A "Wisconsin" bow

jiane · September 09, 2010, 12:03:00 PM

I'm thinking of a new takedown recurve with a Wisconsin flare. Although I have been flirting with the idea of a longbow lately as well.

I would like the bow to be made from woods native to Wisconsin and made by a Wisconsin bowyer. So far I am thinking Black Walnut and Hickory for the riser, and Eastern Red Cedar(actually a juniper species) limb laminations, but I haven't come up with a limb core wood. The bow would be 50-55# in pull. There are so many quality Bowyers in Wisconsin that that decision might be the hardest.

So what Wisconsin woods would you choose for the riser, limbs, or limb laminations?

I am hoping that I can pull a Wisconsin black bear tag in the next year or two and take a black bear with this bow. Then take this bow out west for Mulies or Elk.

Jerry

Gottabow · September 09, 2010, 12:10:00 PM

Elm for the core and Veneers..maybe?

stik&string · September 09, 2010, 12:16:00 PM

I love this idea, good luck with your quest.

Leon.R · September 09, 2010, 12:20:00 PM

I like the idea as well, my daughter was born in Kenosha and Im about to order a bow from Maddog for her and this gave me an idea...

shadman · September 09, 2010, 12:25:00 PM

Maple limb core....good as any!

Paul Mattson · September 09, 2010, 01:10:00 PM

I had a bow made with old growth wood from Lake Superior. Birch, Elm, and Maple. It was made by a bowyer in Ashland. You can also give Kevin at RER or Mike at Bruin Bows a call, either one will gladly help you out.

September 09, 2010, 02:11:00 PM

You could always go with the phenolic cheese riser. Louis Armbruster had a bunch of iron wood risers and even iron wood lams that he cut not far from his home in SW Wisconsin.

Gil Verwey · September 09, 2010, 02:34:00 PM

RER is the way to go. Can't do much better than Kevin in any state.

smoke1953 · September 09, 2010, 02:48:00 PM

Maple core, it is our state tree.

Cyclic-Rivers · September 09, 2010, 03:03:00 PM

Plenty of Hickory, Cherry too. Elm and Maple would be part of my decision.

I was thinking of a similar bow with native woods. Whichever wood or Bowyer you choose, make sure you share with the rest of us and good luck.

Bob B. · September 09, 2010, 03:11:00 PM

Black walnut makes a great core, as does hard maple. Locust or Iorn wood is about as tough as it gets and can look awesome ... tons of it around Wisconsin. Like others hickory, cedar, elm, ash ... lots to choose from.

Could you wood burn the shape of the state in a limb? Perhaps a deer head or turkey feather as well?

Bob.

meathead · September 09, 2010, 03:21:00 PM

I had Mike @ bruin bows make me one this summer with black walnut limbs. Very nice bow. Nate

NBK · September 09, 2010, 03:49:00 PM

Maple limbs with walnut veneers. Walnut riser with a maple arch. It would either be one of Dave Dwyer's longbows, or Kevin Termaat's RER take-down longbows the LX. I'm currently shooting one of Dwyer's Defiant longbows and I love this bow more and more everyday. I have one of his endeavor models on order and I'm anxious to compare the two. If you prefer more of a recurve riser then the RER LX has the performance and looks to boot. Just my opinion. Good luck.

Str8Shooter · September 09, 2010, 04:17:00 PM

There are a great bunch of bowyers in Wisconsin. I've owned or shot most of them, met most of the bowyers and there are a lot of great choices. It depends on the style of bow you like. My personal choice is the Whippen Stick bows by Ken Rohloff out of Krakow, WI. Awesome bows and built by a guy that goes the extra mile to make your experience great.

I'd go with maple or hickory as a corewood. Both a proven and tough woods.

Burnsie · September 09, 2010, 04:25:00 PM

Elm is often overlooked, but it is one heck of a core wood and if cut to expose the edge grain makes beautiful laminations as well.

stik&string · September 09, 2010, 04:34:00 PM

I have a bow with a laminated birch riser and maple core. Although it isn't my fastest bow it is very quiet and consistent.

Steelhead · September 09, 2010, 05:05:00 PM

I would look at Whippenstick bows Hellfire recurve.Ken builds an awesome bow.RERs are very sweet shooters ofcourse as well.

Bob B. · September 09, 2010, 05:11:00 PM

NBK is spot on with some of his suggestions. Dave Dwyer is a great guy to talk with and makes a super bow. The Defiant is his bread and butter ... super bow. However he has others and can make them out just about anything a guy wants ... might take 7 - 9 months to get one however. A Dwyer bow is a superb bow and realatively inexpensive for a custom one.

Bob.

Cyclic-Rivers · September 09, 2010, 05:55:00 PM

I have shot:

Big River
RER
Dwyer

I would be happy to own any of them as they all performed beautifully for me.

ps one of them is my go to bow, the other two my buddy owns. I would love to try a whippen stick but haven't had the opportunity yet.

JCJ · September 09, 2010, 10:47:00 PM

Longbow: Big RIver by John McDonald
Recurve: Bruin by Mike Steliga

Either can build them with native woods from WI.