I have a Blackwidow I have been shooting for about 5 years now. I really like the bow. But I have had my eyes on a Silvertip lately. Honestly I have wanted one for a long time. But I never ordered one. And they do have a long waiting list. But I'm sure it would be worth the wait. Dave does beautiful work, and I always enjoy looking at the pics. For those of you that have both. Or have shot both, What is your opinion of the two bows? Which do you prefer? I do intend to shoot both, I have shot one Silvertip once a few shots. I would like opinions from those that have shot and hunted with both. Thanks, Arrowflinger.....

I own a Black Widow PSA and my buddy has a Silvertip. Unfortunately, he is wrong handed so its hard for me to get a great feel, but I can tell you it's a super nice bow. It is MUCH more inherently quiet than my BW, though you can get a Widow whisper quiet with some work. Though I can't verify this (no chrono) I do believe my Widow is faster.

Have a PSAX and just got my One piece Silvertip after an agonizing 13 month wait. It was worth every second. Both bows are great shooters. The BW shoots where you look but is a little louder(takes some effort to make quiet) and the Silvertip is quieter/faster. Both are fine bows.

silvertip hands down, had two widows there ok.

Both are great bows, Silvertip is just a little more heart and sole put into it, versus more of a production type bow like BW. I have owned both, and like I said you cannot go wrong. If you really want a Silvertip wait or keep checking Daves website there are bows that do come up for sale that may fit what you are looking for! Or give them a call, may have one close that was cancelled or wrong poundage, but would fit you! Good luck.

I shot Widows for years until I got my first Silvertip. I eventually sold my Widows. I won't bash Black Widow, they are a great bow but my Silvertip is better for me. You can't go too wrong with either.

Thanks for the input Guys. I think it is a toss up. Maybe I need another bow anyway.:)

I've shot BWs for 20 years, and have owned several. In also have a Silvertip, they are both very different. I love both bows. You really need to go by how it feels to you.

had an original tip in the shop in the 90s with 2 sets of limbs for 350$ every body that was into shooting trad shot it but, it didn't shoot with some of the other customs so gave it back to the fellow that had it on consignment after a year.

I have owned both preferring the one piece versions of each. Both were fine bows but I found that I shot the Silvertip better than the Wodows. Also prefer its looks. Ended up selling the Widows. I will never sell the Silvertip.

A Black Widow isn't any louder than any other bow. D-97 strings are not known for making a bow whisper quiet and that is what is on a widow. I had a D-97 widow string on a Wes Wallace once it was just as loud if not louder.

Also, you can't go wrong with either but try before you buy.

If you're looking for a better bow than a black widow MAIII or a newer PMAIII, you won't find it, I don't care who crafts it. I have a 62" MAIII and a better recurve does not exist, plain and simple. You can look and spend your money, but you won't do better.

Having owned several of both, I preferred the Tip over the Widow, even though I shot both equally well. Don't own either now because of Chris Cox and Barry Huson.

I own several of both. Hunted this morning with a Silvertip. Hunted this eve with a BW PSAX. Both shoot great. Both are quiet. All of my BWs are quiet. The Sivertips are completely custom. The BWs not so much...

Foxbo, I believe you are right. Like I said before I am happy with my Widow. I would be hard pressed to find a bow that shoots better then my PSA for me.

Widow is hard to beat.

I love my widow, but those one piece silver tips are beauts for sure. I am going to get one someday, as I heard there is less pre load, than a Widow. I have a few MA's made when Bonner was still there. I like those slim limbs. If I were buying a new bow today, the Silvertip would get the nod for sure. I mean, the time sitting in the stand requires I have a sweet looking bow to stare at. I also make sure my hair is perfectly combed before entering my blind as well. :)

I don t own either but I would like to. There is a lot of hype generated by the BW thing BW V/S other bows silver tips, boarder etc.These companies don't get good reputations for nothing.It has all to do with the shooting qualities and personal preferences I supose . OSR

Sorry but I disagree with above post that BW are no louder than any other bow. I have owned many recurves and by far the BW is the loudest and hardest to get quiet I have ever owned (and yes I still have it and I know how to quiet a bow and set brace height). Just do a search on the web and you will see this is a VERY common finding. The noise comes from thier LIMB design plain and simple. I have shot with guys that told me how "quiet" thier widow was until I shoot one of my Bruin or Mariah recurves next to them..... they soon learned how quiet a recurve can actually be. They are still a great bow but you should be expecting a little more noise.

As far as a Silvertipm never owned one but I have heard very few bad remarks about them from those that do.

"I have shot with guys that told me how "quiet" thier widow was until I shoot one of my Bruin or Mariah recurves next to them..... they soon learned how quiet a recurve can actually be."

I have lots of bows. My Widows are no louder than any of tbe others. They are all quiet. Not as quiet as longbows of course. That design is always quieter. It all depends on ur setup and release.

I have D-97 strings on both my widows with cat whiskers parallel to the ends of the fad outs. They are quiet to my satisfaction. If I put a barbee ultracam on it, it's even more quiet, if I put a B50 it's more quiet than the ulra cam. So I know that changing string material will make a difference and it's not just an loud bow I have to live with.

Other factors that affect noise are, silencer material and placement, brace height, arrow weight, release etc...by adjusting some of these you can also quiet the bow, which is what I do.

I own both bows and if you put a blindfold on me I would be hard pressed to tell which bow I was shooting. I consider my B/W to be a work horse and the Silvertip is a country squire. I make and use Brownell Xcell strings and as far as the Widow being loud all I can say is "Yea Right".

Regards, Grouse

9 Widows and 6 Tips, noise factor no difference,, The biggest difference is draw curve Feel to me, the widow is more taunt for a better word all the way through the draw cycle and a tip feels a bit smoother with a bounce type feel, not hand shock but something after the shot, no biggie, this stop when I shot Daves 58" or shorter bows.Widow, if not they were not 10 times busier than Silvertip could build a equal custom bow with all the bells a whisles, but volume is there game and they are the Best at it... Either one is a winner,

I guess, in the end, you will just have to shoot many bows and let your ears be the judge.

Black widow all the way

The quiet debate is simple on a Tip vs Widow, Nobody in there right mind would shoot Dave's Stock brown/White rope string, if I said IF they have shot a high performance string, Widows, put wool on the string and string loop section and is silent.My 2 cents.My Opinion Only...

I had the B50 string silvertips and I had a few blackwidows and I am not sure about the FF silvertips but the widow smokes the B50's,,, I had an all Bacote version exact same one that was on their brochure and I let numerous people try it at Denton Hill and every single person said it was old dog slow..

silver tip has a sweet grip, and they look beautiful but the B50 models are not made for speed, I also shoot selfbows so speed isn't my #1 thing... get a widow and put a SBD string on it and they are quiet, the spider silencers are junk throw those away..

with all that being said I'm really wondering about the Fastflight silver tips, if the speed is better than average and they are still quiet then that bow is worth the wait.

There is a lot of subjectiveness in the matter of which bow is best. In my experience, my Silvertip is much faster and quieter than my friend's Black Widow. I only shot his one time but put several arrows through it. But, they were both 55 pounds and I think both had FF strings. I as shooting my own arrows so that was the same as well.

Both are clearly beautiful bows however, as someone said above, the Tip is more of a custom bow than a BW.

As always, the best way to decide is to shoot a few of each. There are ways to do that.

Hmm..There's not much different about either except for name brand recognition and peer admiration..

Many who spend big bucks for bows should better spend their time on learning to shoot consistently and hunt.. Jim

X2,,,, I know way too many people who are terrible shots but they just keep buying crazy expensive bows like that would even help,,, but unlike other sports I don't think people in traditional archery ever rate somebody based on what bow they have.

we stand there quietly and we watch them shoot,, then after the shot we say in our mind "OMG this guy can't shoot" OR "OK looks like this guy is going to beat all our A$%'s today"

and then theres that bowhunter here knows one who just puts game down one after another,, perfect shots every time, always a full freezer, a good shot and a good hunter those are the folks I look up to

oops sorry to hijack back on topic,, 8^)

So because I like to shoot nice bows, I don't know how to hunt or shoot?? Jeez. What a stupid thing to say. Unbelievable.

Well, Lindell is a fine shot on game with his widow, so that isn't an issue. You know me, Lindell. I didn't like my MAIII at all, but I really like my silvertip. Night and day to me in regards to how smooth it draws compared to the BW, but these are only one example of each. A poor study. You sure don't need another bow with how much success you have had with that one, but I am not exactly the right person to tell someone not to get another bow, lol.

"We are talking about the very top of the archery world here. It really takes a person to emotionally connect with something. You just know when its right for you. I still love the VM68 paintball gun. I shoot 30 year old Beeman R1 airguns. Folks still love the 1911 and revolvers. When you are comparing the upper echelon of anything it will always turn to emotional debate. Thats all thats left. The quality part is understood."

:)

I have owned just about every high end recurve and some long bows made in America in my love affair with trad bows and quest for finding the best. Have owned a couple of Tips. Year after year I keep returning to BWs. I own three and have had several. All whisper quiet and accurate. Yes, more quiet than my Tips. As someone said earlier, quiet with all bows is a lot about string, arrow weight and tuning. But saying a Tip or a BW is better than the other I think is wrong. Both great bows and bowyers. Scott

whats unbelieveable Zman is you actuially got upset and posted that? you poor guy nobody said "Zman" has a nice bow and can't shoot I don't think anyone referred to you for anything.

the words I personally used was I know "Way too Many" it didn't say Zman it meant I know the people.

I'm sure MOST people including Zman know what we are talking about, But I honestly admit I got sidetracked with someones post and shouldn't of commented because this thread is about silvertips and widows.

Arrowflinger sorry about that but again widow short wait time silvertip long wait time, you run the risk of wanting something different when the tip is ready in a year so you need to be postive you will want what you order. widows all pretty much shoot the same other than the strings and silencers are junk you can test drive a widow for the cost of shipping. I do think widows might be tougher than the custom silvertips I had a MA2 I would throw out of trees and throw at stone walls just trying to kill it and it would never break,, absolute toughest bow and limbs I ever saw,,,,, look for the video roger made trying to bend the limbs.

Well..My earlier comment about archers perhaps spending more time( or money) on learning to shoot WELL was intended to detract from those who appreciate the more expensive bows..

In my experience..( close to 60 years of trad archery-hunting-shooting) I think that some folks buy newer more expensive guns, bows, fishing gear thinkng that such things will make up for their lack of confidence-competence in field, forest, stream..or to impress their friends..?

And then they sell them..and look for the next hyped up item.. Better to practice well and focus on what it is you want to accomplish....But what do I know?.. This is a 40 year old used Wing Thunderbird recurve I paid less that 100.00 for..

75#@30"..Fast, easy to shoot..Accurate..One of many used bows I enjoy and shoot....and I'd shoot with any of the expensive bow owners any day and hold my own..:)Jim

and in my above message..I made a typo..:) "Well..My earlier comment about archers perhaps spending more time( or money) on learning to shoot WELL was intended to detract from those who appreciate the more expensive bows.. "

I intended to say that my message was NOT intended to detract from those who appreciate the more expensive bows..Jim

Lot of great bows out there. Some fit better than others. I have bought the vast majority of my bows as used bows, which saves a pretty penny. The grip is probably the most important thing for me for consistancy going from bow to bow. Nice form with that stout thunderbird, Jim.

"The grip is probably the most important thing for me"

Me 2

" In my experience..( close to 60 years of trad archery-hunting-shooting) I think that some folks buy newer more expensive guns, bows, fishing gear thinking that such things will make up for their lack of confidence-competence in field, forest, stream..or to impress their friends..?

And then they sell them..and look for the next hyped up item.. Better to practice well and focus on what it is you want to accomplish....But what do I know?.. This is a 40 year old used Wing Thunderbird recurve I paid less that 100.00 for"

Not me and it probably comes from my custom furniture making background. I love fine woods and craftsmanship...it's an art form. If I have the money I'll pay for the art not that I think am getting a better preforming bow because it cost more but because I'm getting what I want.

What's that saying around here? "I wouldn't give you $20 for a barrel full"...if it's made out of Dymondwood and or Actionwood that's me. I don't care how great it shots...hate that stuff.

Bows are sexy when they are built right.

I've owned both, and I have two widows. With that said, I owned a Silvertip and was very impresses with it. It was quitter than my widow, and I loved the grip. It was a little to heavy so I sold it. If I were to buy another, I might go with the Silvertip.

MikeW..Yes I appreciate fine well made artistic items..Even when the cost and true value of that utilitarian item isn't commensurate with it's price tag..:) and I have quite a few such items..:)

I have the money to buy darned near anything I think I want..:) And the skills to make about anything I need..:)..

Point was that some spend a lot of money thinking it'll improve their shooting-hunting when they might better be served honing their shooting skills..:) and both the Black Widow and Shafer Silvertip recurves are fine bows.. Best regards, Jim

If you want it and can afford it then get one. Its not about which is better for any of us. You would have to determine that for yourself. If its a matter of you having to sell the Widow to buy the Silvertip then you should spend as much time shooting one as you can before you buy one. You may not like it as much as the Widow. I currently shot a Silvertip 3 piece TD longbow. I like the bow a lot and it's what I'm hunting with this season. I owned an MA III and there are a lot of other bows out there I'd go for before Id get another Widow. But that's my opinion. Yours is the one that matters

My 56" PCH is perfect for me but I still want a Silvertip. If you're like me, buy the one you really want first, then save up and buy the other ;-)

I love my Blaack Widow and will never sell it. I have a Silvertip TD coming in a couple of weeks:) I plan to hunt with and shoot both.

I have had both at the same time they are both works of art and good bows I shot both over my crony and the Widow was faster and I eventually sold the Shafer and I own 3 widows now. It was about what I shot better and I shot the widow better but that does not mean that you may not shoot the Shaffer better that is what its all about not the price or the name that is on the bow. Widow

Can't wait to see it when you get it, brother.

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