Most Underated bow you own......and overated

[Sixby]

I will have to agree with LBR that Checkmate and Mark are the most undertrated of all bows and bowyers. As a bow builder myself I have to say that Checkmate offers more for the money in the way of workable design, great craftsmanship and lines than any other bow made in that price class.

Overrated: That is subjective. Someone said that there is no such thing as a bad bow. Wrong. LOL. I saw one that someone paid a thousand dollars for that was painted with a green can of spray paint. That was one bad bow.

[myshootinstinks]

I'm not sure I've ever owned a bow that is overrated based on it's performance although some have been a bit pricey. Some bows fit me better than others but all shot well after tuning.
     Underrated? If price is the criteria, I have several 40-50 year old bows that cost from $25 to $300 that shoot great.

[tecum-tha]

Originally posted by Roger Norris 2:
I don't like the term "overrated" in this context....it neve makes sense to me to insult another fellows bow. Bows are very subjective, what one man shoots well with can be unuseable to another.

Quality of workmanship matters though. I have shot just about every bow that is "main stream"....bowyers popular enough to have a booth at Compton or Kalamazoo....and while some of those bows didnt shoot for me, they were all well made.

As an aside, I just spent a few days down at Black Widow, and watched every aspect of a bow build. Anyone who say they aren't worth the money, or refers to them as "plywood" doesn't know squat about bows or manufacturing. A#1 quality. And no, I don't own one.

What is a thin flat piece of wood clued to another one uni- or undirectional?
Plywood. The so called- SA laminations and riser blocks are unidirectional plywood.

When we speak about custom bows, these bows should reflect someones personality or workmanship. CNC is manufacturing, so please keep the price according to a manufactured product or call it customized factory bow or whatever.
For example:
Jim Belcher took over SKY Archery, which is a bow manufacturing business,but they're made out of the same plywood material than the BW and don't carry such an overpriced custom bow price tag.

And I am not affiliated with SKY, because of the example. It is easily judged by their pricelist.

I know one of the bow builders which is almost as long in the business as BW and I like to glue one up by myself from time to time. So I know very well how to build bows and as an engineer I know enough about manufacturing also....

[lil jake]

lost era: yes i luv mine too... the first deer i got this year was taken with it

[lil jake]

i also won cloverdale with it 2

[KentuckyWolf]

This topic has gotten ridiculous...as expected.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Chill out tecum-tha. I don't see where this thread became a definition contest, and I don't care whether you call them custom, semi custom, or manufactured....they are built in a quality manner. My reference to "plywood" was based on it being used in a deragatory manner when describing BW bows.

[Bowwild]

Most underrated- Every bow by someone who has not yet turned to bowhunting.

Overrated-I made one out of a pear tree limb when I was a 3rd grader in 1963 -- injured a Robin with it in my neigbor's yard. I remember telling Dad what a terrific killer my bow was.

[RunninWild77]

I have a hoyt pro hunter, 49#. Its older dont exactly know the year on it I'm guessing late 70s early 80s. But its probly my most underated, really fast, quiet and forgiving. But I never hear much about them and I dont know why.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I had a Hoyt Pro Hunter from about 1988 (I think). It was a GREAT bow.

[Friend]

Will not elaborate on over rated bows. Most higher end bows which I have both owned and shot just don't fit me due to the grip. Too bad for me.

Currently have a Vyperkahn on order and am shooting a loaner which happens to be a Montana.
Have only pumped a couple hundred arrows through it thus far. This bow has been one of the most enjoyable bows to shoot. In comparison to a formerly owned LB that is $1000 more expensive, of which I belive to be great, I have been made to rethink my rational. I have put together extensive justifications for purchasing a certain bow. Maybe my justifications are truly rationalizations.

The Montana, in my book is vastly underrated. The form, fit and function was there for me.

Enjoyment and accuracy is where its at.

[18thcentman]

I agree with Jackdaw. The Mahaska is a great, no nonsense hunting bow for the money.

[royking]

check-mate very underrated.

[COLongbow]

Wow, I can't believe this post has been resurrected.

I guess all us thinking people on this site can agree that Dymondwood and Actionwood are not really "plywood", right?

That being said, and getting back to the original subject, I'm not sure how to define "underrated", but the design of Lost Creek bows lends itself to a very FAST arrow.

And mine is pretty as well.

[hawk22]

Compounds=overrated

I don't discriminate.  I like all recurves and longbows

[ncsaknech1ydh]

I have shot many brands of bows, I admit there are a ton more that I have not had a chance to try, but for me, my Bob Lee bows measure up to any of them and even though I have alot of different brand bows hanging in my house, shop, office among other places and love everyone of them, my Bob Lees are the only ones I use when I head out hunting. They are awesome, along with the service I get from Bob, Rob and JJ at the Bob Lee shop.

[S.C. Hunter]

Most underated is usually the bow I shoot best.

 Most overated is usually the bow that I don't shoot as well.    

[L. E. Carroll]

Under Rated... Early Wing's and Brian Holley's Spirit Longbows.
Over Rated.....Widow
Best "Craftsmanship wise"...by far my Hyak df/rf longbow by Fred Anderson

Gene    

[JCJ]

Big River and Bruin bows have always exceeded my expectations in terms of shooting performance. I think they are underrated. Not sure about overrated but I have owned several bows that I just didn't care for.

[BFinegan]

Underated - Martin Hunter

Overated - ditto what Ray Hammond said.