custom bows

[tomg]

I'm currently using a Martin hatfield but I was thinking of getting a black Widow, Fox, Or a hubu... I've checked their websites and the prices range from $700 to $1200. Are they really worth all that money ? I mean  wil I really be able to tell the difference and preformance between a $400 and $900 bow ? I shot with a couple of guys that have custom bows and they said they love them...But since I'm left handed I can't shot 'em to try'em out..Anybody own a Black Widow, Fox, or Hubu  that can tell me any pro's and con's they've had with their bows? I'm really interested in the Black widow ps models .....

[107ch]

I have a Bruin recurve that I just love. They are made here in WI and I drove up north to check them out befor I bought though. He made the bow to fit my hand and when finished it looked and shot beautifully. You might check out his web site. I think his woodsmaster series is still reasonably priced.
Dennis

[Bob/FLA]

I have a Wes Wallace custom and would not trade it for all the tea in China!  It is as smooth as a glass of water.  Not only is it a pure pleasure to shoot, but Wes trully stands behind his product.  To give you an example, my brother had a custom bow he wanted refinished, he priced it at $150.  Mine, refinished by Wes was $45.  I also had him do some hand checkering to the riser for a small additional fee. If you're serious about a good bow, give Wes a call.  

Just a VERY satisfied customer, giving my $.02

Good luck!

[Mad Dog]

I used to run a traditional archery shop[before a divorce screwed that up].  I am also left handed.  I have owned and shot a lot of custom bows.  My first was a bighorn takedown, when G. Fred owned the place back in 1987.  I have had others, and my last ones were from Bill Foreman at Great Plains.  Of all I had, I liked his the best for smoothness, forgiveness, and stability.  I have shot enough black widows, plus built enough dozens of arrows for customers who had them to know, that while they are great bows, they are very tempremental to tune and shoot in all but a top shooters hand, with excellent form.  They used to not be very forgiving, and were hard to match up wood arrows for proper spine, especially for guys that had long draws.  I remember building wood arrows that were as high as 40+ lbs. heavier spine than the bow weight, just to get them to shoot!  If you are interested, I have my last custom left hand recurve, and I am going to sell it, because I have quit bowhunting.  If you're interested, email me at:  mikecochran@sugardog.com

Mad Dog

[Bill Lamb]

I have had a Fox and I have had two Chek-Mate bows.  The Fox was a reverse handle longbow, one Chek-Mate was a T/D recurve and the other was a Crusader longbow.  I thought the Chek-Mate was just as good a bow as the Fox, and it still is, and a better value, but this past weekend I purchased another bow that is making me sell my Crusader.

It is a Black Thunder longbow made by Dick VanMarter of Syracuse, NY.  The fella who finished second at the IBO world championships and the lady who won the IBO Triple Crown last year shot Black Thunder bows.  The fella, Bill Leslie, told me about them.  When I saw one advertised used for $225, I sent a reply.

The fella that owned it sent it to me without payment and told me "If you like it, send me a check for $200, if not, ship it back no questions asked."  I didn't ask any questions and I sent his check to him Tuesday!

I understand Dick gets $400-450 for his new bows.  Mine has a cocobolo riser with cocobolo accents and a yew core, reverse tapered, with two tapered bamboo lams, one on the belly and one on the backside of the limbs.

The following is a link to some photos of the bow:

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/lamb1647/lst?.dir=/Black+Thunder+Longbow&.view=t

Bill

[Bill Lamb]

I have had a Fox and I have had two Chek-Mate bows.  The Fox was a reverse handle longbow, one Chek-Mate was a T/D recurve and the other was a Crusader longbow.  I thought the Chek-Mate was just as good a bow as the Fox, and it still is, and a better value, but this past weekend I purchased another bow that is making me sell my Crusader.

It is a Black Thunder longbow made by Dick VanMarter of Syracuse, NY.  The fella who finished second at the IBO world championships and the lady who won the IBO Triple Crown last year shot Black Thunder bows.  The fella, Bill Leslie, told me about them.  When I saw one advertised used for $225, I sent a reply.

The fella that owned it sent it to me without payment and told me "If you like it, send me a check for $200, if not, ship it back no questions asked."  I didn't ask any questions and I sent his check to him Tuesday!

I understand Dick gets $400-450 for his new bows.  Mine has a cocobolo riser with cocobolo accents and a yew core, reverse tapered, with two tapered bamboo lams, one on the belly and one on the backside of the limbs.

The following is a link to some photos of the bow:

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/lamb1647/lst?.dir=/Black+Thunder+Longbow&.view=t

Bill

[Bowhunter57]

tomg,
The best advise I can give you for traditional bows is to physically handle the bow before you purchase it. Fit and feel is as important to traditional bows as it is to shotgun shooters. Both are instinctively aimed weapons, therefore the importance of the fit and feel.

Custom bows are worth the money, but buyer beware. Black Widows are "over the rainbow" on their pricing. I'm not saying that they're not good bows....just that they're "pricey". Like everything else, there are some good alternatives. You'll just have to do some shopping and ask lots of questions. Checkmate recurves are affordable and good quality shooting bows. Predator recurves are very nice and they're produced by Darton.

Some of the differences you'll notice between custom and production recurves are that custom recurves don't "stack" as bad as production recurves and they're smoother shooting or have less hand shock.

In either case....as I stated earlier, handle the bow you intend to purchase before you purchase it.

Good hunting, Bowhunter57

[duxman]

I have shot a lot of different custom bows and I would recomend that you hit a couple traditional shoots so you can try some different bows. What feels good for one  may not work for another. I've been shooting a great plains recurve which I love. I was looking for a new long bow last summer. I shot about a dozen different bows and never found one that felt just right. Get a copy of traditional Bowhunter and look for a shoot nearby. You'll be glad you did. 4-$500 is a lot of money so shop around.

[Hawkeye]

You need to look at the Gary Sentman Moosejaw. You get a very good bow, fast, and smooth draw for half of most custom bows. You really don't need the carbon and two piece riser that he offers. I have two now and have had four at one time and the Regular Moosejaw on the link below is very good. It is fast, quiet and smooth. I have one that pulls 53lb, and 63lb and won't ever give them up. If you are in for the ride and plan to shoot some competition later you might spring for the carbon and bamboo for more speed as they will shoot flatter. You can go wrong with them.

Mike

http://www.bowsite2.com/stickbow/kis/CustomBows.html

[kirkwhitaker]

A friend has one of tom parsons mattawoman longbows....am seriously thinking about this bow...beautiful and well balanced...ever heard of these?
kirk