Have been talking with my wife and ive decided to mark my 30th birthday this year i am having a bow built. I told her i want to incorporate osage as i plan on keeping this one through my years and love how osage ages over time. Now comes the hard part of deciding who i want to build the bow and what style i want. Im a fan of r/d longbows and 50's style recurves but the thought of a takedown model is appealing as well. Ive thought about big jim, javaman, crookedstic, mcbroom and a few others but i am having a hard time deciding who i would pick. What all have you guys had custom built that the build quality and feel of the bow really stood out to you most.
Let the fun begin. :biglaugh:
You are going to enjoy the ride. I've done that four times now and the anticipation is like a kid waiting for Christmas :bigsmyl:.
Oh i know the wait is going to just about kill me but it will be worth it. One of the other bows that recently caught my eye but i haven't heard much on is the new wood legacy. I checked out new wood at cloverdale last year and really liked what i saw and it felt good in my hand but i havent had the chance to shoot one
Get a Zipper SXT and you can run recurve or longbow limbs on the same riser.
I have had them all . For me easy black widow PL
I have a few of Big Jim's bows, and a number of them from Mike Miller of Crooked Stic.
You can't go wrong with either of them.
Two of my other favorites are a Toelke Whip,and 7 Lakes Long Night.
I had a 62" crookedstic hyperstic last year and it was a real shooter. Mikes new forward handle looks good but so does the takedown he builds. Added bonus there is he lives not even an hour from where i work
I like his takedowns the best,but would like to try the forward riser as well.
I like my fatal styk by Robertson. Silvertip is another good one if you can afford that
You can't go wrong with a bow from Big Jim-- beautiful, functional, take down if you want it.
Javaman
You cannot go wrong with Gregg's bows. Smooth, fast, forgiving, and great craftsmanship!!
Good luck in your choice and journey through the build.
Can't go wrong with any of them, really. There's always another in the dream book.......
Quote from: Biathlonman on June 01, 2018, 02:17:20 AM
Get a Zipper SXT and you can run recurve or longbow limbs on the same riser.
X2. That's exactly what I'm doing and can't wait!
I really like my Toelke Pika by Montana Bows. They just came out with a new R/D called the Whistler that will take long draws and the wait is around 6 to 8 weeks.
Hard to buy a bad bow these days,I am partial to Wild Horse Creek bows out of Perry,Kansas
Terry
Justin, not sure that you will remember me, but we shot together at Cloverdale last year. You may remember that I am a Black Widow PL fan and I don't think you can go wrong with a PL...but just to throw another bow into the mix I am going to suggest Timberhawk from Bloomington Indiana. Scott's shop is not that far from you, so you could actually go to the shop to visit your new bow as he builds it. The riser could be fit to you exactly as you want it. He is making a 3 piece R/D bow now that looks really sweet. Riser is trim and the overall lines of the bow was very pleasing to the eye. He only had a right handed version of the bow at the Tennessee Classic, so I couldn't shoot it, but both of my buddies shot it were very impressed! You might try to get up to Cloverdale next weekend and take one out for a test run!
If I may make a suggestion of a bowyer to look up (the ones you and others mentioned are definitely all worth consideration), you should check out Kota Bows. Tim makes both a r/d longbow and a 50s recurve. I cannot tell you my opinion on the longbow, but I ordered a Kill-um (the 50s recurve) from him and it's a pretty sweet bow!
A takedown Mountain Monarch should nicely suit your itch and Jim can incorporate Osage very well with or without your input. He's very creative. And Abe Penner does a nice 50's as well. I almost hate to mention Bowyers as I'm sure to fail to mention some very qualified ones.
Quote from: Mike Bolin on June 01, 2018, 09:51:22 AM
Justin, not sure that you will remember me, but we shot together at Cloverdale last year. You may remember that I am a Black Widow PL fan and I don't think you can go wrong with a PL...but just to throw another bow into the mix I am going to suggest Timberhawk from Bloomington Indiana. Scott's shop is not that far from you, so you could actually go to the shop to visit your new bow as he builds it. The riser could be fit to you exactly as you want it. He is making a 3 piece R/D bow now that looks really sweet. Riser is trim and the overall lines of the bow was very pleasing to the eye. He only had a right handed version of the bow at the Tennessee Classic, so I couldn't shoot it, but both of my buddies shot it were very impressed! You might try to get up to Cloverdale next weekend and take one out for a test run!
Thank you for the recommendation mike, i almost forgot about the timberhawk bows. If i get some free time next weekend away from work i may make a road trip to cloverdale. This time i will actually be able to walk around the show a bit better without having a brace on.
X2 on the Toelke Pika. I love mine!! Bow-bolt take down. Quick and quiet.
As a bonus, you will still be 30 when you get it!! :biglaugh:
You have a lot of great choices out there. Good luck with the decision!
Rather than take someone else's word for it, you really need to look over several for yourself. There will be some bow makers at Cloverdale next week and the following week is the Compton rendezvous in Berrien Springs, Michigan and there will be a ton of bowyers there to talk with and try out bows. You may even find one you want on the spot--no wait.
Justin, Big Jim, Timberhawk, New Wood will all three be at Cloverdale next weekend. Plus Chad Holm and Blacktail. You can test drive several if you make it to the shoot.
David
Give Allen Boice a call. There are quote a few of us here that really like his Chief. Its a wonderful bow.
if you want high performance, look at a Tall Tines Stickflinger. These two are the bows i would buy again, and i have had a few. More than a few, actually. Gregg Coffee would be anotber consideration, at least for me.
I'll drop a plug in for Mike Treadway too 😎
Justin, I've been shooting stickbows since 1978. I had always bought used or made my own. There are lots of great bows and bowyers, some of which are on your short list. Last year I saw one I decided I needed - a Primal Tech 2 pc. I ordered one, it fits like a glove and it will be chasing elk with me in 3 months.
Randy also makes a 3pc design and just today announced he is offering recurve limbs that fit the same same riser. Do yourself a favor and give him a call (he's a Tradgang sponsor). Best of luck in your decision and a Happy 30th!
See what you started! :goldtooth:
Quote from: achigan on June 01, 2018, 10:32:27 PM
See what you started! :goldtooth:
nothing like a good debate on who is a great bowyer lol. Are you still shooting that thunderchild? That bow is what keeps steering me toward big jims
[attachment=1] the new mcbroom also has caught my eye
[attachment=1] was talking to mike of crooked stic earlier and he sent me some pics of his new forward riser bow (the black one) compared to his hyperstic. This deffinitely isnt making my decision any easier
Something like this? (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180602/bf5af182170862313cc7870f2e02316d.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180602/80d48b5f5b7077b8883e228b77280de8.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180602/9d6d1caea6e87638753c25d0e07a6f90.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180602/e098ced85af06f3aa2685bc9212cdb6a.jpg)
I agree with what others have said. Lots of great bowyers out there! Good luck with your search.
If you have any questions please let me know!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I did the same for my 40th this year. Debated between a Big Jim and a Centaur. Ultimately choose to go with the Centaur. I was just repeatedly drawn to the lines of the bow. The wait isn't that bad. Heck I actually forgot I ordered it a couple of times. Pick the one YOU like
My big thing right now is deciding if i want to stick with the r/d style or maybe branch out some. At the moment it looks like saturday i will be off work so i should be able to make a trip to cloverdale to check a few bows out and see what feels good.
X2 on the Treadway, I have been shooting my 60" 3 piece takedown Black Rock a lot in the last few days and it is so smooth and dead in the hands that it don't even feel like 46#. Feels more like 40# but I put it on scales and it was 46.
Try before you buy.
And if you LOVE a bow that you demo, buy that one!
:archer2:
get one each ! it will solve everything :shaka:
Hoosier here's my two three piece from Crooked Stic. The blue and gray was off his stock page,and the other was custom with wood from the wood vault.
[attachment=1]
Here's the risers.
[attachment=1]
Mike's take downs are my favorite. My phone camera stinks. The limbs are much prettier than the picture.
Quote from: gregg dudley on June 04, 2018, 03:55:38 PM
Try before you buy.
And if you LOVE a bow that you demo, buy that one!
:archer2:
I absolutely agree. You may order one that would not be the same feel. Bows are hand made, wood differs from piece to piece. Pretty is as pretty does they say.
Is that the one that he did out of myrtle and mango. Beautiful bow. His 3 piece has crossed my mind several times
Quote from: Alexander Traditional on June 05, 2018, 10:08:48 AM
Here's the risers.
[attachment=1,msg2800537]
Yes that's the myrtle and mango one. Very smooth bows.
I had a hyperstic. Really good shooting bow and im actually working on getting it back lol
[attachment=1]
There are lots of great bowyers and bows out there! And, most of them are great guys--it seems to come with the job description. For me, enjoying working with the bowyer is a big part of my satisfaction in shooting one of their lethal works of art.
Most trad bows perform pretty similarly by quantifiable measures. But how they 'feel' to you will be different. And, you might prefer a feel that's different from me or your best friend. The best advice, already shared by others, is to take some time, shoot as many bows as you can get your hands on, and choose what feels right.
I'm a longbow guy. I just took delivery of my 5th Royal from Wes Wallace--Wes' bows put arrows where I look, and I can use the help! And, over several years we've gotten to know each other. It's a relationship I value. My other personal favorite is working with Mike Treadway--his Black Forest longbows are among the faster d/r designs you'll find, more importantly for me, I like the feel, and I really appreciate Mike...which gets me thinking...I just might _need_ one more bow...
I really like bows I've shot from others mentioned on this thread, too, and some not so much. The one's I'm not so fond of aren't of lesser quality, they just aren't the right choice for me.
Ive always shot recurves the best but really like how quiet a longbow is. For recurves though 50's styles seem to work best
Big Jim if you can wait 14 months for it, Toelke if you cant.
My trip to cloverdale is most likely cancelled this year being my daughter was rushed to the hospital late last night. She was gasping for air bad and turned blue. They spent the night and today running tests on her and still have not found the cause but did find that she has a very irregular heart beat and will continue more tests in the morning. She is almost 8 months old and has been perfectly happy and healthy up until this point so i am praying that it will be something treatable with medication. Its looking like she will be staying in the hospital a few more days so ill be there with her and will have to worry about testing out different bows somehow some other time. Got to make sure my baby girl is safe above all.
Hoos, I sure hope your baby girl is OK! I had two go through the NICU immediately after birth, it's rough when you can't do anything to help them.
Ive had 2 go through nicu with 1 never making it out. Its nerve racking.
Well everything went well at the hospital with my daughter thankfully and we are back home, healthy and happy. Now im back on the hunt for my next bow. I got in some Chinese made D shaped bow today (actually looks well made and is very quiet) to get me back up and shooting. I keep looking at the more extreme r/d bows like the thunderchild or dwyer endeavor and really like the profile of those bows but i also like the smooth lines of the new forward riser crooked stick. One thing i have decided is that i will buy the wood blocks and veneers myself so i can choose the exact wood i want.
Glad to hear it!!
Without reading through all of the posts, my suggestion would be to try a few out for yourself. What maybe the perfect bow for one guy, may be average at best for the next. If ask 100 different Bowhunters, you'll get 100 different bows.
I wish i could try them all out but its nearly impossible to.
I will tell you this...I've owned or shot most of the big name bows...I've owned 3 Schafer, 5 Tall Tines, 7 Widows and a few Robertsons....they're my four favorites...I've also owned Tolke Chinook, GN Super Ghost, Morrison Cheyenne, Kahona Kurve, Super Shrew just to name a few....they were all GREAT bows!! I know this doesn't help much, but with out naming the bow, after 30 years of shooting traditional one of the first four that I mentioned is the smoothest and most accurate bow I've ever shot. Good luck!
Ive owned great northern, morrison, crooked stic, bear, some off brand d shape and a few ilf and have shot widows, das and a few others and all have shot well but what i have found i like are the heavy r/d longbows and the 50's style recurves. I have shot several recurves with larger risers like the bear takedown, widow and bear super kodiak and i never really cared for all the bulk.
That's a great point that you just made. I LOVE 50s style Recurves but I shoot bows with more mass weight a little better. As a matter of fact, my Robertson, which has one of the best grips I've ever felt,is a very light bow. I need to shoot it with a full quiver just to add weight. My choice for a 50s style recurve is either the BW PSR or a Tolke Chinook. Again I love Robertsons too. Very light in hand. Dick just made my a one piece Tribal Styk. What a beauty and shooter. VERY light in hand. He has a nice line of bows.
[attachment=1] i had a great northern shadow that i loved and shot well but just wasnt happy with the heavy draw weight. Still shot that bow better than anything else to date
I was introduced to Toelke several years ago and have been shooting them since. I currently have a Whip HS TD and a Chinook that are my shooters, with a Pika on my wish list. I've been impressed with every Toelke I've shot.
How is the lead time on toelke's
Way better than most, weeks instead of months.
Lead time is going to be another thing i will have to factor in. I like the big jims bows but a 14 month lead time would put me missing all 3d season next year
There are 2 Big Jim custom builds available in the St Jude auction. You send winning bid amount to St Jude as a donation, and Big Jim puts you in the front of the line. You get $1k towards the bow, other options are extra. Think of it like paying for a shorter turnaround time and a fantastic donation to a worthy cause.
You asked more or less "what is the thing that matters on a custom bow?" For sure for me it is the grip. If the grip doesn't feel just right the bow will be up for sale in a short time.
Ya too many good ones and most mentioned. If yo want a 2 pc takedown that changes things as now you also have different takedown systems. For me , my favourite bow to shoot is my Kanati............it's only flaw is it's not a a two piece, but a true joy to shot. I've got a 2 piece ACS, and a 2 piece Cari-bow which are both serious performers but very different. ACS is smoother, but I'm not a fan of the non located handle, but I can shoot it lights out!. The Cari-bow is a gorgeous bow with a fantastic located grip. Both have the Carbon sleeve type takedown system which I love. And I'm on the list for a 2 pc Big Jim and daily bounce back and forth between the Thunderchild and the Mountain Monarch. If your a bow bolt fan, javaman or Tolke would be on top of my list for sure.
So you shoot recurves best...
But you like how quiet longbows are...
You don't want to wait a year...
And you like the look of the 50's style recurves...
:readit:
Allow me to introduce you to the Toelke line of bows! This right here is my Toelke SS 2 piece, 64" long, 64 lbs @ 33". I'd have gotten his shorter recurve except that I draw 33". Myrtle limbs, phenolic handle, bow bolt takedown system, Walnut overlays! It's oozing with style and class. It is nice and quiet with a bit of moleskin in the string grooves, and 10 gpp arrows. Oh yeah, it shoots great too!
(https://i.imgur.com/TIcKekol.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/t6hHrTJl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/yVpNiiMl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BUPvHM6l.jpg)
And check out these limb tips! Yes, this is the same bow.
(https://i.imgur.com/kUgN0UHl.jpg)
Just call Dan and talk to him. Whether you buy or not, it's worth it just for the great conversation!
The more i shoot this D profile bow the more im seeming to like it. The first few times i shot it were with my heavy arrows i used last year and it just didnt really care for it but i tried throwing some full length 500 spine gt trads through it with 125 grain tips and it really came alive. This isnt making my bow decision any easier[attachment=1]
Looks like you're doing just fine with what ya have.
Another story Toelke recommendation to fuel the fire... a friend's wife was wanting a little recurve with a locator type grip; what she really wanted was a static tip Treadway, but Mike's not doing those. Anyway, I suggested a Toelke as I thought he made something real close, and if there's ever been an unhappy Toelke customer, I haven't read about it. She got one, and my friend liked it so much he promptly ordered one too. Super fast turnaround. I've waited a year each for 3 different bows, but not Toelke. Fast and clean craftsmanship.
Shooting today with properly matched arrows deffinitely opened my eyes to the D profile bows a bit more. Besides draw weight being too high i will say i was thoroughly pleased with how it shot
I think after talking with mike the last couple days i am going to order a 66" follower extreme in green futurewood with green glass when the time comes.
Rainy Day bows.
A TallTines Stickflinger is hard to beat! Brian is also happy to work with any woods you provide him.
I have tried a lot of different bows and have settled on Brian's.
I am currently working on the specifics of a new Stickflinger with him. I own one stickflinger and one of his recurves. Both are fantastic and shoot them regularly, but cant get enough of the flingers.
Good luck with your choice bud. I also turn 30 this year (in November) and me and the misses have also worked out a similar arrangement. I'm pumped up :shaka:
One more satisfied Toelke SS recurve owner!
Damn thing is smooth and fast.
Well im slowly underway getting the funds together for my new bow. Got a rest sold and just put back 40 from my paycheck. I figure between putting back a little each check and the little odds and ends i sell i can make up the cost of the bow fairly quickly without taking out a big chunk all at once
Well i do believe this is the color combo i want to go with. I originally wantwd osage but the more i thought about it i have always wanted a green glass/green wood longbow.
[attachment=1]