Trad Gang

I have had my deposit in with OL for about 3 1/2 years.  I also put my name on the waiting list for an A&H bow.

I was just notified by A&H that my turn is here (bow ready in about 3 months).  In a recent, about a month, e-mail from OL he would not give me an estimated date for my bow, only that he is working on the backlog.

SO - do I go with the A&H bow or wait for OL to get around to my bow.  I don't have the funds to get both (unless someone wants to buy some of my other bows   :help:  )

Rick

Well I've been waiting a yr longer than you and won't make any other comment....    

I have a friend who has been waiting way longer than you for O.L. to build his bow.... I better stop now.

Take the A&H..........

If you had a 3pc on order, you might as well go with A&H.  They are great bows!!

You may have enough time to save up for the OL bow after you buy the A&H.

vermonster13 - that is a great point that I did not think of.  If the future is as the past was, there would be plenty of time to save up  :bigsmyl:

IMHO Gentlemen.....There is NO bow in the WORLD worth waiting 3 1/2 years for!!!!!  

I see folks here wait MONTHS and spend BIG MONEY for bows that end up in the classified forum in a couple of years (or less)

Maybe it's me but if a bowyer told me I had to wait longer than a year I'd tell him to forget it. (actualy if he told me 6 months I'd be thinking about it telling him forget it)

I ordered my Mikuta longbow custom made,and it was in my hands in 5 weeks.....Cost.....$350!!!!! That was 3 years ago and IT'S NOT FOR SALE!!!!!

You can still order a custom Mikuta and you will recieve it within 4 months and it will only cost about $400

My point is this!!!!! There are ALOT of GREAT bowyers out there.....Any one of them who I'm SURE would bend over backward to make a bow for you that would would make you proud as a new Dad!!!!!

This is in no way meant to be disrespectful to Mr. Adcock.....BUT, unless he is God,and unless he can build a bow that shoots itself,and never misses,It's not worth waiting a year for.....

Just My Opinion.....

I don't know OL, but I think highly of John Havard. Go with the A&H.

Since you have waited this long you are dead set on getting a cx. :)For that reason I would jump on the A&H and stay on the Adcock list.By the time it comes up you will have either made up your mind you can't live without another one or sold the first one and be shooting something else.You have plenty of time to cancel the order when he does call. jmo

4 Years in August for me. Take the A&H now, and decide on O.L. if and when you hear from him.
I know it's hard to decide when he does not communicate well.

Yup, take the A&H. This has gotten stupid crazy on OLs bows. I have been told total time to build a bow(actual work time is not much more than 20 hours) and less in a lot of cases. Even if the list had hundreds of names, it should not take 5 years to get a bow and that is what it has been taking. Have ya ever held one of OLs bows in your hand, well do not grab it by a limb when it gets handed to ya. It is liable to come unstrung and jump out of your hand. Great performers and great shooters but I have seen it first hand and that is scary. Shawn

Im going AH ...and thats all Im a saying... :)

I waited over 3 yrs.and could not even get a response.When I finally said SEND my DEPOSIT elsewhere he heard me.Back in 2002 when I talked to him and ordered it was only a 12 month wait.Don't know what happened over the next few years.Heard lots of stories.

Rick when did you get on the waiting list at A&H? I mean before you made a deposit and ordered the A&H? Thanks

my 2 cents.....  
how does someone's wait time get LONGER when they stopped taking orders 3 years ago??????  gimme a break!!  LOTS of great bows out there as good or better IMO.

The deal is IF you are on OLs list and jump they put you at the top of the list. If you don't jump they put you in the normal order. I might be wrong but that is my understanding.

redant 60/65 - I contacted John via e-mail in Jan of this year and was told that I would be put on the list.

Mudfeather - I have an e-mail to John right now asking that very thing - "If I get the A&H am I off OL's list?"

From what I've seen in the TBM article and by looking at the A&H site, the 3-piece bow is the one to have.  That's definitely the way I would go.  However, I have to agree with some previous comments; I'd not wait that long for anyone to build me a bow.  Had something like that happen a long time ago with Palmer, and I didn't accept his excuse (already had my order in and supposed to be ready by certain date, but wasn't), and took my business elsewhere.  I love Blacktails, but I haven't ordered one simply because of the wait time.  By the time I got it, I'd probably want something else! LOL.  Anyway, go with the A&H.

3 & 1/2 yrs is chicken squat.

The wait on a new Randall knife is now 61 months.

I could do 3 & 1/2 yrs standing on my head.

Ya know, I just cant let this go. OL is a gentlemen and a great bowyer. He's done a tremendous amount to help folks on this site and it is interesting to see the snide comments about him now. He made a great product and demand way out-stripped his ability to keep up with the backlog. You can wait til he catches up or ask for your money back. No need to imply he's is less than honest.

Zane

I just got a real nice, quick, and comprehensive e-mail from John.  He said that I could get one of his bows and stay on OL's list as well.  

A class act.

Looks like that is what I will do.


Rick

I've been on the list at A & H for a very short time. I guess now I have a concern regarding Shawn's post. Is there a problem with both the Adcock and the A&H bows as far as coming unstrung if handled in a certain manner? I haven't heard of this before, so if you have any further info please explain.

Thanks - Doug

I've had several of both and never had that happen.

Let's define the term 'wait'. I was on the list for 3 1/2 years for 2 bows; one for my 13 year old son, and one for me. Why? Because my wife would not OK two bows for me. Was I waiting? Hell no-did not even think about it. In the meantime I got a second St Charles T-Bird, a Morisson and two Fedoras. 'Waiting' means standing in place and anticipating your turn, or some 'thing'. There was no deposit, and no commitment until the day 'the' email arrived. That's when the check went out and the wait began. I will add that OL, John and Larry are a class act; they have always been very responsive and as accomodating as their circumstances would allow and credit to our community.

I should be getting my A&H in about 1.5 months.  A multi-year waiting list isn't uncommon.  Supply and demand.  Mr. Adcock has been very generous with his knowledge to me personally.  I've never met him, but he has answered my emails anyway.  

If he was still taking orders and A&H hadn't come along, I would be on his wait list, no matter how long it is.

Let me qualify what I said above.  O.L. Adcock is a class act, and has replied to some of my posts when I needed help.  Never meant otherwise.  I would love to have one of his bows myself, I just wouldn't wait on one for that long.  I hope he eventually finds a way to make supply equal the demand, because he clearly makes a fine weapon.

I think he has just had other interests. It would help a lot if he replied to emails and phone calls to keep us posted.

I'd like to highlight and repeat what Zane said above.   The man has made a better mousetrap and now the world is beating a path to his door.  In fairness he has been honest with his clientel, advising that he is not taking orders....he refers folks to the A & H product line....and apparently in his spare time he is occasionally still working throught the backlog.

The market place has the option of not waiting for OL to build their bow.  In fairness to the man he has been very helpful to folks on this site and other traditional archery web sites in the past.  And has anyone ever noticed that he, like Black Widow bows simply chooses to not engage in the mud wrestling when someone starts to bash around his character and personal reputation.  He rises above it and merely ignores.

Things happen in life all the time.  Family troubles, burnout on the job, age, research and devlopment on a new product line, etc.  Many things can happen in a man's life to hamper his ability to perform on the job.  It's because of such a reputable product that demand is so high but folks let's not forget there is a man here that is being bashed around, a man worthy of respect, a retired veteran (I believe).  Don't be so harsh in posting public comments.  Take those comments privately to him directly.  :coffee:

When a man takes your money for a product, he has an obligation to deliver. Stuff happens, but there is no excuse for lack of communication. I saw him posting here and on *********** in the past, but he would not respond to my messages. I still sometimes send a email or call, with no respone. There is no good excuse for that. Saying we can ask for our money back if we don't like it is not at all fair. I have no doubt the guy would refund my money if asked. If he does not want to make bows anymore, he should just say so and refund everyones money. If he has problems, he should just say so, with no need to go into detail. But, no one likes to be ignored. I just want to know how far I am down the list, and have confirmation that he is working on it. That is more than fair, as we are way past his projected due date.

OK Folks,People are starting to get a little defensive her.

I stated before that I in no way intended to be disrespectful to Mr. Adcock (or any other bowyer for that matter)

As Shawn stated,and I know to be true,there is only about 20 hours of actual labor involved in building a bow,I'm sure if he has stopped taking orders that with a little hustle (commitment) he could clear up the backlog.I just think 3 1/2 YEARS is way too long!!!!!

Just My Personal Opinion.....