I am contemplating sending my first custom bow on down the road. I was curious if some of you were pemanently attached to your first custom or if its just another page in the book of bows you've owned.
My first coustom was the second bow I bought after shooting for about 6 months, this was a little over 5 years ago. Now I own about 13 or so bows, 3 are custom made for me others are 2nd hand customs and general productions. Since that first 62in custom I lean toward shorter bows in the 54-58 range. I have also settled into the high 40s and low 50s for draw weight; the first is 56lbs. I no longer shoot the longer heavier bow and am thinking about selling it for $ toward a 60 2pc by the same bowyer. I know have a child and the wife and I haven't had a raise at work in over 5 years so paying for a new bow straight up ain't in the cards, plus I'm starting to wonder why I 'need' so many bows.
I've got two vintage Robertson's that I can't handle the weight anymore. I should try and sell them, but they're so full of memories that every time I go to do it I back out.
Only bow I am really attached to and will not sell was my very first one given to me as a Christmas present almost 40 years ago - bear kmag.
Several others have come and gone - love trying new bows so the current "go to bow" is most likely temporary! :D
I've had a couple bows I've regretted selling over the years but overall, and it may seem a bit harsh, I've always looked at my bows in the same way I would a tool - something I use to get the "job" done. :)
My first traditional bow was a Asbell Custom Bighorn order in 1989 after longing for one for a few years, I finally made the plunge and paid $436.00 for the bow, a 6 arrow quiver and a carrying case a lot of money back then. I started off over bowed not having anyone to mentor me at time and order it 63#@31" draw lol time has proven I neither have a 31" draw or shoot 63# effectively. But through it all it was with it I learned (trial and lots of error) and took my first deer after a # of years and built a ton of memories with her.
I have contemplated putting her on the classifieds but between mine apprehension of parting with a dear friend and especially my wife knowing what she has meant to me over the years and her desires to pass it down to my Son, I believe i'll never sell.
QuoteOriginally posted by South MS Bowhunter:
I have contemplated putting her on the classifieds but between mine apprehension of parting with a dear friend and especially my wife knowing what she has meant to me over the years and her desires to pass it down to my Son, I believe i'll never sell.
I would sure keep that bow and pass it down if I were you. Those kinds of things become more priceless as the years pass.
I have one I built for my father in law 22 years ago this Christmas. He passed six years ago, I will never let it go, way to many great memories.
My first was a college graduation gift from my Dad and it was also the bow I took my first Trad deer with. It won't be going anywhere except to my son who's 6 right now.
My first custom/semi-custom was a Dan Quillion Patriot. Nice bow, but at 70# it was beating the crap out of me trying to shoot it.
I sold it and bought a production 55#@28" Dream Catcher (Yakima Shop) when they first came out. The Howatt is quieter, prettier, lighter & sleeker, and in every way a better bow IMHO.
I was lucky enough to order my first custom bow in a low drawweight. It is still the bow I shoot the most.
My first Custom was a Fox High Sierra in 2001. I parted with it three years and two weeks ago. (Yikes, must have been traumatic to remember it so well.)
I bought that bow new after seeing it first at the KY Klassic in Somerset, KY and then again at Cloverdale, IN. I wasn't even hunting with a recurve again ...yet -- didn't start in earnest until 2010.
Of course this was a "stock" bow so not really customized for me. However, it was of woods I like (Shedua and Osage) and of couse the correct length and draw weight.
I still have my first one(second bow I owned) and not ready to let it go... but just traded my second custom bow.... And I'm happy!
I'm with some of the others above in that my first few customs were in 89 and I was way over bowed in #'s. I have long sense passed them on to younger and stronger archers at good prices and picked up more in what I like to shoot. If you look closely at the Classifieds you will note there is no shortage in very nice customs that are high in draw weight. Besides a new bow in the mail is always a good thing.
I sold my first and regret it - Widow MAV, my Dad got it for me when I was a bit younger and he's gone now. Sold it because I needed the cash in college. It's the only bow I ever felt attached to, other than that a bow is just a tool to me. I can go through a hundred and not think twice about it, like a pair of boots.
Still have my first custom ordered-made longbow. It is a Massie Archery, black walnut and hickory, 64" and 54# @ 26". Named it "Sweet Sue" in honor of my bride of 32 years. Jeff hand delivered this bow to me at a 3D shoot in Salado, Texas in April of 1992.
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e285/bard9l/IMG_1576.jpg)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e285/bard9l/IMG_1575.jpg)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e285/bard9l/IMG_1572.jpg)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e285/bard9l/IMG_1578.jpg)
Ive never been attached to a bow. To me its just a bow. Theres a million of em out there. That being said, I do have a couple I wish I hadnt sold just because I havent found one that shot the same since.
So from the above I think the general consensus is it all depends on how you got it, who gave it to you, or just memories in general. The bow I killed my 1srt deer with is here to stay. I have killed a few critters with this one...one is kinda special but the memory is with other events of the day not the bow. I always remember that day when I see the pic of the deer, I dont think about it when I see the bow.
Still thinking on it though. Thanks for the thoughts.
I still have my first recurve that was made for/by me. I had help from a friend back in high school when I built it. I cut his grass and watched his kids to pay for it. I took my only deer and turkey to date with it. I've never thought of selling it.
Now I have bought other bows and always felt like I was "cheating" on my recurve. So those have been sold without second thought.
I am however starting to build osage bows and again, I love the process of shooting something I made, but I see my recurve sitting on the shelf and feel aweful inside. I don't know, I'm not usually like that with stuff. But this is different.
I say hang on to it. The minute you mark your ad "sold" you'll feel terrible.
-Jeremy :coffee:
I hate selling bows, but sometimes it makes sense. I shoot the same bow all the time so why do I need so many?
Because I can't stand to sell them...lol. All but one of my bows were bought used, but they are fabulous examples of one person's work. All would be considered "premier" bows and even though I rarely shoot them...they are still mine. I can say "I have one of his...so and so made that one...I'll bring in my xxx so you can give it a try...". When some of the bowyers working today retire their bows will be classics...and I'll have one.
The Blacktail I just got is my first custom "made for me" after a lifetime of archery and used bows. To say it's not going anywhere would be an understatement.
I still have my first custom. A Brackenbury from 91. Too many memories and its still too good to let go of.
My first trad bow was sold a while back. I didn't know anything about bows or what I liked. I ordered on looks alone. Never took an animal with it anyway. Bad mojo on that bow from the start with the bowyer. I say if you have no attachment, then sell it.
The 2nd one I bought and have now is much better suited to me. I have killed all my firsts with it and will NEVER sell it. Even if it hangs on a wall someday. It will not be leaving me voluntarily. I am attached to that one and no matter how many bows end up in my house over the years it will stay.
My 1st true custom is a Brackenburry. Had it built in 84. Has my name on it. I had Wes Wallce build me some lighter weight limbs a few yrs back. I've already told my son its will be his some day. Still shooting it today
Like a few others my first custom was a Bighorn T/D, had it made for me in 1989 as well.I think I killed 5 deer with it the first 6 years I had her,then I went to longbows and started buying other bows as well. It didn't get any "woods time" at all so i sold it,and bought a one piece Bighorn. Sometimes I feel like I cheated an old friend,but then I have to remind myself bows don't have feelings. Plus my only son out of 4 children is left handed I'm a righty so he will not be able to hunt with any of my bows.
My first custom bow was a Shrew I bought about 6 years ago. I had ordered it a little too heavy, but was a great shooting bow. I sold it and while packaging it up for shipping I felt almost as bad as I did when I was burying my dog. I regretted until this fall, when my new Shrew arrived!
My first custom bow was a Christmas present made for me by a very dear friend of mine and it is going nowhere. The only other bows that I would not get rid off is my one piece Tomahawk Diamond series SS which was a high school graduation gift and my early 70's Bear Kodiak magnum.
My first custom was a Schafer Silvertip. Killed about 15 deer with that bow, but honestly it just didn't fit me all that well. Sold it, moved on and shoot significantly better now. No regrets.
My first custom broke on me last year while shooting out in the yard, I had it for about 3 years and bought it my senior year in high school. The bowyer that made it no longer makes bows so I had no way of getting new limbs for the bow. I ended up selling the riser for about a 100 bucks. Tough to part with the riser, I actually still have the limbs laying around. The bow cost me about 700 bucks brand new, and I took my first traditional whitetail with it which was also my biggest buck. I also took a few does with it. Still not sure why it decided to blow up on me. Ill probably stick to production bows for a while, I have a few old bears and a 2nd hand black widow right now, they all shoot good so I have no reason to buy another custom until I have some money saved up for something like that which will probably be many moons from now.
My first custom was a Fedora that was a beautiful bow,hated to part with it but the grip didn't fit me so off it went.
I don't let many things draw dust. :readit:
I waved bye bye to my first custom bow years ago. Was a fine bow, but it's replacement was a better fit for me.
First was in 1996........Green Mountain longbow, 55# @ 30" 62" long. Still got it ....won't sell it! You never forget your first.....lol! :dunno:
Well actually my first custom bow parted ways with me. I loved that bow, killed alot of critters with it then a month before a big hunt the top limb came blew apart. I always babied that bow. When I found out just new limbs were going to cost as much as a another custom bow from a local maker I switched. I then fell in love with that bow and killed a bunch of critters. I finally started making my own bows and eventually sold it for more bow making supplies. Actually never regretted it either. Now all my bows are truly custom made! :)
I traded my too heavy 65# custom Brackenbury to a dealer for a multi-fletcher and a ton of arrow making supplies. It bothered me some, but I got over it.
My new Brack custom recurve isn't going anywhere soon. I was smart enough to get it at 45#. I should be shooting it for a long time.
I've sold off a couple too heavy custom longbows as well. It's not so hard to get rid of a bow you can no longer shoot well.
I have had the good fortune to try out bows and contemplate which one(s) to buy. I have purchased one custom bow, and received the other as a gift. Unless I find myself in financial distress someday, I have no intention of ever selling either one. I like both of them now much more than when I first got them.
If you are having to think about it even just a little bit, don't sell it. You will regret it one day.
Over the years I have had probably 10 or 12 custom bow made for me. Most of them are gone now. I like to try new bows and unlike a few years ago when I would buy a new one and keep the old one, finances these days dictate that I have to sell one to get a new one.
Yes some of those bows made some great memories, but I plan on more memories with the new ones. Also the ones I have sold I have quit shooting because I don't shoot that much weight anymore. I figure if I know I won't be able to shoot it anymore, then sell it to someone else who will enjoy it. They can make memories with it.
I had some nice bows in the 60s and 70s -- Bear Super Kodiaks, Wing Thunderbirds and a couple of Browning models that I can't remember the names. Wish I still had one or two of those.
Like many others, my first custom was a Bighorn in the mid-80s. There weren't many other folks building trad bows then. Jim Brackenbury and Black Widow were in business then as I remember. Anyway, accumulated as many as four or five Bighorns but have parted with all of them over the years, mostly because as I got older, they became too heavy for me. I still have my eye out for a modest weight one piece Grand Slam.
Have bought, sold and traded a lot of bows since, and have pretty much settled on a dozen or so I like. Rediscovered the Bear T/D among them. Don't know how I missed them the first time around in 69-71. Probably too expensive for this country boy to even think about. Though not customs, I think they'll be on my bow rack for some time to come.
Long story short, I regard bows as tools and don't get too sentimental about them. When I find one I like, I keep it for a while, but usually don't have trouble parting with it to buy another. In fact, economic necessity pretty much dictates that I have to sell one or two to buy another.
I've got a Big Horn recurve. If the house catches fire I'll grab it.
Joe.
PS Oh and my Mohawk, black widow, 21 century, bear skin rug, hunting photo album, Ruger sp101, screaming eagle tree stand, Asbel wool pull over, 'Shooting better than ever' video, ..jezz I'll probably die in the fire trying to get everything out...
i have bought sold and traded many bows. every time i pick up another i seem to shoot it better. only wish i had kept a couple. but the ones i have now i really love them
The Time I part with my first custom bow is when I hand it to my child. I ordered it with my Father next to my side. He liked it very much and ordered one just like it.
I had John McDonald inscribe "Dad" on the limb. I took my first archery deer with this bow this year!
QuoteOriginally posted by Cyclic-Rivers:
The Time I part with my first custom bow is when I hand it to my child. I ordered it with my Father next to my side. He liked it very much and ordered one just like it.
I had John McDonald inscribe "Dad" on the limb. I took my first archery deer with this bow this year!
Great story Charlie. We just got our twin Grandsons new longbows from St. Joe River Bows this Christmas but at some point they'll outgrow them and I've got two Widow MA's hanging on the wall that are both in that 46 pound range and the next two bows that go to the boys will probably be those two bows.
I foolishly sold my first custom bow many years ago and regretted it shortly after. I was able to track it down and buy it back this year. I hope that the next time that it doesn't belong to me, it belongs to my grandchild.