Man, I see a lot of BEAUTIFUL custom bows around these parts, bows that just make a man drool.
Morrisons, Zippers, Shrews, the list goes on and on-----all are lovely bows in their own right.
But, really, is there so much of a difference in performance to warrant such a ginormous difference in the price tag between one of these and a production bow? Hoyt bows just plain rock--they are a bit more utilitarian in appearance than these more glamorous bows, but do the pretty bows shoot any better?
It is all really reminding me of the HOG member Harley crowd, always on the quest to find the next new performance doodad on a scooter that isn't much of a race bike in the first place. Even with all the performance gizzies on the market, a Harley is still slow.

I'm not trying to be a contrary, or a thorn in the side here, I am genuinely curious.
(I am VERY fond of the custom bows myself)

So, is it all about aesthetics, or is it a performance thing?

QuoteOriginally posted by Spectre:
So, is it all about aesthetics, or is it a performance thing?

a bit of both. Imho

Theres just something romantic about them (yes I said that) The Woods, the feel the weight the way they sound the way they shoot, The known fact that someone put their heart and soul, Blood and sweat into making that bow just right for you or someone else.  
In your defense however.  I have never been a fan of "stamped out" cookie cutter bows, Like the ones HOYT makes, However Out of my own curiosity, I went out and bought A Dorado Last week and it's a great bow Shoots fast, draws smooth, VERY accurate.  Took a bit of work to Silence, However I give it a Major thumbs up  
Theres Nothing wrong with them and they get the Job done..

Really depends on the bow...  Some are just really good lookers and so so on performance...  Some have both looks and performance, but then again some of the production bows are down right high end on performance at a fraction of the cost...

Kinda depends on what you want out of your bow... If you just want a really good hunting bow and are of the performance first mentality production bows are the way to go, IMO.  But, if you want all the performance and a bow that you can just look at and say WOW... you'll have to pay the high end prices of the custom bow, or the price of a used custom...  I'm more on the later end of that last sentence...  

Pretty is just that...pretty.  There is nothing wrong with utilitarian equipment.  It's just like a plain jane truck, and one that's loaded with amenities.  They both get you to work and back.  I am normally a very practical person about this sort of thing myself, but there is nothing like owning a beautiful piece of artwork that shoots like the dickens to boot!

In my opinion pretty does not shoot any better than utilitarian. I like plain ,good shooting,what I call"woods bows" I have seen fellows with expensive bows that were lousy shots, while others were great shooting used bows. It is not the equipment, it is the person using the equipment, that dictates how well it shoots! Money cannot make you a good shot!!  

Another thing about custom bows, is that they are "custom".  With a production bow you get what you get.  A custom can be ordered with the exact weight that you want, with the exact grip that you want, length, etc... which in turn "can" increase performance for the individual shooter, since it is built for him or her.  Not to say that production bows can't be shot well and can do the job, they can and do.  Just don't have the choices as with customs.

BOB

QuoteOriginally posted by Spectre:
But, really, is there so much of a difference in performance to warrant such a ginormous difference in the price tag between one of these and a production bow?

No.

QuoteOriginally posted by Lenny Stankowitz:
 

QuoteOriginally posted by Spectre:
But, really, is there so much of a difference in performance to warrant such a ginormous difference in the price tag between one of these and a production bow?

No. [/b]

Thats what I have been thinking, too.

I have two custom bows, so I certainly aint trying to bash on them---I love them, too.

However, I'm sure that I'm not the only one around who simply can't warrant the cost of one. There is always the "used" route---but that used bow was custom made for another shooter. Besides, one can get a good new production bow for about the same cost as a used custom in most cases. I would be a little less concerned about dragging my lower cost production bow through the brambles, too.


My money

There can be a huge difference in the fit and finish of the bow and the performance.

I've owned bows (custom and factory) that weren't the greatest in the fit and finish dept, but shot wonderfully.  Bows that were drop-dead gorgeous, stable to shoot, but dogs as far as performance goes and bows that had the best of both.  Customs and factory bows fall into all of those catagories.

I want a bow that shoots great for me and is top-notch in the fit and finish dept.  Uneven (or a bad fit) fades, inconsistent treatment of the limb edges and other little things start to wear down my "love" for a bow.  Bowyers tend to charge more for the level of craftsmanship I look for in a bow.  And that includes factory bows... many of them are just as expensive, if not more so, than the customs.

QuoteOriginally posted by Jeremy:
There can be a huge difference in the fit and finish of the bow and the performance.

I've owned bows (custom and factory) that weren't the greatest in the fit and finish dept, but shot wonderfully.  Bows that were drop-dead gorgeous, stable to shoot, but dogs as far as performance goes and bows that had the best of both.  Customs and factory bows fall into all of those catagories.

I want a bow that shoots great for me and is top-notch in the fit and finish dept.  Uneven (or a bad fit) fades, inconsistent treatment of the limb edges and other little things start to wear down my "love" for a bow.  Bowyers tend to charge more for the level of craftsmanship I look for in a bow.  And that includes factory bows... many of them are just as expensive, if not more so, than the customs.

Which one? I have never seen a production recurve for more than about $800. And that is a very high price IMO. Remember, we are talking about hunting bows here, not competition bows.

The Bear T/D ($999) T/D Supreme ($1399) for starters.

There are tons of customs and production bows in the $600 range.  The customs get up higher when you start using carbon and foam limbs, and comparable factory bows will be close to the same price range.  $600 for production ILF limbs... morrison's start under that for the glass and about that for the foam and carbon.  Add in the $500 riser (bob's or a factory) and you clear the $1K mark for a hunting bow.

It's all personal taste and what your $$$ looks like.

Will an old straight limbed 45# Bear Kodiak do the job of a 45# ?????, on a whitetail at 20 yards? Absolutely!

My best shooting and performing (for me) bow is my ugliest least expensive bow.

I am still trying to figure out how to improve it's looks but every time it lets loose an arrow    

Maybe some day I'll luck on to both
?

Our world would be much more drab(in every possible sense of the word) without the choice of high dollar custom bows. IMHO

I can and do own, shoot and enjoy both types of bows. I am truly blessed to be able to do so!

God bless,Mudd

Some guys like pretty things, I go for function.IMO

Another thought on the production bows: give the company a call.  Many of them will alter a grip for you at the factory, even Bear will work with you if you ask nice.  

My first priority in a bow is that it shoots great for me.  My second priority is that the fit and finish are top notch.  Most of my bows are production Bear bows from the '50s.  The fit and finish on many of these bows outshine most everything I've seen from Bear since the early 80's and what I've seen from many of the other factory bows recently as well.

Many of the custom bows have good performance to begin with.  The bowyers then added their thoughts and design to make the bows look good through designs, woods used, extra inlays and the finish.  I know my targets don't care which bows the arrow came out from.  But I don't mind to have some romatic feeling to have a good looking bow accompanying me when shooting or when it's on the wall at home.

As said above; it is the guy pulling the string, not the price of the bow.
Some can't justify the top dollar bows, and some like the looks and feel of a custom bow. For me; I like dancing with the prettiest girl at the dance.  Add good manners, and it is sure adds to lifes pleasures. Life is too short for me not to shoot a bow that is a looker. It just makes hunting that much more fun.

You can have it both ways! Here is my functional and purdy as far as I'm concerned, Morrison Shawnee. All black phenolic, foam/carbon, no wood and no skins. I've wrecked enough purdy bows to last me a lifetime. I've settled on functional high performance. Fall, drop it, whatever, just get out some wet and dry sandpaper and spit on boo boo and it's gone!