago it was impossible to find just a clear glass lam.for the limbs!
That is an awesome reply - I have schafers and while beautiful they are tools -
I do not think I have seen an ugly custom?
They are ALL pretty to somebody!
Not only are my finer than a frog's hair, I like to admire other fine bows. They are truely funtional works of art.
Closest I have to ugly is my Bear Kodiak Hunter. The shape is lovely but the green Futurewood and glass is, shall we say, an acquired taste.
A friend used to call it my "Bear Formica"
Ugly bows need love to. LOL
C
Good post Bill. I won't own a black widow either :)
Hey JL, your right "Betty" is real ugly. She does shoot good though. lol
hate ugly bows either. the bow must shoot great and look awesome.
I don't use my bows for walking sticks or throw them over fences or out of tree stands. I can hunt several years and hunt hard with a bow in extremely rough country before it gets scratches. I try to always hit the ground first and protect the bow. LOL. God Bless you all with beautiful bows . Steve
(http://eaglewingarchery.i8.com/images/christy2010/crstauc11.jpg)
I too am a fan of fancy bows. I do have two that are metal risers and completely camoflauged but I wouldn't call them ugly. But, they don't compare to the exotic wood recurves.
I've always been careful with my bows, even during the 34 years of compound shooting. I never could understand some folks who would simplly drop their bows on the ground, especially with bow quivers full of arrows. I'm even more careful with my arrows. Quiver hood up when hauling in the stand and quiver hood down when the bow goes down. The haul line is tied just short (loop at the end through string and over limb tip)of the ground.
One of the best shooting bows I ever shot wasn't purdy on the outside because it was really beat up. It a leftie's "carp" bow from out Montana way. This demo bow did convince me to order a beautiful version of the same bow though!
Can't say I like ugly bows, but I don't really get into all the nice woods, veneers, accents,and such.
I like my bows graceful and functional. That said my go to bows are my Kanati and my Pronghorn. I think they are plenty pretty.
I have to admit I am addicted to good lookin bows...I do have one that's not though and can't bring myself to sell it. It just shoots to good :(
Bill, I used to be like that. Then about 15 years ago, I went into Glenn St. Charles Northwest Archery shop and he had a Black Widow MA with two sets of limbs for sale. I had never shot one of those "ugly" bows, but after shooting it, the bow got a lot better looking.
Just remember, appearances can be deceiving, however, it would be better if all the good shooting bows were good lookers.
I like ugly bows. When I trip over a stone wall and put a big ding in it I don't feel so bad.....I do have a few pretty ones!!! :dunno:
Sometime we worry too much about the finish on our bows.I bought last year a 1955 Bear Kodiak,signed by Fred himself.The bow looked pretty beated and I could buy it for a fair price.I sent it to Bow Doc and he did his magic,now that old beated bow is looking better of what it looked in 1955.The same for our custum,if there isn't any functional brakega they can come back better looking than ever.
Dings and scratches are just character marks...if you get to a point you don't want to look at them anymore just refinish the bow. If I'm going to have to live with a bow it better be a great shooter and a beauty too. Just me.
I've never went to bed with an ugly bow but sure woke up with a few! :eek:
... mike ...
Mikey.... :saywhat:
The prettiest bow i've ever owned was a complete turd.Bows are like women we would all like a beautiful one.But the smartest of us look at her quality's.My absolute favorite bow is a Bear 76er i warfed.It has a set of $120.00 korean limbs on it.She will flat shoot your socks off.Thats real beauty to me.
Most all bows are going to shoot better than I can shoot them, so if I'm only going to be a fair shot, I want to be a fair shot with a good looking bow. Lately I've been drawn toward simpler bows, but those having nicely figured woods. Too many fancy accent strips/overlays/wood combos in a riser, just doesn't appeal to me anymore. As a novice bowyer, I can really appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into an ultra-fancy bow, but I'll take a simple bow with a single piece curly maple, walnut, or cocobolo in the riser anytime. Now I don't want to offend those of you that like camoflaged bows, but I think they are just plain ugly and I just never understood painting or dipping over nice wood.
WildmanSC,
I know those people at the Archery Shop. They don't know what beauty is. Ask Bud, he knows a good bow!!! Enjoy
Hey Bill how ya been? You are correct you dont buy udly bows...I have seen quite a few of them. :wavey:
Beauty.....fellas.....is in the eye of the bowholder! :laughing:
I've owned many pretty bows - never bought one though where the way it looked was even a minor consideration in buying it.
Hmmm , a good bow looks good. It may have a plain riser and black glass but it still looks good. I certainly hear what people are saying about liking plain bows. However I don't have very many guys order plain bows. They kind of start off with the I am a plain bow guy but I want this and I want that and that andddddddddddddddd. LOL God bless you Guys. And by the way anyone that wants a plain bow. I can build it and so can every bowyer on here. Steve
QuoteOriginally posted by Blackhawk:
Bill, I used to be like that. Then about 15 years ago, I went into Glenn St. Charles Northwest Archery shop and he had a Black Widow MA with two sets of limbs for sale. I had never shot one of those "ugly" bows, but after shooting it, the bow got a lot better looking.
Just remember, appearances can be deceiving, however, it would be better if all the good shooting bows were good lookers.
I didn't say anything about Black Widow bows in my post. In fact, I wouldn't mind adding a TFX in Bocote with black Phenolic to my collection someday.
Bill
QuoteOriginally posted by squid:
WildmanSC,
I know those people at the Archery Shop. They don't know what beauty is. Ask Bud, he knows a good bow!!! Enjoy
squid,
Believe it or not, I have Bud shoot every one of my new bows before I shoot it. Not only does Bud know beautiful bows, he also can shoot a stickbow very, very well! I've sold Bud three bows. Two of them are beautiful bows and the other is the first Dale Stahl bow I bought. It was a "Plain Jane" bow with a Bubinga riser with a gray actionwood stripe and it had Red Elm limbs. That is one semi-ugly bow I wish I still had. I've been trying to talk Bud into selling that bow back to me for 7 years, or more. He still has it! :( :banghead:
Bill
I found out later than I wish I would have that if you drop your standards just a bit, you'll end up having a whole lot more fun.
I love ugly bows. :D
I realy like pretty bows. The camo paint sticks to the finish better.Just kidding . Any bow that shoots good is pretty.
I will tell you what, if any of you have any lefty ungly bows you just cant stand just PM me. I will take them and hide them from your site so you dont ever have to look at them again. :goldtooth:
"Hunting with an Ugly bow is like taking your sister to the Prom " is a quote I heard from a fellow years ago .
Jack
if you think your bow is ugly...have a few beers..in time she'll look pretty...LOL
seriously...I have a selfbow that is made from hickory that some would consider plain...but she is awful pretty to me... I made her at a John Strunk bow making course!!!!
Give her a facelift with sandpaper & wood filler. Character marks under slick varnish make for some fine lines.
ha ha
Boy, when I'm in a tree the last thing I need is a pretty bow to look at.. Way to much stuff going on out there for me to be setting around looking at a pretty stick.
Nothing wrong with pretty bows but hunting is hunting not self admiration time, You can always put on the dog at the 3D's
QuoteOriginally posted by Earl E. Nov...mber:
Boy, when I'm in a tree the last thing I need is a pretty bow to look at.. Way to much stuff going on out there for me to be setting around looking at a pretty stick.
Nothing wrong with pretty bows but hunting is hunting not self admiration time, You can always put on the dog at the 3D's
Ken,
I hardly set around admiring my bows when I'm hunting. But I do like the beautiful craftsmanship that some of the bowyers are producing. I gladly pay the price for the beauty. I've bought some of them used, but I've also bought a few of them new.
I purposely pick woods that provide good contrast with each other, e.g., Bocote with Cocobolo or Ziricote or Ebony, while at the same time providing natural camoflage. I don't like light woods in bows. That's also why I have Bocote veneers placed over the actionboo cores that I order.
Bill