Who makes your favorite non custom bow? Thanks!
Martin Savanha
Bear takedown.
martin hunter
martin savanah
Hoyt Dorado
Bear t/d
Martin hunter without a doubt
Bear!
Frank
Bear. Especially the TD.
Martin Hunter 50@28...hands down.
This is a tough call for me and all of my choices are recurves bows.
It's almost a toss up between a one piece 62" Martin/Damon Howatt Hunter, a one piece 64" or take down 64" Bear Super Kodiak and a 64" one piece or take down Bob Lee Signature Hunter.
I must add, all three bows give me a slight case of finger pinch. This is why I shoot 66" length custom recurves.
Pre 1963 Bears.
Martin Catalina in the 50 lb range with rosewood riser. Just one of the most awsome bows I have ever shot in my life. I tested it with same poundage and same arrow against a new 3 piece custom form a super well respected bowyer and it outshot it by an average of 6 fps. It was smooth to pull, absolutely gorgeous and super fast with no handshock. Basicaly a blown up version of the Hunter. Longer riser and same or close to same limb length.
God bless you all, Steve
I've only had one but I love it...what I learned how to shoot trad on.
Martin Savannah!
Love the bow and would like one heavier down the road.
Josh
Howatt Hi-Speed ....
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/BagandaRinehart005.jpg)
Bear Kodiak, 1956, 1959 and anything from the 60's and 70s.
Pearson Deerslayer
Just because they are what I really started hunting with back in 68 I would say Bear, especially if you can get one from back then. I like the Super Kodiak and the Super Mag's
Martin Dreamcatcher
Bear TD,42 years old and still one of the best bow in the market.
Howatt Hunter.
(http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/yornoc/Howattmojave012.jpg)
Samick Sage.
Bear Grizzly
Old bear Super K's
Martins, Old bears, and my favorite......Bear Montana.....the Model-T Ford of factory bows. I have had 2 and would some point get another!! Just a good solid hunting bow!!
X2 on Martin Dreamcatcher.
Martin Savannah, great bow !!!
please dont laugh
bear 76r
i shoot that bow lights out better than any other production bow ive had
for me its all in the grip
the r1 grip fits my hand perfectly
Bear Kodiak Magnum.
Killdeer :)
I don't currently own one but I give the nod to Martin's Savannah too.
Bear :campfire:
Hard to define custom. I mean a lot of bowyers today have CNC machines and what not as do Bear, Martin and others. A lot of work is still done by hand by what you call non-custom bowyers. You can actually call Bear and Martin and order a bow to your specifications, the real difference is you may not be able to choose the exact woods you want. I would say my favorite non-custom would have to be a Black Widow. Shawn
Hoyt Buffalo!
Damon Howatt Hunter and Bear Kodiak. The Howatt Hunter feels smoother and fits hand better, but I shoot the Kodiaks consistently better for some reason. Howatt is a dacron string only bow.
Martin Hunter.
Toss up between the Dream Catcher and Hunter.
THANKS guys there a lot of great bow. I love hearing your opinons. I know that you do get more with most custom bows, but still like to here about factory bows too. Thanks!
Looks like Howatt is leading the survey so far!!
I'll add my favorite...a 60" 53# Howatt Super Diablo.
Gene
Howatt/ Martin Hunter ... every day of the week!
Follow that by a any of the old Wings ... sweet bows .
I also have a Stemmler Cougar that is a tack driver ...
But The Hunter wins hands down for me .
There are a lot I have not shot. Howatt Hunters are my tops of the production recurves that I have.
A Bear Super K was next.
Joshua
I have to agree with Gene. I have a Howatt Super Diablo 60" 57# @ 28". Very nice shooting bow (My son is trying to adopt it ) :)
After reading this thread so far I have seen that some people prefer older Bear bows. Is there a reason to this? Do the newer models lack what the the older models have? Just curious. I'm looking to possibly buy a newer model Bear.
After this thread I may look into the Martin line of recurves. They seem to be more popular than the Bears.
RECURVE Howatt Super Diablo
Long bow Howatt Custom Bushmaster
On that note SUPER D no longer made I would then go to the Martin /Howatt Hunter. I have all of the above wont sell them ( Might trade LOL )
Martin Hunter - hard to beat one; smooth, quiet, fast, stable, etc.
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Easy, My 68" Proline Saxon 75# longbow bought near 35 years ago. Don't think Proline makes trad anymore?
Ben Pearson!
I'm surprised the Bear Montana hasn't gotten more love. I love mine.
Pat
Bear Grizzly
Quinn Stallion
Bear Takedown here
Tomahawk Longbow
pearson, Dreamcatcher was a good one...1962 beaR i HAD ONCE WAS THE BOMB... :)
"Some people prefer older Bear bows"
Many like them for thier history,nastolgia,sentmentality,classic appeal,timelessness and they do shoot very well.Some are downright beautiful.So thier is an aesthetic quality as well for many.
Thier are also so many lengths available 48"-70 inches and also many styles from light mass weight with low grips to heavier mass weight bows with higher grips.So the vintage bears have bow styles for archers of different tastes and applications.
Many archery afficionados like to collect bear bows.The vintage Bears maintain thier value as well on resale.You can also get very good deals on a nice shooting bow.Like 150$ for some models.
I have had quite a few and I really liked them all and loved a few.A few have very high performance levels like a 62 kodiak or 64 kodiak.Ohters are very smooth and accurate like the longer length 1960 kodiak Specials/special deluxes and 64 inch 59ers.
The TD is an awesome bow in function,beauty and shootability.Its also very versatile with the different length risers and limbs you can interchange.They also offer aftermarket limbs for the TD built buy bowyers like RER and Rose Oak Creations.
I have not shot the latest models.But they look like they are offering a very nice lineup of bows with more models and options than in their more recent history.Bear Archery seem to be trying to turn the corner and put a new face on.
Pretty much anything with the Damon Howatt label on it, followed closely by Wing.As for more current choices - Hoyt GM and Dorado are great. Oh, and an obscure one: late 60's Sanders Swift - a real sleeper.
Howatt Hunter and Archery 2000 SST .
Cravotta Bros. Black Hawk Yellow Jacket longbow.
Martin Savannah
Bear K-mag!!!
QuoteOriginally posted by JMartin:
Cravotta Bros. Black Hawk Yellow Jacket longbow.
NO WAY!!!
I have that bow. It was my fathers and left it off this list because I thought nobody would appreciate it. Sweet shooting bow. Mine was bought by my Dad in 1964 I believe.
This is the bow that got me into trad archery. First shot it when I was about 8. Still have it BTW.
Joshua
Bob Lee Hunter 3 piece and my '72 K Mag...
1966 66" Bear Alaskan for me. Started out with it about 30 years ago, and it's still going strong.
I checked out the new Bear Grizzly and Super K at Gander the other day. Between the two, I liked the Super K better. Both had decent grips, if a bit slimmer than what I'm used to, and even though the Grizzly was 50# and 2 inches shorter, it had more mass weight than the 55# Super K. The Super K had a similar mass to my Alaskan. They even offer the Super K in a 64" which is a big bonus for long draw guys like myself.
Only problem I have is that they want basically custom bow prices for a "factory" bow. (I'm a bit of a tightwad) I might consider special ordering one eventually, if they'll make it in a 66 or 68 inch, and, blasphemous as this is, I'd really prefer it in clear glass, but might consider the Grayling Green, if nothing more than the fact that it's riser is Bubinga, instead of Dymondwood. Maybe I'm just too picky, but then again, a bit of research on the issue wouldn't hurt either.
My 64" LH 67 1/2 Super Kodiak
doug77
I would have to say my hoyt dorado would get a vote.
Damon Howatt/Martin Hunter.
I got one for my son...then one for me...then one for my other son...sweet shooting bow!
I like Samick's takedown.
Super Kodiak
Bear take down. I love my "A" handles. Nothing shoot any better.
QuoteOriginally posted by T Folts:
Martin Savanha
X..?..lol
Bear K-mag.
Tradtech Titan for me!
Howatt Hunter...40#@28"
My favorites came out of Grayling, MI between 59 and 62. Things got real good again between late 69 and 71 with those sweet takedowns.
I love my custom bows, but those old Bears suit me just fine!
Howatt Hunter great bows and you get more bang for your buck.
Get one that says 55 @ 28 and more than likely it will be 58# @ 28.
John
A used Martin Bamboo Viper. Very expensive for an assembly line bow but man o man do they shoot.
OUT WEST FUNNY But ooooohhhhh so true I have never seen a Damon Howatt bow that was the poundage marked on it .
Bear. The Bear Hunter's seem to fit my hand like a glove. Feels just as comfortable as my Grandfather's old S&W 39-2 9MM or a Colt 1911A1 w/arched housing. A quick, natural pointer.
Earl Hoyt original, Sky - Sky Hawk.
Ben Pearson..."Ol' Ben" Straight Limbed Longbow!! :thumbsup: My Very First LongBow Purchase, and that Bow will go to the Grave with ME!! :campfire:
shakespeare, quinn, howard hill
Without a doubt, this Martin Dream Catcher! I love this bow!!
(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp233/TradNut/101_0728.jpg)
(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp233/TradNut/101_0729.jpg)
Samick redstag t/d.
Without a doubt, the rosewood Damon Howatt Super Diablo. I'd take one of those over many custom bows, if for no other reason, I love the rosewood used in the risers.
Martin Hunter, Bear Kodiak Hunter
My current mid 70's Bear Kodiak Hunter. I do want a new Bear takedown.
Bear.
In a fit of silliness I sold my Shakespere Super Necadah. For an older, 54" bow, it sure was smooth and fast and I was drawing it 29.5" with no stacking.
I love the looks of all the Bear bows, but the KMag has always had the look that I love!
65 Kodiak, wish I had one sooner.
My 62 Kodiak.
Pleased to see the number of people voting for Martin/Howatt bows. It confirms my own biased opinion - that they are the best 'non-custom' (a debatable term, imo) bows being made.
For me personally, it's my #55 Mamba, which is simply one of the best, quick, accurate bows I have ever shot, 'custom' or otherwise, followed very closely by my #55 Savannah.
I only have 1 non-custom bow on the rack besides the 20 or so customs.... It's a late 60's Brazillian Rose-wood, Howatt Super Diablo 60" and 53#..
She fits in very nicely up there with my customs. :thumbsup:
Gene
58" Red Wing Hunter
Without question it is a 70's something Howatt Hunter 55# @ 28"
This thing shoots better than any custom I have ever owned.
Kinda like miller beer,Less fillin-great taste!!!
Faster shootin-less noise!!!
John
Martin Savannah, Martin Serengetti
Herter's Perfection Sitka, and Sky Rogue.
Definately Martin/Damon Howatt!Fast,sweetshooting,and tested and true.
Fred Bear Super Kodiak 60#. My father bought it for me and it helped me claim my first trad deer.
Anything Bear.
Damon Howatt Super Diablo
Bear anything, no question or competition in my mind
I have taken a liking to the Wing Archery Chapparal I recently acquired. Its hard up which one I like best, it or my Howatt Hunter. Both are great bows. I am looking forward to trying out a 60# Browning Nomad Stalker soon thanks to Charlie Jansen.
Bear Kodiak Hunters '67 thru '69
Have a '67, really like the grip and the way it shoots.
Astro II
Predator Hunter!
My old Wing and my old
Howitt Bandito.
My Quinn Longhorn Classic T/D. The only recurve I own. I just can't let it go. It shoots to nice.
Hoyt buffalo!
I have a 64 Kodiak I'm extremely partial to, definitely one of my favorites it spent a lot of time in the woods with me this last fall.
I would have to say it's a toss up between my Savannah or my Martin Hunter,tough choice!
I have a Martin Bushmaster that I love, and another Martin Hunter is in my future...
A toss up between my Savannah or my Martin Hunter,tough choice!
My friend Misfire gave me a PSE Heritage Sequoia that got me hooked on trad.
Martin savannah.
Just about anything that is Howatt/Martin. I've been a Mamba fan and also really like the Super Diablos.
I shot Howatt hunters for years, but just bought a Root Kadet, reversed handle longbow, 62", 47#@28". Also have a 1967 Kodiak hunter, and a 66 Kodiak, but the 66 is 72# and is a little heavy for me.
Browning Explorer all day!!! But I do have a Howatt Hunter on the way so Ill let ya know when that gets here.
Chek Mate Hunter II and the Chek Mate Kings Oawn Deluxe
A little funny, I read through the entire post with intentions of posting my favorite and thinking through a hundred or so submissions "no one has mentioned my favorite" Check-Mate Hunterll I have had a bunch of expensive customs and the Hunterll is as good as any and better than most.
Regards to all,
Dan
Martin Savannah
1959 Bear Kodiak 50# and 60".
1. Howatt Hunter
2. Bear Super K
Sky Rogue is the best production bow I've shot. Earl Hoyt built.
My 1958 bear kodiak special
My Wifes zebra wood Swift Wing
I have to say I'm not really sure what a custom bow is. I reckon my definition would be one that I have absolutely no choice in the woods, grip, or limb length.
My favorite would be the new Bear TD for appearance and shootabiity. For pure shootability it would be "The Stick".