I have every issue of Traditional Bowhunter and I was reading through some of the earlier magazines.

I love looking at all the bow advertisements over 20 some years. Many bowyers have come and gone or maybe just quit advertising. In just three issues I found all of these not well known,(at least to me)bowmakers.

Free Spirit Longbows...Phillips Archery..Cougar Primitives...Ironhorse Archery...Cedar Valley Bows...Pathfinder Bow Company... Barry Huson Recurves...High Country Longbows...Cash Custom Longbows...Sundog Archery...Badger Longbows...Dynasty Bows...O'Brien Bows...Custom Bowyers of New England...Fisher Longbows...Red Feather Bows...Northern Lights Archery...Sauk Trail Archery...Lone Eagle Bows...Coyote Custom Bows...Cox Custom Recurves...Aztec Archery...Kentuckian Longbow Company...Winchuk Bows...Blue Ridge Archery...Pacific Coast Bows...Shelby Mustang Longbows...Jeff Roberts Longbows...R.B. Archery...A. Gordon Bow Company...Shadow Bows...Stratton Longbow Company...Alaska Peninsula Longbow Company...Plainsman Recurves...Osprey Bows...Superstition Longbows...Bows by REM...Timberline Longbows...Timber Spirit Bows...Stoney Point Bows...Gray Hawk Longbows...Genesis Self Bows...Scherrinsky Customs...Silver Frost Longbows...Miami Valley Bow Company...Challenger Longbow Company...Angel Wings Longbows...Stealth Custom Bows...Hoppe's Longbows...Westside Longbows...Reign Bow Archery and Juniper Mt. Longbows.

I left off better known names that no longer make bows, for various reasons, like Stillwater, Monarch, Talon, Scorpion, Old Timer, Knight, Heritage, Groves, JimBow, Texas Longbows and Recurves, Wilderness, Grey Wolf, Windwalker, Sentman, Green Mountain, Windstorm, Kramer, and Rocky Mountain.

Cheers to all of our small time bowyers that turn out some truly wonderful longbows and recurves.

of thoes listed i had owned a blue ridge longbow. that was a beutiful bow. had to go down in pounds so i gave it away.

We are truely fortunate indeed to have a number of great bowyers.

As I wrote the list, it's fun to read some of the creative names they picked for their bows. I wish I had the opportunity to see, hold and shoot the bows these small companies produced.

What a super fun day and days that would be, stump shooting with bows from each of these bowyers.

The number of bowyers that have come and gone over the years gives and indication of what a tough business it is to make a living at.  I congratulate those that have successfully remained in the game.

There was a guy who made "Wings of the Wind" bows. WAY ahead of his time back then, he used crazy exotic woods, and tons of laminations. The bows were in a league of their own....almost target bow based but made to hunt.  Very forgiving and easy to shoot....anyone have a clue what happened to this guy?

I own a 64" 59# @ 28" Pathfinder.  Made by Carl Johns here in Michigan, good bow and a great guy..  All bacote, and shoots right where I look.

some of those ya posted still making them!!

One can't help notice too at least around here is a sharp rise in trad archers. It seems to be taking off alot around here.  On a side note, not sure how long Timberhawk has been around, but I am very happy with my one piece Strike. The Orange tint cocobola with zebrawood is really good looking.

Plainsman Recurves. If someone can find me one of those I greatly appriciate it.      

Has anyone owned any bows by these makers, besides JV Rooster?

I've always wondered what an A. Gordon recurve shot like. It had an unusual shaped riser.

Thanks for your replies!

I have Dan Bertalan's book "Traditional Bowyers of America". Good reading and quite a few of these guys are no longer in business. They all made quality products for decent prices.

One of the biggest regrets I have, was 20 years ago, for various reasons, not traveling out west to meet Jack Howard and having him custom build me a Gamemaster Jet recurve. Boy, was I STUPID. I had contacted him, got his catalog and had the vacation and bow purchase planned (and funded, as I was single and had $$ to burn), but changed my mind. And I then wasted the money on wine, women and song...AARGhhhhh...! The lesson I learned was to "do it now, while you can".

Whew, aint that the way for most of us Chris?  :D

Genesis Selfbows made By J.D. Jones, have 2 of them.  Also had an Appalachian Archery Elk Mountain recurve by Dave Guthrie.

Hit-or-Miss...that could be the theme song for many of us. I could have bought lots of lightly used factory bows, Wing, Bear, Browning, Pearson etc., in the early 80's, but I let them go by. None more than $45.00. DOUBLE AARRGGHH!!

QuoteOriginally posted by joe skipp:
I have Dan Bertalan's book "Traditional Bowyers of America". Good reading and quite a few of these guys are no longer in business. They all made quality products for decent prices.

I just got this book. A lot of great information in there.

I lost eight hours when I bought Dan's book in the late 80's. I started reading and couldn't put it down.

I posted this several years ago and found it again. I would still love to have each of these bowyers make me a bow and just spend wonderful times with friends and family shooting each one.

I still have my first custom bow......a Green Mountain Longbow..........I got it in 1996. Met Jim D. at a NYB banquet and ordered the bow right then and there, great guy!!