Any of you have a local bowyer that is putting out a great bow that no one has ever heard of? Those that never advertise and maybe just make bows part time?
Would love to hear about them and their bows!
Cory Engert (Heartland Bow). He is from Nebraska. I have a 3 piece that he built me last summer. Quiet, smooth and fast. Best experience I'v ever had with a bowyer. Cory communicated with me EVERY step of the way. And its really pretty, figured walnut and osage.
Mike Treadway is a great local bowyer that has never advertised but is quite successful. Mike doesn't even have a website. Mike is very well known in trad archery circles.
Jim Martin, Mahantango Custom Bows, Mt Pleasant Mills Pa. You could say I'm a fan. Jim is Mennonite, no website, no phone. Pretty much word-of-mouth. Makes beautiful Hill-style, reflex, and d/r longbows and a pretty mean 50's style recurve. Been my go-to bows for almost ten years and I've owned or shot pretty much everything out there. Feel free to PM me for contact info.
Chris hartwig of newwood longbows is a sponsor here, but relatively new as far as advertising.
A longtime self bow maker, his laminated longbows are excellent in every way and a super guy to boot.
Thanks much...great to hear about some of the better regional bowyers the rest of us never hear about.
Dave Wallace of Marietta, Ohio--makes Wallace Mountain longbows. They are things of beauty and unsurpassed in quality of workmanship. He doesn't advertise as he doesn't want to get into the business full time. Dave has won many IBO world championships with his bow so we know they can be shot well. :D Here is a shot of one.
(http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy241/davidmitchell_6466/Wallace%20Mountain%20longbow/WallaceMtnOrangeCocobolo001.jpg) (http://s796.photobucket.com/user/davidmitchell_6466/media/Wallace%20Mountain%20longbow/WallaceMtnOrangeCocobolo001.jpg.html)
(http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy241/davidmitchell_6466/Wallace%20Mountain%20longbow/WallaceMtnOrangeCocobolo004.jpg) (http://s796.photobucket.com/user/davidmitchell_6466/media/Wallace%20Mountain%20longbow/WallaceMtnOrangeCocobolo004.jpg.html)
I was gonna say Treadway. He used to have a website I believe? Anyway, he seems to have a huge following here in the Southeast. I've been to shoots in GA and FL and his bows are all over. Man they shoot nice! I have watched them in action and I'm impressed. Last weekend I got to examine a phenolic riser 3pc longbow he built with beavertail grip and I'm telling you it gave up ZERO in quality and attention to detail compared to some of the more nationally known bowyers. Now I want one :)
I have a nice 50# recurve by a local maker, Kevin Cramer. This guy only has 2 forms - a longbow form and a recurve and makes very few bows. I tried one when I was first getting started and it seemed really nice. I bought it and am still impressed with it even after shooting a lot of big name bows.
Problem is, this guy doesn't put any markings on the bows. Mine is 60" and 50# @ 28", but that's not marked on the bow anywhere. No name. Nothing.
I asked why he didn't put his name on the bows and he said he makes them only for fun and doesn't want to get any orders.
I've switched to left hand since I bought this first bow, but shot it again the other day and got a better group than I was getting lefty with the bow I've been practicing with. Plus, I killed my first trad deer with it, so there is no way I'd sell it for what I could get for an unmarked bow.
Kevin ( cupcake) Gerlock from Fallbrook, Ca. His three piece bows are great shooters. He also makes and sells a pop up target system.
Kevin Tallon from Tallon archery here in Ontario makes an awesome hybrid longbow called the Whisky Jack..
Thanks again! A couple of bowyers mentioned here I have heard of, but most I haven't.
Great thread. The regional differences in what people shoot has always interested me. The differences are noteworthy even among fairly well known bowyers. It is vast when you talk about the hidden gems that this thread has the potential to reveal. Keep them coming!
I agree with NBK. Did a bowyer profile about Chris Hartwig and NewWood Longbows in the current issue of TradArchers' World magazine. Chris makes four different longbow models and all are quite lovely and snappy shooters. Article has closeup pix of his risers.
Little Crow a newer tradgang sponsor is making some really nice looking and performing recurves, was at his shop recently, good stuff to be shooting....
There's a guy here in Muskogee named Gale Culver, that used to make "Black Hollow Bowz." Gale is one of the nicest people you could hope to meet, and made some fine bows. Due to some serious health issues he quit making bows.
I really wish that I had known more about what I was looking for in a bow when I got mine from him, because it just doesn't fit me right, but it's one of the most beautiful bows he ever made. I had some pix up on the classifieds when I tried selling it (listed as " 64" hyrbrid 49#@28""). It's leopardwood and dymond wood and very pretty. Had no luck selling it here at half of what I paid for it, I guess because it's a "No-Name" bow. Totally understandable, but it was a bummer both times I tried to sell it.
Jess Stuart is a little known bowyer out of the SW that is gaining a following for his craftsmanship and great, great customer service.
I found him when searching for a Rocky Mountain Recurve and he not only builds a knock off but helped me locate a used original.
Great guy and great bows. I believe he has a website now but he is small and seems to want to stay that way.
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh205/bushbow/8pt20131_zps1bccac93.jpg) (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/bushbow/media/8pt20131_zps1bccac93.jpg.html)
Gene Sanders in Dallas Georgia - west of Atlanta. great craftsmanship and last time I checked prices were totally reasonable. specializes in short recurves.
Dave Albright in Sims Arkansas, builds a very nice R/D longbow. I have sold my widow PL's as his bows shoot every bit as good and are alot quieter.. they are very popular localy but he does not advertise and wants to keep his bow building personable and enjoyable...
When I was beginning to look for better bows I stumbled into 2 bows from smaller builders. The first was a "Sweptwing" by a guy names Rick Erdman. That was a great takedown recurve. The second was a " Rampart" by John Gottshalk who has since passed away. A fantastic 3pc recurve in osage.
Should never have sold either of these bows.
John Holzrichter in Wichita, KS makes some very nice, very well shooting bows. John held many state and national indoor shooting titles and has been building bows for many years. I own two of his one piece longbows and love them, though he as more or less transitioned to building 3pc TD bows now. This is my favorite I named Ebony.
(http://www.myfishingpictures.com/data/500/medium/8-28-12_001.jpg)
(http://www.myfishingpictures.com/data/500/medium/8-28-12_004.jpg)
(http://www.myfishingpictures.com/data/500/medium/Johnbow_Ebony_047.jpg)
(http://www.myfishingpictures.com/data/500/medium/Johnbow_Ebony_038.jpg)