I am considering purchasing a new bow from one of the custom bowyers but I find there are too many to choose from listed here on the Trad Gang.

I welcome any and all thoughts and recommendations on which bowyer to use.

I have been shooting vintage Bear and Shakespeare recurves in the 55 - 65 pound class.  I have been active in traditional archery for about 3 years and I am entertaining the thought of purchasing a longbow but I am uncertain as to whether I would like a longbow as compared to a recurve.

If money was no object I would purchase a Black Widow bow but I want to keep the price under $750.00.

So, what are y'all's thoughts, and who should I choose???

You'll probably end up with as many suggestions as listed sponsors.  However, with your price point, I'd suggest Holm-made.  I own an Osprey and a River Runner, and both have a smooth draw, no hand shock, and great cast.  All the performance you'd want with a beautifully crafted appearance.

A lot depends on how much you want to spend.

If you can go to indoor shoots or 3d shoots don't be afraid to go up and talk with any stickbow shooters and ask to try their bows out. Most trad guys will gladly help. Good luck.

Seeing that you want to keep the bow under the $750-ish range, you'd be hard pressed to find better wood options, quality design and craftsmanship than offered by TG sponsor Dan Toelke.
     http://montanabows.blogspot.com/      

The Whip, Classic Whip and Chinook Recurve are all incredible bows.

As far as wood combinations, a Toelke with cocobolo riser and juniper limbs is hard to beat.

Here's a pic of one of Toelke's cocobolo risers. That bow is in the $650 range. Many, if not most custom bowyers would charge $200 more for that type of work.

Give Dan a call. I'm sure he has one you can test drive, of any model. But be careful, because you will be buying one!

     

Would watch the used bows here on site. There some very good bows selling in your price range.
Keep any bow you order basic. its the fancy stuff that drives the cost up, and most people never get them cost back in resale.

For me the Dwyer long bow at its current price is great value. But you can wait a year to get one. Jd berry makes amazing looking and shooting long bows.

For recurves am with you all the way on Black Widow. before you order any bow, shoot as many different builders as you can

I would try to go to some of the larger trad shoots that have venders. It's a great place to try a lot of bows and pick brains. As far as going up to non venders and shooting  private bows that is a crap shoot. I myself don't let people shoot my bows unless I know them real well.
I'm not antisocial but I have to much money invested and there are lots of well meaning but stupid people who don't think.
Like the well meaning yahoo that looks at your bow in an admiring way then dry fires it!

Over the past 3.5 I've gone through a variety of recurves. It has been fun and I still have more than ten. However, I'm moving some terrific bows out and will probably end up with less than 5.

I've just come in from my first 35-yard shooting session with a bow I picked  up in January. It's not custom but it fits me and I shoot it better than anything I own or have owned. I would never have imagined that I would be practicing with a curve at my old favorite compound practice distance.

Of course this isn't all the bow.  I shoot almost every day with the purpose of perfecting form and more importantly...mind.

My point is, with the proper form and mental approach one can probably shoot almost any recurve just fine. However, some will be smoother to draw. Some will have grips that promote ideal bow hand set.  Some will have little or no hand-shock. Of course some will be higher performance (speed) than others but I've found this to be the least variable thing among most bows I've tried.

I could have saved a lot of money and some struggle had I known then what I've learned now. And I had already been shooting and teaching archery for 40 years before "then"!

Make sure your form is proper (yep, there are ways that won't work and some that will destroy your potential). Then try bows that you are drawn too. Hopefully, you'll find what you like sooner than later.

At the amount you are willing to spend you can pick up almost any brand bow if you will go to the classifieds. You can obtain bows that originally cost 1.5 to twice your budget. You could buy new metal riser ILF with wood/glass limbs very easily.

I can't even spell Longbeau (But out of respect for the LB fans notice I do capitalize the word!)

3 keepers I have all well within your price range are: Abbott, Kanati and Toelke longbows.

RER(Rivers Edge Recurves) ya can get a nice choice of woods for $750 and you could buy a T/D and could have add a set of limbs later. That way you both a recurve and a longbow with a grip you like. To me the grip makes the bow. Shawn

Look at Dan Toelke's website  www.montanabows.com,  the standard and classic Whip longbows and some recurves meet your description. Dan's bows (all of them) are as well-mannered as any you will ever shoot, superbly crafted from beautiful woods, delivery time from order to arrival is a few weeks and you will never deal with better people than Dan and Jared Ioelke.

Just responding to what you posted, there are some very nice black widows in the used section that would be well under your price range.  I would have no reservations about from Tradgang people.  Just look at some of the posts of prospective sellers and you can get a feel for what kind of person you are dealing with.  I have bought three bows via Tradgang and have been completely satisfied with all three transactions.

I know your perdicament. There are so many really good boyers out there that it is difficult to choose which one to go with. I have bought and sold some used bows to try out and am still in the process of figuring out which one is best for me. If I was starting again ehid is what I would do:

Call some of the boyers that are sponsors on this site that specialize in the type of bow you are interested in. Some of them will send you a bow to try out for a period of time. That way you can see what works for you and what fits your needs.

Go to one of the regional Rendevous or larger shoots. A lot of the boyers go to these and you talk to them in person and try out there bows. These gatherings are a lot of fun in themselves and you will find out more quicker that way than any other.

For recurves, I am torn between Fedoras, Wes Wallace, Blacktails and Assenheimer.
For long bows, Monarch and Wes Wallace.
If you are looking for a longbow, I have a 57# Monarch for sale on here.
For the money, I have a tough time buying a new Bear or Martin given the price of these compared to a custom bow with better looking woods.

For that money watch the classifieds and you could get a GREAT bow for that money. Plus if you don't like it you will not be out the extra price for new.

That being said....for that money new I would talk to Hill Country bill (ken yoder on Here). Wildcat and bobcat could be had for about that and they are a great bow for that money. Other I would highly recommend will be higher than that.

One other thought would be to talk to (sixby-eagle wing bows). His bows are higher than that BUT he hooked up a young friend of mine with a sweet leftover bow at an unbelievable price!  If he has anything laying around you might get very lucky!!

Mike

You need to decide if you want a longbow or recurve. Most recurves will be a bit higher in the price but if you are into longbows, Northern Mist makes outstanding bows and Steve Turay is a pleasure to deal with. For recurves South Cox makes a great bow.

As mentioned, Northern Mist is another great suggestion. Steve is first class and the Baraga is an option that shoots like a dream.

Wow!!!

I didn't expect such a response.  I greatly appreciate all the fine information and suggestions.  

I have looked at the Holm-Made bows (very nice and reasonable), as well as the Kanati, Fedora's, and Great Plains bows.  All are beautiful and impressive workmanship which makes choosing just one a somewhat impossible task.

I wish there were a few traditional shoots going on near where I live (DFW area in Texas).  There was a traditional only 3D shoot put on by Cowtown Bowmen about 3 weeks ago but due to work constraints I was unable to attend.  I'm thinking that having the opportunity for a bit of hands-on shopping would enable me to narrow the field a bit.  If y'all know of any please fill me in on where and when.

As for buying a used bow I am willing to consider that as well.  Specifically, I want a bow with a draw weight of 60-70 pounds, optimally 65 pounds at 28".  If anyone has such a bow, longbow or recurve, with which you are willing to part, please let me know.  Send me a PM with a few pics.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks again for all the responses.

Andrew

Dryad Bows (Sponsor here) is in Weatherford. You might want to take a drive over there. I don't own any of his bows, but was at his shop once and he makes some fine looking stuff.

I highly recomend 7 Lakes Longbows.  Mike specializes in Longbows and in your price range you'll have money left over for arrows.

The fact you want to keep the cost under $750 eliminates most of the premier customs...at least for a new one.  On top of that you don't really even know what you want.  I'm not trying to be discouraging, but it's a roll of the dice ordering something you aren't familiar with and pretty sure of.

$750 in the classifeds will buy most if not all of the premier bows that are out of your range if bought new.  And you don't have to wait 6 months to almost two years to get it..            

The classifieds is the best place to find out exactly what you want in a custom.  Buy, sell, trade, and explore.  Assuming you don't trash the bow while you have it there will be very little value lost when you go to resell.  

A premier custom from any of the top bowyers will be a great bow.  It might not be a great bow for you though, each has it's own personality.

To end with an opinion, if you want a recurve my favorites are Blacktail, Schafer, and Dale Dye.  You pick the order...and yeah, they're all different.