Anyone out there own one of these bows? I am thinking about trying one out - have never owned or shot a selfbow before.

Also if you know of others that you would recommend please feel free to mention them.

I have a big preference for shorter bows. I shoot 54 56 and 58 inch bows on a daily basis. Are selfbows always longer? Every time I see one they seem to be 64, 66, etc.

Also, are they measurably or notably slower than laminated/carbon bows?

Would love to see pics if you want to send them, and hear any thoughts you have on the topic that are useful to a guy wanting to try one out.

Dave in Wisconsin

Most are longer because they are selfbows, made of one piece of wood or two billets. You can back them and make them shorter. Jay Massey had a 55" pignut hickory bow backed with sinew.

A selfbow will not be as fast as a laminated bow, unless the laminated bow is poorly designed, but they aren't supposed to be high-level performers...they are selfbows. Once you shoot a couple, you'll get it. :)

I've been making selfbows since '99. Haven't posted here in a while but in the past month have made one nice bamboo backed hickory longbow and am working on a hickory backed hickory longbow. Selfbows can be made shorter. As there is no fiberglass to stabilize the wood core, shorter bows have more stress in the limbs at a shorter length. Longer limbs provide more working wood to spread out the stress. Maybe an over simplified explanation but true. Weylin from Swiftwood is a top notch bowyer and his bows can be works of art and will shoot with the best of them. There are bowyers making selfbows that shoot in the 170 to 190 FPS. It is a misconception that they are slow and hard to shoot accurately. Do a search for selfbows and you'll learn a lot and may be bit by the bug to try making your own.

I like Bendy bows a lot, they are usually shorter with a slight flexing in the handle. this shouldn't be very noticeable, just a hint of a flex really. lot of choices really.

JD Jones still makes one of the finest selfbows out there for way less money than most. If you want and all wood bow that is as fast as a laminated glass/carbon bow, then try one of his bamboo backed osage bows. He runs his bows on his FB page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/128963237918082

Selfbows come in all sorts of quality.

The true definition is of a single material not a laminated or backed bow as mentioned above.

Always wanted to own/ buy a Swiftwood bow. They're a thing of beauty. On my bucket list. I think that's where the OP was inquiring.

If you want a self bow especially if you are going to buy one I would stay away from shorter bows, go at least 64", 67 even better. I have a bow by Swiftwood bows that shoots every bit as fast as a fast laminated bow. What weight are you looking for?

High forty’s to low fifty’s. Great comments so far thank you. I am learning a lot already….

$1800, I bet they are nice.

You may want to check out John Strunk.

Or Ryan Gill at Gill's primitive archery. His bows are not cheap either.

Uncle Rico~ Badger is an excellent bowyer that holds world flight records...as does Selfbowman Arvin Weaver. Arvins sells his bows for way less money than mentioned, and Steve (Badger) just posted here, so you could ask him. :) Between the 2 of them, they have likely made more bows than most guys ever will.

The bowyer of Swiftwood Bows, Weylin Olive, was a student of John Strunk. Weylin is a good guy, and makes a fantastic bow. He has a YouTube channel, and a FaceBook page. Check them out, and contact Weylin. He'll help with all your questions.

All good bowyers above plus many more that are unsung who build premium bows.

Thought This was going to be a Travis Kelce thread...8^)))

(Sorry folks, couldn't help myself)...8^)))

Z-bone - HAAAA! That’s HILARIOUS and witty. Nice one.

Thanks to all of you - I am busy looking at all your suggestions. Great stuff.

The materials used certainly factors into the cost. His bows often have all the extras you could ask for. Those are unlikely to be sourced for free.

I think Weylin’s self bows are the nicest ones made by anyone currently. He has an eye for details . I visit him pretty regularly and get to see and handle the bows he posts in person. They are truely works of art and he stands behind them .

Regarding price. This is his livelihood not a side hobby. I d’évidée $1800 by $50 an hour and that would be about 36 hrs in a bow. Bet he easily spends that much time in a bow. So that puts the price in perspective for me. More time in these than a black widow that people don’t seem to complain about price

Excellent point.

When I see those very high prices I often think about what would be a comparable job that would also net someone say $50 an hour.

I really have no idea.

Not net runner. Didn’t figure materials , taxes , website , fees.

Runner been to a car dealership lately for repairs. Local Nissan dealer is charging 125 buck an hour. Other local mechanics charge 60 bucks an hour and up, but even if I didn't know how to build bows I would never pay that kind of money for one. Weylin makes his living making bows, No pension, no vacation, etc, but sadly I would never be one of his customers at those prices, but I wish him success which I think he already has.

It wasn't a criticism. Just wondering where that sort of work fits in relative to other jobs.

I know some guys live where they can get all the materials through effort and others may have to buy them first.

Didn't say it was, but I won't pay 300,200, or even 100 bucks for an Osage stave. I build with what I can gather up. He more than likely does pay good money for premium Osage staves ,and adds it to the total cost of the bow to ensure little to no breakage.

Weylin is one of the absolute best at what he does. Knowing exactly how he does what he does, knowing how much time he puts into it and knowing firsthand the skills involved. If $1800 seems high, build one similar and see what you come up with. For some its not a simple matter of function alone.

Yes $1800 is a lot but I personally have 19 years to get to those record bows. It takes about two weeks to learn how to flip burgers. They get about $15 bucks an hour these days. Yes I build as good a bow as Weylin but his sexy lines and finish are art and and my bows are not quite the art. It is a hobby for me. Something an old man can pass his time doing. Laughing. I do need money to pay for the hobby though. Arvin

If you sell them for profit you owe Uncle Sam !!! That’s in any legitimate business!!!! Now if you want to take that chance well that’s on you.

Oh I have cut harvested and dried Osage. It’s a deal to pay $150 for a stave when you are 69 years old. Just saying.

Arvin x2

Good to see you posting Arvin. Now anyone that wants to buy a great osage selfbow can easily contact you. I know lots of selfbow guys, and do not hesitate when I recommend Arvin's bows...him and his bows are hard to beat.

Would love to see some pictures of your bows Arvin

Here's a picture of one of Arvin's bows in action...setting a world record I believe. :) The pyramid design is awesome.

There's the extra tax on archery stuff where you guys are too.

just to show the quality of bows made by some of the bowyers posting here. The results of the first ever Flight shoot at MoJam 20 were pretty impressive.

Steve Gardner (Badger) posted~Arrows were all 10 grains per pound drawn to 28".

complex composite~

Ed Kleinhesselink 214.66 Ed Kleinhesselink 202

Composite~

Bob Barnes 211.66 Aaron Huhs 201.16

Selfbow~

Arvin Weaver 216.8 Scott Stanberry 213.9 Steve Gardner 216 Aaron Huhs 210 Ed Kleinhesselink 203.16 Darren Shue 189.5 (john Scifres) Bob Barnes 186 (Joe Mattingly) This bow was made by Joe 20 years ago. Danny Hartley 180 Sleek 192 yds, 54" osage recurve drawn 27" Steve Gardner ( several bows shot) 188-188-205-214-204

Pic

Beautiful bows Arvin. Thanks for sharing.

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