I can't seem to find a leather quiver for less than 50 dollars. There are some very nice ones for 100-120, but I only paid 150 for my bow, I never thought I would have to match the price of my bow for a quiver. Why are they so expensive?
-Links
Have you priced a side of leather lately? A half side of latigo or oil-tanned leather will easily cost over a 100.00. It will take 1/3 to 1/2 of that half to make a back quiver, especially if the quiver has any extra pockets or anything.
When I made mine, I probably had 10-12 hours of time invested, plus materials to stitch it, needles, blades to cut with, and a lot of little stuff that it takes to do many projects.
I bet if the people that make quivers charged minimum wage for their time, quivers would cost way more than they do.
You know how many hours to brain tan a hide? A lot
for me. Mike
3-Rivers has one for $30.
Ranger Back Quiver (http://www.3riversarchery.com/Product.asp?c=14&s=14&p=0&i=1150)
I made my own but it still cost me a bit in materials, dyes, etc to get it the way I wanted it.
EDIT: I didn't read the item description closely enough, This one is not made from leather. Sorry for any confusion.
Check out the quivers on the following link. Mike is a sponsor:
http://www.mikesarcheryleather.com/
I have one of his 4" Hunter quivers and it is nice!
Bill
MI_Bowhunter that one is made out of polyester.
Go to goodwill and pick up a used leather jacket and build one yourself (or three), there are plenty of build-alongs on here to guide you through. Tim
Sorry, my bad, I didn't look closely enough before posting the link.
The 3 rivers one isn't leather. Leather is expensive. I have a Neet Traditions that is leather and pretty nice.
Mike's Archery Leather (Sponsor) has some nice ones. They are a little more than 50 but hand made for you. And Mike is a good guy!
Have you used a back quiver before. It may not end up being what you want. If you know someone who has one you may try theirs while target shooting. Regardless of the cost you may not like it if you've never used one before.
Man I must type slow LOL
Try making one yourself out of 8oz leather. Hand-stitch & lace it, but make it plain. See hw long it takes & then think how much you'd want an hour for the finger-breaking labour, factor in the $60 or so for materials & you'll see why they're so expensive! :D
I have made, and sold a ton of back quivers, and as shawnee said, It isn't cheap. If I had charged minimum wage, my quivers would have been well over 200.00. I sold most of them for between 50.00 and 120.00, depending on how fancey they were, and what kind of leather they were made from. You don't make a lot of money making quivers. You just have to like to do it.
QuoteOriginally posted by shawnee:
Have you priced a side of leather lately? A half side of latigo or oil-tanned leather will easily cost over a 100.00. It will take 1/3 to 1/2 of that half to make a back quiver, especially if the quiver has any extra pockets or anything.
When I made mine, I probably had 10-12 hours of time invested, plus materials to stitch it, needles, blades to cut with, and a lot of little stuff that it takes to do many projects.
I bet if the people that make quivers charged minimum wage for their time, quivers would cost way more than they do.
My thoughts exactly after I made mine. They aren't charging enough. Make your own by using jacket leather as suggested earlier or call local leather upholstery shops and ask for any scrap leather. I got a lot, cheap.
Check out Stephen Catts mountain hunter quivers and the $150.00 will seem really cheap!
Yep...make one of your own and then see if you're willing to put it up for sale for $30.
If ya think a pretty lQQking leather back bag is expensive, have ya seen the prices on those 12 pcs of 1/4" wood sticks, about 29" long with some feathers and lead points that goes into that lovely leather bag? As a kid we used to find them and burn them in the fire....
We all said this is the best sport, never said the cheapest...$$$$$ :bigsmyl:
Oh, the sport is dirt cheap. That is, it is cheap if you make all of your own stuff. If you want the goodies without doing the labor, however, then you will need to pay somebody to do it for you.
I respect wholeheartedly to ones who do it all themselves, spending their money on tools, and their time and sweat on the equipment. There is an infusion of their soul in the bows they carry, and a fusion of souls when they take their game with cane or sourwood arrows that they crafted.
Some of us can't seem to find the time, or the skill. We pay. And pay. And pay. Gladly.
Killdeer :bigsmyl:
I have made 3 quivers & they are expensive to make. Even the one I was given the leather for cost me 6 hours labor. Drawing patterns,redrawing them,altering them after they are drawn. It has to be something you like doing to do much of it. Leather is very expensive too. Frank
Links,
This is a very good example of, "You get what you pay for."
In 1992, I paid about $120 for a high quality latigo leather back quiver. Nothing special in terms of overall appearance, but definitely a quality made back quiver. Fast forward fifteen years to the present. In addition to conforming to my back like it was hand made to fit me (which it wasn't; just a stock quiver at the time), it has served as a day pack, a seat cushion one wet hunts, and a pre-season scouting "possibles" bag. Not to mention that it also adds a bit of rustic ambiance to my great room where it adorns the wall during the off season. And if anything, it has more character and is more functional today than the day I purchased it.
A QUALITY back quiver will stand up to a life time of abuse and you will find yourself sentimentally attached to it to the same degree that you become attached to your "go to" bow. This is why leather back quivers cost so much and in IMHO are worth every penny!!!
Leather aint cheap and neither is a crafters time!
Eric
I love leather back quivers. :thumbsup:
I just wish I liked using them. :(
Everything Huckleberry said!
what is so hard about making one? all you need is a leather hole puncher ($3 for me), a hammer, leather boot lacings, and enough flat leather. I made mine in about 2 hours, and it cost $13. I also had enough to make a few broadhead covers and a small bag. Sure, it won't last a lifetime, and doesn't look like a decoration on a rustic log cabbin, but it works.
The sad thing is, after trying every quiver combination I could find, I ended up just carrying a arrow in the same hand I carry my bow. I guess I like it simple.
Keep an eye on the classifieds. A while back I picked up a "used" Hill, and I question the used, for very little. Less than half the price of a new one. I didn't think I could buy the leather for that price and jumped on it. Check every so often and I bet you can come up with something.
Steve
Like WildManSC said. Go talk to Mike at M.A.L.
He is a sponsor. He is hunting right now. There is a post describing his schedule.
I have a 4" calico back quiver. It is great!. He just made me a compass pouch to go on the strap. Try going back to one of the "Made in China" archery companies and ask them for a custom accessory.
I ran across this old post by accident, Butt I would like to add my answer....
First of all I would think I was qualified to answer, I have made a couple of Quivers in my Day and a few Armguards ta boot....
Yes anyone can make a container to hold Arrows, Butt to make something from a Quality leather that ya don't mind looking at and that you will have to will to your Grandchildren may take a little time and craftmanship....
Take my 4" Hunter Quiver, Yes I can make it in a day, I need some special tools to use on it, Some of which cost $30 a piece....
It takes time to lay it out, cut it out, glue it up, hand stitch it and then lace it up.
If ya add a pouch to it, More time....Etc
I have people tell me all the time that I don't charge enough, Well I'm not rich and I don't think most of you fine folk are rich either.
I have had people compare a Neat Q to my Quivers....
My Quivers are MADE IN AMERICA and they never see a machine....
So my answer is I don't think Leather Back Quivers are exspensive....
Especialy when ya by the right one and it last you a life time....
Sorry if I ranted on a little....
Ask the cows...
I would think that a well made leather quiver using quality materials would last a lifetime. When you put it in that perspective they are a bargain at $100 plus. I have one of mike's hunter quivers, it is a fine piece of equipment that i just love and expect to last me as long as i need it to.
I was building and selling Sixby quivers on **** for a long time . I could not even get a good supply of leather and keep doing it. I was selling them for 149 to 200 as fast as I could make them and was getting about 10.00 per hour for my time. I built them with 8 ounce semi supple leather with a sheepskin collar and a pocket and knife and file sheaths. I also used 4 antler burrs on each one and they looked and worked great. However there is a lot of work in each one of them. I do think the ones that are just a leather tube are overpriced. I had a side strap system on mine to keep them stable on the back and lots of nice goodies like arrow seperator ect.
I still have the deer hide that I haven't tanned yet, but yet if I make a quiver out of it you would be looking at at least $100 for sure.
Maybe Wal-Mart has quiver's, artificial leather, looking like a real leather, feel like real leather, but the disappointing thing is if you pay $.99 for it, you turn it over and you find a sticker on the bottom
" made in China "
And then you cart your " made in China " quiver, and you cart it into the American-made woods, it just doesn't feel the same !
PC
I have a 100% leather quiver, I paid 89.99 for for the basic quiver, and now I have to add my personal touches, so you gotta pay the price if you wanna do the dance. Or you can make it yourself,
You can't even go to Mc Donald's for 10 bucks for two people !
And you pay $400 - $800 for that custom-made bow !
That be like buying a brand-new car and putting Kmart tires on it !
Take the best money and have, and buy the best quiver you can get.
PC
QuoteOriginally posted by Labs4me:
Ask the cows...
:jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
The guys making hand crafted quivers, bows, knives, whatever, need to eat to. Yeah they do it because they enjoy it but they have bills to and it beats "Made in China".. Not many drive around in new Suburbans either I bet.
Quivers are NO FUN to MAKE. IT's WORK! Who like's to work for free?<><
I got some scrap leather at thee local saddle shop.
I made 2 of them and they are hard to make. I learned alot on the first one, so my wife's is better than my son's.
I'll give you an Idea of the cost of materials.
6/7 side of leather $8 sqft avg cost (Tandy) $160
I can get 3 quiver bodys out of 1 side
1 deer hide (hair off) found at flee martet $30
lacing $4ea x 4per quiver
1ea belt blank (Tandy 1 1/2") $15
dye $15 a bottle, artificial sinew ($24 roll) needles, punches, glue,& tools.....
The way I fiqure, I have about $120 in materials and 6 to 8 hours in this quiver
(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u146/desertdude92275/DSCN0064.jpg)
Hey Mark nice quiver I have one just like that on my wall!!! :goldtooth: Thanks again Joe
I received a back quiver from MAL for a Christmas present this year and let me tell you it's a great quiver at an unbelievable price. :thumbsup:
Bill
cabelas has one that's 50$ doesn't look half bad-Scott
If you want good, clean, fresh oats you have to pay a fair market price. If you buy them after they've been thru the horse, they come a lot cheaper.
Vic