Home Forums Bows and Equipment How many bows do you have?

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    • codger
      Member
        Post count: 132

        Im wondering if any of you are as sick as i am? I’m addicted to archery but its cheaper than my other addiction motorcycles. I currently have 13 recurves and longbows and am waiting for my new Kota longbow. I currently have three all wood longbows five fiberglass laminated long bows and the remaining bows are recurves. I shoot them all but I seldom shoot my 75# John Schulz longobow. its perfect and i want to keep it that way i believe it was made in the sixties and is irrepplacable at least to me.

      • David Petersen
        Member
          Post count: 2749

          Until a few years ago, income (lack thereof) forced me to own only one bow at a time, and in some ways it was a blessing because when I started building bows suddenly I had half a dozen or more at any time, with that many different draw weights and shooting characterists, and had to make arrows to match each. That constant switching around, while great fun, just ruined my accuracy. Now I’m down to three bows and have no plans to dump or add any unless forced by age or injury to lower draw weight: a r/d longbow, an old recurve, and an osage selfbow, all three close in draw range but not quite close enough to shoot the same arrows. The Shrew longbow gets by far the most use, followed by the Osage.

        • Dan Klee
            Post count: 8

            I have 8 long bows and one recurve. Bows are to me like guns and knives. You can’t collect to many of them. I love the way bows are made. I think they are beautiful and I get much enjoyment from shooting them. My favorite? That’s a tough one. I love them all!

            Dan

          • Troy Breeding
              Post count: 994

              I really have no idea how many I have. The best I can recall is I have 4 recurves, 5 or 6 longbows and better than 20 selfbows. I’d have to pull them all out and count to be certain. Some I havn’t even looked at in several years. I thought I had lost them until about a week ago when I moved acouople bow tubes and found that I had never unpacked them from the move two years ago.

              Troy

            • skifrk
                Post count: 387

                I currently have 2 longbows one a bob lee and the other one made by Byron Ferguson. So I definitely do not have enough and as time allows I will add to the collection or get rid of some in the collection for others/

              • Swamp Rat
                  Post count: 29

                  Reading the posts above makes me feel better, me… not my wife.

                  I have three longbows: Heape Custom R/d, a Don Dow Stikbow (R/D), and a Martin ML-10. I am currently talking to a bowyer about another R/D. Then may get one more, but should be through after that… maybe…

                • Stephen Graf
                  Moderator
                    Post count: 2429

                    It’s really not about how many bows you have, it’s about how you use them 😯

                  • Raymond Coffman
                    Moderator
                      Post count: 1235

                      I have 3 recurves { Shakespeare -Ocala , Bear Kmag / super Kodiak} 6 R/D longbows {3 Centaurs, 3 Shrews }for a current total of 9. I shoot a Centaur custom cocobolo/yew 60# and a Shrew Samurai TD 56# the most. Although I will probably use my Shrew CH osage/phenolic 49# for turkey this spring

                      It is great to have a bunch of different bows to choose from – but as dave Said –the arrows and the retraining between styles and weights can be time consuming. keeps it interesting!

                      Scout

                    • Wexbow
                        Post count: 403

                        Being a newbie i’ve just one – my cheap and cheerful samick recurve. Although i do have a new set of heavier limbs to fit so some new arrows will be in order too – i’ll be moving to wood shafts, mmm 😀

                        I’m taking my time on the learning curve before investing in a sexy bow down the line 8)

                      • W David McLendon
                        Member
                          Post count: 56

                          I have ten only because I collect a few of the more desireable vintage Bears and the fact that they must be left handed tends to keep that number down, but they come and go.

                          My go to bow is a 54″ Shrew Classic Hunter Carbon Foam T/D. It will kill anything that I am likely to hunt or bump into and although I enjoy shooting other bows, six weeks before season opens I shoot only the Shrew from that point on and only with the same type arrows that I will hunt with.

                          The current line up is:

                          Shrew SCH T/D

                          Black Widow PAX

                          1987 BW 30th Anniversary Crown Jewel

                          Tall Tines recurve (two limb sets)

                          ’65 Bear Kodiak

                          ’69 Bear K-mag Tigerwood

                          ’68 Bear K-Mag

                          ‘67.5 Kodiak Hunter Zebrawood

                          1954 Bear Kodiak II Compass Kodiak

                          1960 Bear Kodiak triple 60 (1960,60″, 60#)

                        • Ripforce
                            Post count: 225

                            Bama Royal and Hunter Longbow 66in 50@28

                            Bama Expedition R/D takedown 62in 46@28

                            Bama Expi Hunter R/D 60in 40@28

                            Hickory Selfbow 66in 40@28

                            Browning Cobra 2 recurve 48@28

                            Shakespeare Necedah 45@28

                            8 Total

                          • Bruce Smithhammer
                              Post count: 2514

                              Logically, I know that it’s probably better to own one “perfect” bow and shoot it well, but I definitely suffer from the wandering eye. The current line-up:

                              58″ Robertson Fatal Styk #57

                              56″ Kanati #53

                              62″ Martin/Howatt Savannah #55

                              52″ Bear Super Kodiak #50

                            • bruc
                              Member
                                Post count: 476

                                58# Fox Maverick Recurve

                                48# Caribow Tuktu Recurve

                                60# Browning Backdraft Compound

                                At this point I only shoot the recurves and the lighter one the most. “Age thing”.

                                They all have some sentimental value, and at this point, I plan on keeping them all!

                                Bruce

                              • Ed Ashby
                                Member
                                  Post count: 817

                                  Too many, but a necessity at times, for the testing. When it comes to serious hunting, over the last quarter century I’ve used very few. For hunting I tend to stick with one bow; one that I have developed a special relationship with and am totally familiar with.

                                  Ed

                                • Jason Wesbrock
                                  Member
                                    Post count: 762

                                    Aside from bows I’ve made, three that have been handed down in my family, and the bows my daughter and wife shoot, I have the following:

                                    TradTech Titan riser with two sets of Winex limbs. I use the long limbs primarily and the mediums for spring turkey hunting from ground blinds. This is the bow I use for competition and nearly all of my hunting, sans fish and some small game.

                                    1960 Wilson Brothers Black Widow. I use this bow for a lot of small game hunting and the occasional deer hunt when I get the itch to hunt larger game with a classic recurve. I haven’t drawn on a deer with it yet, but one of these days that will change.

                                    1962 Root Game-Master I bought off eBay several years ago to use for bowfishing. I couldn’t begin to guess how many rough fish I’ve taken with that old recurve.

                                    Chek-Mate Hunter II. It was my go-to bow for the 2002 season, but has seen little field time since.

                                    Thunderstick MOAB longbow. Jim Reynolds donated it for the UBI banquet years ago and I decided the bidding had stalled too low. I didn’t plan on buying it, but the other bidder and I apparently had the same high bid numbers in our heads, and I hit got there first. It’s a great bow, and I used it to kill a whitetail buck the next season. Since I prefer to shoot recurves, it’s mostly collected dust for the past few years.

                                  • jaytbuzzard
                                      Post count: 80

                                      I own three recurves:

                                      Bear Super Magnum 48″ 48#

                                      Ben Pearson Mustang 58″ 50#

                                      unknown manufacturer 62″ 50#

                                      I also have a loaner recurve from my Brother in law. This is the one I took my first deer with, this year:

                                      Shakespeare Ocala 60″ 50#

                                      I also have a Black Widow recurve that was my Fathers that delaminated. I was devastated. 60″ 49#

                                    • Dan Jackowiak
                                        Post count: 106

                                        I’ve tried quite a few bows over the last few yrs but if I couldn’t shoot them accurately I sold em. Even if it meant selling them at a small loss, which was usually the case. I now have one, a Black Oynx ILF riser with two sets of limbs. Border Hex5’s that come in at about 50@28 58″ bow. The other set is a pair of Samick Extremes that I can get 54@28 60″ bow. Both limbs will shoot the same arrows with the same head weight. I am deadly with this bow and will not be selling it anytime soon if ever.

                                        I also have 3 compounds and one is for sale. I can’t quite get up the nerve to get rid of the other two just yet.

                                      • codger
                                        Member
                                        Member
                                          Post count: 132

                                          Thanks all i now feel so much better about my addiction I dont even need to get into the knives and firearms its become clear to me im a hoarder if its not motorcycles its guns,knives or bows not to ention tools. maybe im not as sick as I once believed. well good shooting to all! thank the lord im down to only three motorcycles.

                                        • Bitter
                                            Post count: 7

                                            I didnt know I was the only traditional archery addict out there, I have 2 recurves and 5 long bows from strait limbs to mild reflex deflex, and pronounced reflex deflex. Seems I get a comfortable with the amount of bows I have someone wants to buy them from me. I have more glass orderd up to build 1 more recurve and 2 more long bows. Its an addiction and I cant stop.Today I just machined out 1300 pruce and douglas fir arrows to sell thats lots of fun to

                                            Take on the chalenge go traditional

                                          • gobbler716
                                            Member
                                              Post count: 41

                                              4 Fiber glass recurves (20-40#)

                                              2 Bear Recurves

                                              2 PSE compounds

                                              1 Horton Crossbow

                                              Plans from Binghams to make my own longbow.

                                              Going to order plans for a recurve.

                                            • wildschwein
                                                Post count: 581

                                                I have owned a fair few bows, but before getting a new one I always sell my current one. As of right now I have a right handed Storm Creek R/D longbow (35# @ 28″) and a left handed Samick Volcano recurve (40# @ 28″), both of which I shoot on a regular basis. Love them both and don’t plan on getting rid of either, escpecially since they both prefer the same 40/45 spine woodies.

                                              • gobbler716
                                                Member
                                                  Post count: 41

                                                  I have owned one of my fiberglass bows since 1963.

                                                • W David McLendon
                                                  Member
                                                    Post count: 56

                                                    Up to eleven now from the previous post with a Black &White Ebony Black Widow PCHX.

                                                  • Hiram
                                                      Post count: 484

                                                      I have only three!! I never shoot the third one. I, like Dave, have found that changing Bows is counter productive!I shoot best when I shoot the same Bow type and poundage. I keep my gaps the same, use the same arrows, and feel the Bow the same each day!:)

                                                    • berndm50
                                                        Post count: 13

                                                        This is my first Post, Greetings to all! Been lurkin for awhile and I really have enjoyed the forum.:wink: I have an older Bear Kodiak Hunter Recurve @ 45# that I have been casting arrows with for over ten years.8) My favorite right now is my Bear Montana Longbow @ 50#.:) I also have made a D style Longbow out of Yew That turned out really smooth @ 47#, but it is in need of a limb repair. It developed a hinge and I have not got around to do the repair yet.:oops: Then there is my project yew long-familiar-bow that is still under construction.:roll: And to top it off I am considering a Hoyt Game master for the future. I also like to tinker around with my arrows.

                                                      • wideangle
                                                        Member
                                                          Post count: 35

                                                          I have 2 Damon Howatt recurves, 1 longbow and 1 hybrid.

                                                        • WildmanSC
                                                            Post count: 40

                                                            I have an Eagle Wing Talon II T/D recurve, 62″, 52#@28″, a Bill Stewart MultiCam Takedown with 62″, 45#@28″ recurve limbs and 66″, 47#@28″ longbow limbs, a Bob Jones T/D recurve with split limbs, 60″, 48#@28″ and a Bob Jones Hill Style longbow, 68″, 50#@28″. The only one I shoot/hunt with is the Eagle Wing Talon II. The other bows are keepsakes that I bought to remember the bowyers by their presence.

                                                            I do have a Rocky Mountain Recurve style bow being built for me by Troy Breeding. I have several sets of wood arrows Troy built and sold to me 10 years ago, or so. When I saw his thread on this forum and the pictures of the first RMR T/D recurve he built, I had to have one! 🙂

                                                            Bill

                                                          • Larry O. Fischer
                                                              Post count: 92

                                                              This sounds like a question my wife would ask. My answer, “more than I need, not as many as I want.”

                                                              Larry

                                                            • Range Guy
                                                                Post count: 1

                                                                I currently have 5 long bows, one recurve, and one compound. And three more in various states of completion.

                                                              • Jeremy Holden
                                                                Member
                                                                  Post count: 60

                                                                  I have two recurves and am on my 4th attempt at an osage self-bow. Thankfully I don’t have the money laying around or I’d have way too many bows.

                                                                  -Jeremy

                                                                • Stumpkiller
                                                                  Member
                                                                    Post count: 193

                                                                    Six recurves and one longbow.

                                                                  • J.Alex
                                                                      Post count: 11

                                                                      The Wife has cut me off at 4,

                                                                      RER Aroyyo 47#@31

                                                                      Blacktail Elite VL 48#@30

                                                                      Kodiak Hunter 43#@28

                                                                      Samick Sage 30#@28

                                                                    • JTop
                                                                        Post count: 8

                                                                        I have 4. If you don’t include my daughter’s and wife’s bows.

                                                                        32# Greatree (first bow) doesn’t get used much anymore

                                                                        50# Martin Rebel (shoots great under 15 yards)

                                                                        45# Ben Pearson (favorite bow, shoots great 8inch groupings at 20 yrds)

                                                                        35# Darton Clipper (perfect condition found at an antiques store for $30)

                                                                        It’s addicting but I think I’m cut off for now. My wife keeps asking me when I’m going to sell one.

                                                                      • ksbowman
                                                                          Post count: 15

                                                                          I am really sick! 26 recurves and 2 long bows.

                                                                        • Jlshooter
                                                                            Post count: 2

                                                                            2 recurves and one longbow.

                                                                          • Jlshooter
                                                                              Post count: 2

                                                                              Too quick on the save. Sorry for the double tap.

                                                                            • strait-aero
                                                                                Post count: 350

                                                                                I have 8 bows not counting the 5 kids bows that are fiberglass that I have for the younger kids to shoot.I have 1/4″ woodies to shoot out of them.

                                                                                I have a early 50’s York long bow that doesn’t have a shelf to shoot off of.(50#) And then I have my dad’s red Bear Polar DR @ 38# from the early 50’s that are my two oldest bows. Also, a 50# Ben Pearson fiberglass Locksley long bow that I picked up at a yard sale this summer in pristine condition along with a few fletched woodies and the tab and arm guard.(in the box they bought it in)

                                                                                My other bows are a 58# Bobby Lofton bamboo backed long bow that my son and I have killed several white tails with. A 63# Kolmutz Kustom long bow made by a bowyer from Cambridge,OH. My go to bow is a 52# Elk River hybrid long bow made by Keith Smith of Moundsville,WVa .

                                                                              • codger
                                                                                Member
                                                                                Member
                                                                                  Post count: 132

                                                                                  Im really havin issues right now I am really getting the bug to build a self bow I voe a little trailbike im rebuilding once its complete i think im going to attempt to carve out my first bow after fifty something years of shooting bows somebody else built.

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