I have been shooting archery since the late 70's. Over the years I have owned some great bows. Some of them were very expensive, some of them, not so much. I have enjoyed shooting all of them because I love archery and there is no other activity that I would rather do. I am not unlike others who share a passion for the bow. Over the years I have diligently searched for the perfect bow. I have owned and shot in excess of 85 bows over the years, both longbows and recurves, and sadly I have let most of them go. Some of them were real performers. Very fast, very quiet, smooth, stable, and accurate. Some of them embodied all the things that we value in a bow. However of all the bows that I have owned over the years, there is one that I can truly say, I couldn't put down. It was a Steve Abbott longbow. It was 62" 52 @ 28 ". It had a walnut riser with a simple black leather wrap, limbs had bacote back Bamboo core and yew belly with walnut tip overlays. It didn't matter how tired I got, or how much my shoulder hurt, I always wanted to shoot just one more arrow. With that bow it was addictive! I can't explain it with word's, other than to say, I just couldn't put that bow down. The funny thing is, it wasn't the prettiest, or the fastest, or the most sought after bow that I have ever owned, but for some reason, I just couldn't put it down. That particular bow for me, embodied everything that I love about traditional archery. Sadly I let that bow go in a moment of stupidity. I have owned many bows before I had that one , and I have owned many bows since, and none have ever compared. Maybe I will own another some day. I wish that I had a picture to post of that bow, but I don't. If you can relate to my experience and have a bow that is, or was special to you, one that you just can't put down, I would love to hear about it. Please post pics if you have some to share.

Thanks -Leonard-

I pretty much have a hard time stopping shooting any bow once I get started. I usually say just one more end until I run out of daylight. Probably a good thing I don't have lights on my range. Many times the only time I stop shooting my firearms too is when I run out of ammo or daylight. With a bow you never run out of ammo because you just go get your "bullets" back. Shooting, making arrows and archery related gear, reloading and hunting are really the only hobbies I have. Nowadays, with the high cost of components, archery has become my #1 hobby and I find myself growing fonder of archery all the time. I always did love archery, but now I crave it. Guess I'm finally gettin it right. ;~)

Wow nomo, you've got it worse than me ! Lol!

-Leonard-

I got lucky once and picket up a AMF P2 for $50.00 bucks. At the time they were going for $250.00. So I was very lucky, because it was brand new and in it's case. Anyway I had that bow for about 25 years then I sold it to a friend. Man was I sorry I did that. I had not seen my friend for maybe 10 years after I sold the bow to him. Then I ran in to him when stopping to see the guys at the shop where I used to work. I asked him if he still had the bow. He said yes, but that he had hurt his shoulder and could not shoot it anymore. So with a big smile on my face, I asked him if he would sell it back to me. And he did. I still have it, I love that bow. I love it so much I told my wife to beery it with me when I die. And that is my story. Hope you enjoyed it. Good hunting. Buckhunter.

My wife wounders how I can spend 2-3 hours shooting the Widow or the Hummingbird 3 piece longbow.

I shoot my compound til the sighting is finished , but the Trad. bow is so restful. Time simply seems to fly by. I am not sure it is not therapy. Either way it really is fun. Roy

Definitely therapy for me FLINTHEAD!

-Leonard-

Some times I just sit in my chair and hold my favorite bow like a kid with their favorite blanket and my wife says I have a strange look on my face along with a little bit of drool coming from my mouth. Oh my favorite bow is my George Perez Rainy Day long bow or the recurve model. Iron Hand

Iron Hand, sounds like a special bow. I would love to see some pictures of that one.

-Leonard-

I started shooting as a kid in 1967 with a Bear Grizzly, upgrading to the Kodiak, and then had a 20 year stint with the Hill longbow. Never had much of an issue adapting and shooting well. In recent years I have been shooting a Schafer which is a great bow. A few years ago when Bear introduced the Grayling Green Kodiak I had a nostalgic urge to get one. When I took delivery and opened the box it was pure disappointment. The riser was the ugliest, lumpy, non figured, pale orange colored piece of wood I had ever seen. I have seen very nice examples, but this wasn't one of them. To top it off, the string was 1/8 inch off center with the string groove and the string was junk. I should have just repacked it and sent it back but for reasons unknown, decided to see if I could twist the limbs back into alignment put a string from my Silvertip on it and shoot it. After a little twisting I got it back in alignment, set the knocking point at my typical 1/2" high and braced at 8 1/2". Using the same cedars I use on my Silvertip, this ugly Kodiak shot like a dream. It was smooth, quite, fast, and most importantly, would put arrow after arrow in clusters less than half the size of ANY bow I have ever owned. A couple of years have passed and I still struggle to put this bow down, and have also learned a good lesson........beauty is only skin deep!

Here is a picture of the Grayling Green Kodiak. It's deadly on +20 yard cottontails.

Little Delta, that is an awesome story. That really would have been something if you had repackaged and sent back the best shooting bow that you have ever owned. That is definitely something that I will remember next time I get a disappointing bow in the mail!

-Leonard-

I really do not have a favorite bow I do have several and I enjoy shooting both the A.S.L.s and the recurves. My preference wanders back and forth between the two different styles. A couple of weeks ago it was the recurve[s], today and for the past week or so it is the A.S.L.s. I also own [horror of horrors] a compound, actually two compounds one I traded a rifle for back in the early 1970's. It's a Ben Pearson and is very similar to a recurve but it has wheels. The second is a bit more modern say early 2,000s but neither has seen the light of day for many, many months.

Buckhunter, it sounds like you were meant to have that bow. Cyrille, I like you have gone back and forth between longbows and recurves. They both have their benefits, and I love to shoot them all!

-Leonard-

Like most of you, I love to shoot and handle all my bows, as well as my other weapons. But archery does hold a certain mystique for me. And yes, my favorite bows, which are absolutely interchangeable, except for the poundage difference, are my two Zippers, beautifully handcrafted takedown recurves, smooth, silent and very deadly! Can't put 'em down. But even so, the rest of my bows are great as well. Just can't beat archery, and all that goes w/ it! Wyatt

My only comment is I have a deep connection to my Grizzlys.

I don't see anything ugly about that Super Kodiak, Little Delta. Awesome.

I think the Super Kodiak design is one of the most comfortable bows to shoot that was ever made. For me that is.

George, I guess I'm spoiled by my 60's vintage Bears which all seemed to have exquisite wood. Even the entry level Grizzly, my first bow.

Wyatt, that is a nice looking rack of bows you have there! I have personally never owned a Zipper but I must say that they are easy on the eyes. Little Delta, you are right about the vintage bows. Alot of them had some beautiful risers. That Grizzly you have there is no exception!

-Leonard-

My go to bow, is also an Abbott, that I couldn't put down is on the bench for the first time since I have owned it, about nine years! This bow is very simple in looks with osage limbs and walnut riser but I love my Abbott and have always had a hard time putting it down. Lately my bow shoulder has been giving me problems and I have opted to drop ten pounds for this years season. I already really miss shooting my Abbott but I know it is the right decision.

I really feel for you not being able to shoot the old Abbott again but it is nice for me to know that if my shoulder gets better I can still shoot the " bow " of my life!

Hope you find another! Tim

Mine is my 62" 51@28 JD Berry Taipan!! Its my goto for everything bow

Tim, I wish I could grow a bow tree like yours, in my yard. Lol! You have bows all over that thing. That is definitely a pretty Abbott. I will own another some day. Brian, those Berry bows are hard to beat!

-Leonard-

I'm Tony, and I am an addict, to archery. A friend of mine just sent me a text and told me I had to open this link and read it, said " he finally understands my addiction now " lol I started my archery addiction at the young age of 9 so I have had it for 40 years. I have had well over 100 different bows from all makers, from $50 garage sell Ben Pearson which still shoot great all the way to $1000 bows, I am currently shooting a Whippin Stick Phoenix at 60# VERY nice bow. When I shoot, which is every single day I shoot about 50 to 100 arrows a day, on weekends I will shoot from 7PM to sometimes 3am I am an addict lol. Thank you for letting me vent.

Griff66, I don't know if there are any group meetings that you could attend, or if there is any kind of professional counciling for guys like us. It really doesn't matter. I think that it is perfectly normal behavior. Lol! Thanks for sharing.

-Leonard-

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