What's your inclination?700 or 800 dollars for or new bow or $300 for an old bow?There are a few real good new ones for less and of course we can walk into a bargain but some of the better older bows have risen in price.

It’s like buying the car: 0 km or second hand. This year I bought a Mamba 1993, a Kodiak 1960, a Jeffery Royal Hunter 1992 and a Super Kodiak 1976. Less than US800 all together. I enjoy each one of them shooting, and I bet 1 bow wouldn’t be enough. The Kodiak made me think about the new 59er, but still not convinced to give 700 for it. If you know what you want, it’s a tough decision. Your milage may vary.

I've bought pretty many high end new bows over the years, but tend to buy more used bows now. Not necessarily the old 50s and 60s stuff, but bows that are a few years old. Just a few bows with very specific specs that I'm interested in. When they come up, I buy them. Don't worry too much about price.

I love the older ones.

I own 4 "working" bows now - plus one that's kind of a project and two for my boys - one of which is a Black Rhino and the other an R. K. Korte...

Out of those seven, exactly ONE was bought new, for the princely sum of $150 - 1990 Howatt Hunter. 2 are "customs", but not built for me, and one is another Howatt (Bamboo Viper).

So yeah - especially on my budget, gently-used is Plan A.

An older bow that works for you will kill em just as dead as a new one with fancy woods. Guess it's just how you want to look at it, to me they are a tool what they are to you are what they are. Does it really matter what I or anyone else likes.

The classified section is FULL of custom bows that at one time were being talked about as "THE BEST BOW EVER MADE". Try getting 60% of your money out of a custom bow. Buy used and get 90%-100% of your money back, if it doesn't work out for you your out $25.

T4

Us old farts like our old bows, for the most part, but there are many choices that are totally personal.

Younger folks don't have a history with old bows...they are building their own history with bows of today, so they look at it from a totally different perspective. Forty years down the road, who knows what folks will be using. Buy what you like...not what someone else thinks you should buy, or what they think is best. If money is not object, then you literally have hundreds of choices.

By the way, you can get some great old bows for less than $300.00, and most for under $200.00. You have to be patient and watch the market. Check out the completed listings on Ebay. Lots of bargains just sold. Last night an excellent Herter's Takedown went for $202.00. You can buy used customs on Ebay for $300.00.

I have had 3 custom made for me bows, and 1 custom made for someone else bow. Big money for me at the time. But I get a lot more satisfaction shooting a vintage, second hand bow. I like the "hunt" of finding a like new, vintage bow. The first three vintage recurves I bought were like new. A 55# Ben Pearson Signature 2 pc T/D, and two, 1976 Bear Super K's. One was 60#, and the 45# SK still had the info tag and price sticker on it. Life is Good!

As long as your buying from a trusted source go with the pre owned and save a ton of cash. Half of what bows go for new and a lot of bows for sale.

If you have the time and patience, you can find some really nice bows on the used market. There are hundreds of used bows out there, you just gotta look. If your budget can easily handle it, you can get a great bow, new, and get a warranty and the pride of ownership of something that only you have used. Either way, It's totally up to you and what you need in a bow. I've done the "new" thing AND the "custom" thing. Ya, I love 'em but the "new bow" feeling wears off after a while and it just becomes "my bow". I like my used bows a whole lot too. Of course, there would be no bowyers if people didn't buy new ones once in awhile.

Buy what makes you happy. I've went through quite a few new and used production ( Bear, Stemmler, Ben Pearson, Blackhawk, Howatt, Shakespeare, etc. ) and custom bows ( Robertson, Schafer, Morrison, Susquehanna, Mahaska, etc. ) in 48 years. Then about 20 years ago I sold all of my non-Bear Archery bows and now shoot Bear bows only. Out of my twelve Bear bows my favorite is my factory camo 1984 Bear Custom Kodiak Takedown ( pictured ) I bought used from member Bob W. Thanks again Bob. The older I get the more I like the older bows, specially older Bear bows. :)

I like the old favorites and I get more bows that way. :)

Look, and why you can.

Because someday your hands, usually there's, in my case my back say no more !!!

Arthritis in surgery, stop me from buying even the bargains.

I had about six or seven of Those $600-$800 bow. Someone else has them at a bargain.

The one thing I hang onto is, the memories from using them when I could.

My best bow was a John M. And the best thing about it, when I sold it. It went to a Teenager. He Probably still has it. A Son that had a wonderful Dad that got it for his son brithday

Carl

Older bows and younger women. If that's not a country song, it ought to be.

I like both

I like both and they both get the job done.

I like old bear & martins, and customs that aren't real new. They get it done

old or new . love to shoot them.

Men with money to blow on leisure stuff are more likely to drop a grand nowadays on a new bow, just because they can. A grand is no big deal to them. Most guys don't have that kind of loose change laying around. I certainly don't. $250 would be my upper limit on any bow bid. A grand? No chance in hell.

On a related note, I find the number of trashcans at the curb on trash day is in direct correlation to income level of the residence. Inversely, the amount of junk and trash laying around the property, not in a single can at the roadside, is inversely linked.

I think we are all different in what we collect depending on our starting point in archery. There are old commercial bows, and old custom bows. When I got into adult archery around '79, custom was king. So most of my unfulfilled wants are customs from that period, up to the mid 90s.

Mid 90s customs went down three tracks, hybrids, tech bows using stuff like carbon, fancy wood bows, that just functioned as a break point for me, where I wasn't interested in starting all over again, and in some cases, didn't really like where the choices were headed. 15 years is actually about 4 times longer than most people dip into and out of sports, so I just lost interest in new custom bows.

I like buying second hand, mostly from that 1980-1995 period, though though it is pretty hard to find the bows I want outside the 60-70 pound range.

I also have some ILF.

A third category is buying new custom bows from starting out builders. There are lessor known builders all the time getting started, and they often offer bows at prices near second hand. So if you wanted, for instance a Hill bow in 40 pound range, that might be an option.

I disagree that it's like buying a used car or a new one, as glass laminated bows have (almost) unlimited mileage. I'm an old bow guy all day! That's all I own and it's what I enjoy. That said, there are soooo many great boaters building today who deserve the business. Tough choices;-)

Each person sees a sentence and translates it as he wants. I say "0km or used car" and I think "I don't care if I am first owner or not". Performances and durability I am supposed to already know (or being informed) about. The rest is just about patience for me: I can't see myself waiting 1 year for my bow.

This year, I bought a new '59 Bear Kodiak, and then later, a '73-'75 Bear Kodiak Hunter. $699 for the new bow, and $250 for the older one. Love both bows, but that K-Hunter shoots for me every bit as good as the new bow. It came out of a personal collection, and wasn't shot much. If you find an older bow in great condition, I would highly consider going for it. I think this is one of the great things about traditional archery - All the choices that we have, with great help and advice from the members of trad sites like this one. Good luck in what ever you decide.

Depends on what it's for if hunting and have the strength than any bow will do, if your down in poundage than definitely newer. With newer string material and bow limbs material a person can shoot a bow 15 lbs lighter than they use to and still have the same fps with the same arrow they used before. In 3D competition if your there for fun shoot what you like but to be competitive you better have the newer materials in the bow. Those ranges seem to be longer shots than you would take hunting. A bow that can cast an arrow farther will have an advantage and in the right hands that is all it takes on those courses. Me I have both and even selfbows and it all about what hit where I'm looking not price or age when hunting. 3D that's a different game

I've bought two new bows this year and a few old ones. My new 59 repro to me was worth every penny I dropped on it new. In retrospect I could have saved some money and got one second hand but knowing it was what I wanted I decided to go new knowing every arrow out of it was mine and it was covered under warranty. I had a new takedown this year that I'm glad I bought new as well bc of a limb blowing up. I just took a used satori on trade and feel like I got a good deal. I like the bow a lot but it being my first ilf metal riser bow I would have been hesitant to drop coin for a new one

I have been blessed to make good money in my life and so I have bought more than my fair share of fine custom made for me bows, Rocky Mountain Recurve, Caribow, Great Northerns, Robertsons, Northern Mist. I loved 'em all. For the past few years I've been picking up Bear bows from the '50s. Spent far less for these bows than any of my customs. I enjoy cleaning and fixing them up, mounting new grips, rests and strings. IMHO, set up with the right arrow and string those bows shoot as well as any of the customs I've owned. And to me there is magic in shooting arrows I made myself out of a bow as old as me, built in my home state by working people when one could make a living doing so. I especially love the Bear static recurves with the built up string nock overlays, "brush nocks". The Kodiak K-4 is a fine shooter.

Classifieds are chock-a-block with recently made new customs...that, and intensive testing of the performance of dozens and dozens of vintage bows tells me 1958-1972 is the range for me...golden age of recurves.

Cast further and are remarkably more efficient than my 1995 to 2002 bows.

Thank goodness I had to pay only a little over $300 for a fine looking 1959 Brazilian rosewood/bubinga beauty when I decided I needed to get another recurve bow or I would still be shooting a 1978 Jennings arrowstar, which I disliked in 1979. My $300 bow works fantastic and is very acceptable for hunting or at the events I can still muster up to go to. Have some more now to fill up my rack behind my desk and they make me very happy when I spin around my office chair and take a look, and even happier when I take one or two out back to shoot some paper plates.

I spent a couple of hours today relaxing by taking the grime and gunk off a lovely old 1962-ish Swift Wing; a rare 62" length in a 50# draw. It has a beautiful rosewood and walnut riser, double-tapered maple core lams, and a full 25-1/4" between the fadeouts--which means that those working limbs will be very short. Add in that it has tiny tips reinforced with five wooden lams,and the net result is a bow that will have a ton of cast. The silver-inked specs show it to be the 1,328th Swift Wing made...but I don't believe that very many were ever made in this 62" length.

My point is that my $125 bought me a unique bow that you probably can't duplicate, in looks or performance, for ten times that amount today--to say nothing of all the history that comes for free with an old classic bow. It's true that I needed to invest a few hours of elbow grease to make it shine--but big deal; I call that fun, not work.

The more bows I've seen and tested, the more I believe that guys like Lee, Howatt, Drake, Hoyt, Root, and the FASCO-Gordon-Browning crowd had ALL the variables--including great looks-- figured out and under control by 1962. Them's the bows for me.

I like to buy new or newer of an old design. Example Ace recurve for late 50's style recurve. Northern Mist classic for Hill style longbows. Rooty

If you are staring out, would not buy the latest and greatest.

After you decide what you like, then if I was young, would definitely but the absolute newest, coolest, best looking, and greatest bow with the most hype as I have always done when younger. If you are older and wiser, then you will know after a while what bow fits what you need, so you can save some money and watch closely for that used bow that fits your situation while you are shooting that initial less expensive bow. When you finally find that used bow that is the one you want, just be thankful someone sold it to you.

Like George said above, it's sometimes a generation thing.

"If you are staring out, would not buy the latest and greatest?"

Because the latest are not the greatest. Far from it. Crookedstix post says it all...

Well your not telling the whole truth about old bows being very addictive and it doesn't take long to have 10 grand or more in them lol. Rooty

Iv owed several custom bows only one was new and made for me but I hunted and shot vintage bows like Browning explorer and wasp include several older bear bows then I had to try a Widow and finally got one at $600 and just couldn't shoot it well but I found out from trying all different types I shoot the hill straight grip best for me and sure I would love to shoot a bow with alot if beautiful wood but I can't shoot them as well as a skim old 50s style bow so now I am still waiting to replace a left hand Northern Mist Classic I let go after I get that back I'll be done buying bows for myself ..so I would suggest buy used till you know exactly what works for you then go from there , shoot straight >>>---->

Vintage or new custom? Neither.

I've done both but lately I've been buying new economy bows. Look great. Shoot great. Comes with a warranty.

As Monkeyball mentioned, the Black Hunter (check YouTube review Twig Archery) is an excellent choice. Samick, Greatree, Old Mountain, etc. brand new bows at bargain prices.

Many old ones still shoot great, especially if you don't have much money, and if you do - they still shoot great. Suppose the new ones do too, but they don't have Brazilian rosewood in their risers.

Ive owned a fair number of customs and still have a couple on the rack, but my heart lies with the classics. They lack nothing in performance and the joy refinishing, hunting and shooting pieces that were made 40, 50 or even 60 years ago is a never ending source of enjoyment. Choices are up to the individual, but personally, I dont want to shoot a 50's STYLE bow, I wanna shoot a REAL 50's ERA bow....and there are plenty to choose from. Many bows I enjoy have never been reproduced or copied, so that leaves out a custom, but the originals are still available and are excellent shooters. In my opinion, old bows ROCK! and do everything the new ones do. JMHO.

I recently shot a Black Hunter that a local fellow has. He had both that one and a Bodnik bow as well. Both were good shooters but I liked the Black Hunter better. Now that said, you guys know I like the old ones. I only have two bows in the house now and they are both over 45 years old.

This one is nice to have. Rooty

This one is as good as it gets for me in any recurve I've owned. Rooty

Nice bows there!

I recently switched from right to left hand shooting. The first thing I did was find one of those Grayling Green Super Kodiak's they made about 2011. It's a fine bow, but then I made an error in good judgment and bought a green overlay Kodiak Hunter from 1976. I now grab it or the '72 KH I added 99% of the time I walk into the yard to shoot.

I can't describe it good enough for anyone to understand; I just like the old ones better.

My favorite hunting old bows were $50 to $75. I hunt with them as much or more than my newer customs that cost 15x as much. I don't understand what I was thinking when I bought the newer bows.

I recently went on a search for a 60" 3 piece hybrid. Spent a day and a half at Denton Hill looking. Not much to see if it wasn't an ILF. I only found a couple of used ones at the blanket sale that came close to what I was looking for. They were more than I wanted to pay for a used custom so I walked away.

I stumbled across one of the aforementioned Big Rock Black Hunter longbows that had perfect specs, so for $200 I took a chance. Absolutely the best $200 I ever spent on a new bow. Fit and finish are very nice and throws an arrow even better.

I love the oldies and will hunt with an old Wing this year as I did last. Problem is, you can't find a 3 piece hybrid that's very old and you would be hard pressed to find one for $200 that shoots as good as the Black Hunter.

Glad to see another good review for the black hunter longbow Hatrick. I've been eyeing these up the past few days. Ultimately I'd like to get my hands on a Wapiti Spike 3 but I might have to settle for one of these for now.

Another example new K 4 ordered. I don't live In Michigan so this is a good way for me to get an old school style bow. Rooty

That’s an interesting piece Rooty. I think about that in upper 60 or low 70 pounds. Should be a great shooter.

New K mags ain't bad either 62#. First rip in a long time.Rooty

2end shot. Grip isn't as deep as some of the new ones I've had. Good fit for me. Another keeper bow that is predictable to shoot. Rooty

I am waiting for my first genuine 50's bow to arrive.. A Ben Pearson takedown... Its in the post as we speak..

I am not looking forward to renovating it, since I have never done it before.. However, I am really looking forward ot shooting it.

Cheers laex

smj-

"but I might have to settle for one of these for now". I picked up one of these bows and trust me you will not have to "settle". I defy anyone to offer up a 3 pc (or 1 pc) that shoots/handles better for the same price. Oh, and I love my 50's and 60's recurves :)

We to get a new car. We picked one out. While waiting for it to get prepped. The car prep guy had to go run it through the nearby car wash. He stomped the gas to the floor and red lined it hard enough to blow oil in the air. I canceled the sale on the spot. When bows have been around for a long time, it is hard to guess what kind of a life they have had. One can never tell how often it has been red lined or over heated.

I have a tendecy to go new although I now have 2 new 2 used. None are old but Ilikem.I always say deep inside you know what the choice is.

I've not been able to afford a custom bow but I prefer older bears than the newer ones. In fact I traded 1 new bear I kinda liked for 2 mid 50s polars I love. They shoot woods,aluminum,and carbons all quick as a wink and they're smoother than Norah Jones. nybubba

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