I'm here in the shop tonight putting finish (shellac) on a bow and  after sending one of tonight I was thinking about how you just kinda get  attached to one bow and then others never have just what you were looking for. Some bows have "it" and some bows, despite you're best efforts never feel right for you. I recently made myself a bow that I hoped to add to me go to list, but it never felt right so I gave it to someone else. He loves it and it has that "feel" for him. Just ramblings really, but I was wondering if anyone else had that feeling? Late night bowtalk will you?

Every bow I build, I build for myself but most go to other folks!  I do pick two bows from the lot each year to be my #1 hunting bow and a back up bow. Once I get near hunting season I shoot #1 primarily but practice with #2 to get familiar. These bows, #1 and #2, stand out and perform well for me and that's why they are #1 and #2. They usually shoot the same arrows well.
 I go through this each year! Hard to have an all time favorite although I do have fond memories of some of them.

I have ONE bow of my own if that tells you anything DVS! They all go somewhere else for the reasons you mentioned. Your not alone friend.

Every bow I build, when it is complete I consider it a MY next bow. But I always fall back to comparing it to my #2 back up bow. For 3 years now my #2 back up bow has been my go to bow, and I have 1 or 2 #1 bows through out the year. With out being mechanical, I believe the bow chooses its owner.

Right in there with you, guys.   Every bow is "my bow" for awhile, but there are a couple that just stick around and get shot more than others.   They may not be the best I've done, but there is something about them... the personality of the bow, some of the shooting events or adventures we've had together, the look... just something that makes that one special.  If that weren't so, I'd probably stop doing it.

It was a good night for late night bow talk, DVS...  I don't often work nights, but yesterday I pulled the first layup done in my new space out of the oven, and last night I ground the blank...  Wait'll you guys see it... birdseye maple and bubinga.   Man, this is going to be "my bow"....  for awhile    

Don't have enough bows or bow-making experience to have much to compare. But there have been knives, guns, shoes, clothes, etc. I think the Native Americans had it right when they spoke of the "spirit" of an object. LW hit it right on the head, the bow "chooses" the owner.
Got three bows going right now. Two osage selfbows and my trade bow. The first selfbow I've posted pics of and have just about finished up enough to shoot. This bow is beginning to "feel" special. Maybe that's just wishful thinking but I sit in my rocker and hold it... My wife says I talk to "that stick" more than to her! (No LOL here. She's serious!)
 :rolleyes:  
Stan

Stan my wife says the same kind of stuff bud so you ain't alone. LOL

Stiks

stan, I think everyone here likes to hold their bow like that. I spend hours just looking em over; planning and inspecting. Sometimes I know what I'm looking for and sometimes the bow kinda surprises me and comes out all on it's own.  Anyway, it's nice to see that others know where I'm coming from. To those that don't build em I bet we look pretty strange.

I've had that feeling about bows that belong to other people as well. One in particular stands out and I wish the guy hadn't even let me shoot it, cause it's been on my mind ever since. First time I shot it I just knew, it put the arra dead center of every spot I picked. That's something I've never been able to do with any bow before.

I do sorta get attached to some of my own bows, my newest one in particular. I really enjoy shooting it and it's my best one to date, but I know that as soon as another one comes along this one will go to somebody else and the next one will take it's place. Maybe it will be faster, more forgiving, or just have that "Feel" to it that makes everything click?
I totally understand where your coming from and my family doesn't really get it at all. I guess you would have to pour your heart and soul into creating something like a bow to understand it.