where to get a bow

[shevrock]

I'm looking to buy a bow, a more traditional one. meaning no compound bows. where's the best place to find one online. I was thinking maybe a longbow or recurve. I took archery at a summer camp in new york, and was told to get a bow by the instructor. I have just never gotten around to it. thank you for your time.

 

[Tom Krein]

I have used 3 rivers Archery Equipment for a LONG time!

Here is a link..... LINK

Tom

 

[shevrock]

cool, thanks. really expensive o.o.

 

[Carl Levitian]

I've been using a Martin X-200 for about 15 years now, and its been a great bow. Three rivers has them for 299.00, a very resonable price considering that Martin really is a hand made bow. I had a video of how Martin make them, and it was pretty impressive.

 

[Soap]

I just got a Bear Montana longbow from 3 Rivers. They rock!

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Don't buy a traditional bow online.
Go and put your hands on the ones you're interested in and then decide.
It really makes a big difference when small details are different.

 

[birdshot8's]

archery range/club

go to the archery club meeting. the primitive shooters by and sell faster than the NYSE. a good long bow will be as or more expensive than a top shelf compund bow. i am shooting a herters bow i got in 1970. with care they last a long time.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

If you happen to want to start out with THE BEST, then you'll get one of these:

http://www.blackwidowbows.com/

 

[dagger dog]

If you have A Bass Pro Shop nearby, they carry a few traditonal bows, but not much in the way of knowledge, try www.tradgang.org for a wealth of info.

If you are going to try it alone , a recurve is much more forgiving to someone used to a compound. The modern longbow is a hoot , but it will take somewhat longer to master.

Any of the books by G. Fred Ashbell, or T.J. Conrads are "money in the bank" if you decide to go the trad route.

 

[hso]

http://www.tndeer.com/spo-archery.shtml

 

[wheelgunslinger]

If you want a small investment, a used bow can be had for anywhere from free to 100 bucks.

My current recurve was free because a guy stopped at the motorcycle shop and gave it to one of the guys who worked there because "his kids would kill each other with it." The guy who worked there, one of my friends, gave it to me. It's one of the best recurves I've ever had and was made sometime in the 50's by a bowyer of unknown origin.

Put an ad in your local classifieds. Lots of people are selling off stuff right now. Maybe try craigslist. Most bows never get shot at all or that much. So, chances of finding a really nice one on the cheap are good.

Since you've shot before, you have an idea of the draw weight and overall length you need.

 

[mole]

If price is a problem, it's hard to beat $6.01 at Lowes (or Home Depot). Here's my girlfriends's bow.

 

[shamus]

You could make one or buy one used.

More info is on my website.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Holy crap mole - you're kidding right? Home Depot & Lowe's selling a bow is hard enough to believe - but are you saying that that long bow is only $6??? Are you sure? What's it made from? Is it half way decent? What's the draw weight?

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Making one from shelf lumber is pretty common.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I understand. But his post says or strongly implies that you can get the entire bow for six bucks.

If price is a problem, it's hard to beat $6.01 at Lowes (or Home Depot). Here's my girlfriends's bow.

in a thread entitled "Where to get a bow?"

Buying lumber is not the problem. It's the talent required in constructing the bow that matters. I can buy a basketball for a few dollars also - and as it turns out, I'm Michael Jordan, but for my lack of talent in handling the ball.

So am I to understand you can NOT get one at Lowe's for $6?

 

[mole]

Sure you can get an entire bow for that at Lowes. You just have to cut off everything that isn't a bow.

And if you really get some money burning a hole in your pocket---say $30 or so--- you can have a more advanced bamboo/ipe laminate like my current favorite #75 @ 29 with black bamboo.



Sorry, currently no full draw

 

[shevrock]

If i find some good plans, i may make my own bow[ and possibly arrows if i can get the blacksmithing stuff.

 

[mole]

Here are some plans.

http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/6222
http://www.geocities.com/salampsio/oak.htm
http://mysite.verizon.net/georgeandjoni/boardbowbuildalong.html

There's no need for blacksmithing unless you want to make replicas of medieval arrowheads. Glue on field points cost about 25 cents and you can cut out your own broadheads from old saw blades.

 

[shevrock]

I found this guy in Ardmore[i think Huntsville/ten border] but he didn't really specify which. I pm'd him over youtube, so i might have a bowyer[ that's well known and paid] not to far away. his site is www.bowstick.com

 

[NoirFan]

I'd echo the advice to get to a traditional archery club and try out a bunch of different bows first. Fit is the most important factor when shopping for a bow, and traditional archers are some of the friendliest hobbyists I've ever met. Many tend to be older gentlemen who will talk your ear off about archery and offer to let you shoot everything in their collection.

After you've done that and you're ready to order, try www.ancientarchery.com. I can vouch for the high quality of his work, and there is a lot of useful information on different bow types on his page.

 

[shevrock]

He says he's closing. look at the site. o.o

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I just got a Bear Montana longbow from 3 Rivers.

Man I love that bow - it's very beautiful - looks like half longbow, half recurve when unstrung.

http://www.oldbow.com/bear_montana_longbow_64_50_ss_2.htm

Sure you can get an entire bow for that at Lowes. You just have to cut off everything that isn't a bow.

Yeah, that's helpful; thanks.

 

[mole]

You're welcome.