I would like to purchase a selfbow. Who are the best boyers that make selfbows and sell them. I'm not really into sanding, but I love shooting.

Ed Scott is one of the best in my opinion

Are his Owl bows considered a selfbow? What price range do they run?

John Strunk and Jay St Charles come to mind.

Ryan Gill posts here as TwistedLimbs Eric Smith used to post here as Indian Guy

Me

Don't know if he sells bows, but Ryan O'Sullivan makes great ones. He goes by RyanO

Jim

There are a few,who make above average SELFBOWS,in all departments,Shootability,performance,workmanship and finish work.When i think of these people,John Strunk,allways comes to mind first.Ed does make selfbows,but his Forte is sinew and horn.Dean Torges,Jim Rempp and a few others come to mind.Hell,Even Our own Iktomi,aint too shabby either.

I would say of those still building bows...John Strunk is hard to beat and a living legend.

I also have great respect for the work of Dean Torges but is not making bows and only sold a few...preferred to give them away to friends.

Chris ( Backhawk ) on this site makes some awesome looking bows.

Mike at Pine Hollow Longbows is a good bowyer

Rusty

Thanks guys

Ryan Gill is an excellent selfbow builder.

Well, opinions were asked for so I have to say that Ryan Gill posts here often and from the photos of his success with the bows he builds, it is obvious they are very effective. I'm sure there are plenty of other good builders too, but he stands out in my mind.

Joe

Ryan Gill. He recently made me a beautiful osage selfbow with a lot of character.Excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail. Shoots great, arrow goes where the bow points. Looking forward to taking a hog or two with it.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,32397.0.html Do a little research before you buy.

I would vote for Kendall Techeau from Sylvandell Bows. He has made three fabulous bows for me. One super nice guy as well.

Thanks for the nice words guys, didnt expect to see my name up here. If that is some sort of attack on my posted by n2huntn...id suggest he go back a re-read that forum post. i covered it 100% and respectfully wrote from the very beginning that i didnt want anyone bashing me or the guy that broke it, at all. i was just seeking further advice about the break from other bowyers. I have nothing to hide. again, i was respectful about it and was seeking knowledge and covered it 100% if that doesnt sound like a good business practice then i guess i dont know what is. Do a little research YOURSELF before posting

Twisted, I thought you handled that broken bow issue very well. I still don't believe it was the bows fault, it was just too well tillered to have done that.

we are talking natural woods that are not bullet proof here! I had an issue with a bow made from a very respected bowyer and he fixed me up no questions asked, I would purchase another bow from him in a heartbeat"if the wife would let me". The breaking issue "twistedlimbs" is talking about, he didnt hide it from me while giving me advice on my own bow building, sometimes things happen, when a selfbow has its finish put on, what lays beneath the surface is never known, unless an issue revels itself. From what I have seen from Ryan. he is a smart bowyer, and makes a sweet bow,if the wife would let me blow some cash , ryans 100th osage moose killing monster would be MINE!!!!!!!:^)

Arvin Weaver

Arvin Weaver

That is exactly what I posted . Research. If you read it you will see that it was made right both before and after the break. Sorry you assumed the worst . Jeff

lol sorry jumped the gun. someone else hassled me about it at one point in time so i figured that was where this was going. ironed that out quick. thanks! OPEN MOUTH INSERT FOOT

I've seen and shot several of Ryan Gill's bows and can say that his are at the top of my list. His bows are hard hitting, fast and beautiful. I love his praire buffalo bow. I also, want to add Eric Smith and Chuck loeffler to the list, they both make great NA repoduction bows.

If he is still in business, Gerald Welch of Welchmanlonbows.com. I've purchased three of his bows and they're beautiful.

No problems. I hope all who read that post understand you don't treat wood bows like glass bows. I would encourage you to build 1 or 100 bows from boards or staves and then you would really appreciate what a good bow shoots like and would ensure it is treated properly, like HOW To STRING A BOW ! Jeff

wilcoxbows.com Stim Wilcox up in Maine

anyone ever heard od kenale tajan that what sig appears on my bow named Full Circle made for Jack Ormbsy ????

John Strunk.

Ed Scott at Owl Mike at Pine Hollow and Still water are the best I have seen

Stim Wilcox.........X2

Jason Baker.

Marc St Louis. I have 2 of his bows and they shoot as well as my glass laminated bows.

Save a fortune and get to know guys on here and other primitive sites who dont have a reputation.

I have to go with Mark StLouis as well, Marks bows are extremely unique and very few people can pull of the designs he builds routinely. I have tested several of Marks bows over the years and they all perform right with the better modern composite bows. Pearl Drums brings up a great point, we have a lot of excellent self bow builders now with no real reputation.

I have to put in a plug for Badger. Watching him work, it would be difficult for me to imagine many who could craft various rough woods into high performance bows with so much savy. Thanks Steve for letting me learn from a master.

Well, looks like my main man John Strunk has already recieved more single nods than anyone else, but I've gotta say, his bows are amazing! He's also a living legend, wrote a couple of chapters in Traditional Bowyers Bible Vol. 1, AND is an awesome guy. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone living today with more credentials than him.

I thought we were talking "contract" selfbow builders. I would also like to add Badger and Ibex to my list. I have bows built by these two gentlemen and must say they are excellent shooters as well.Thanks Steve and Steve!

I just saw Chuck loeffler's bow gallery. His bows are amazing,and arrows,and quivers, and he holds some flight shooting records He is about as good as it gets,

I can't say who may be the best as I have not had the honor of shooting may bowyers self bows. However, the out of the ones I have shot, Curt Brisky of Briskybows has made very superior self bows for years. He talks reverently and humbly about others work and learned by literally making thousands of bows. He studied the limited books available, practiced, hung out with may other self bowyers and teaches others how to make them. I'd put him in the top tiers of all the current bowyers. He doesn't charge an arm and leg and not only does he have a website with stock but he will help guide you on your purchase so you choose the right one or make one for you.

James Rempp. John Strunk. Ryan Gill. Pine Hollow. Arvin Weaver, Robert Garcia

I believe Ed Scott passed.

Jim Davis mentioned Ryan O'Sullivan. He sold me this beauty. It's a Bamboo Ipe bow.

Rocky Rocky here in town is the best self bow builder.

Many choices but check out the creations by Welin Olive at swiftwoodbows.com - great stuff!

Sorry - it's Weylin Olive over swiftwoodbows.com

For all around bows from horn bows to Asian bows, self bows, and any in between. The guys above are masterful bow builders, but for all around bow making, arrows quivers and more. Chuck Loeffler

I am sure there are some great bow makers here. I would like to have one from each one of them. I would not expect any of them to be better than my Arvin Weaver. It just seems picture perfect. It is hard to believe it is hand made. >>>>-----> Ken

Let me add one more to list of excellent self bow bowyers; Forrest Shattuck of golden wood bows.com

Your right Ken, Arvin is a top notch bow builder. I was thinking in terms of guys selling bows,and the variety of bows they make available. Asian,and horn bows for example take months to years to make them right with out breakage.

Joe Mattingly (RIP) and Joe Don Jones where the Best for me, I wish Joe was still alive and Joe Don still made em.

but Ted Fry @ Raptor archery makes some nice bows and has a few forsale on his site..

FWIW Iv'e never heard anything other than praise for John Strunk.

Like Pearl said. There are way more really good bowyers out there than you could imagine. Get to know them. If you can, attend a primitive meet. Like the Tennessee Classic, MOJAM, Ojam, Marshall. Most of these people are amazingly generous. They would like nothing better than to see someone experience the thrill of making and shooting a selfbow. If your not interested in making one they still would like to pass the thrill of shooting one along to.

Knowing what I know now. I would very much suggest trying to attend a meet. talking with the bowyers and looking at their stuff. Learning how to care for and do’s & don'ts of selfbows. Shooting a few and finding out what you really like. I think a selfbow probably more so than a glass bow should be made to fit the shooter. You don’t want to overdraw one, but at the same time if you get one for a 28” draw and you only have a 25” draw it won’t perform as well as one designed for your 25” draw.

I have meet some bowyers who do amazing work. Many don’t ever post a picture or ever post anything on the web. They have become good friends.

There are also not so good bowyers out there. I’m afraid that some of these have given selfbows a bad reputation. I also think that because of these people many good bowyers are reluctant to hang up a shingle and advertise selling their bows.

I think many like myself may occasionally sell a bow but aren’t looking at turning their hobby (passion) into a business. At least not a full time one. I admit I have to many bows hanging around now, but that’s ok. I’d rather have them hanging on the wall than customers calling me wanting them yesterday. Some day maybe I will have more time to sell them than make them. Maybe be my retirement plan.

As far as the BEST. I got a few very favorites. I have never shot one of their bows, but I can tell that they are very well tillered and exceptional bows.

Marc St Louis from Canada and Simson from Germany are probably tied for number one in my book. I really do hesitate to name name’s though. There are so many good ones I don’t even know. I know those two have helped me a great deal and have heavily influenced my style. They are top shelf .

Bjrogg

Know a guy who learned from Dean Torges makes the smoothest shooting bow I ever shot, but don't believe he sells his...

Dang, just now realized how old this thread is...

I reposted after seeing Chuck L web site a few days ago.

The question will be valid forever. Keep in mind folks pass on.

What a good bowyer charge for a nice selfbow?

Lots

Petty sure Arvin Weaver built the one that Rusty used to win the IBO. So i reckon his are pretty good. Someone correct me if i am wrong about that IBO business

That was 9 years ago almost, so I forgot the question.

????????George I haven’t been on here 9 years. Or maybe I’m missing something. Arvin

It's the archer who makes the bow shoot great. Some self bows are pretty and some shoot a little faster but a self bow no matter who makes it only shoots as good as the person shooting it.

Lots of excellent bowyers, no best.

Mo. Brakes you are so right. And I have had the pleasure to meet many of them over the years.

Well Tell if you are speaking of Rusty he’s not the only one that gets on the podium that shoots a AW bow. Just for the facts to be known here it is AW bows major accomplishments.

Will that pic of Ryan’s is extraordinary. That is one of many that I have not Arvin

I know you make a great bow Arvin but the bow is as only as good as the person shooting it. I made my first self bow and used it a couple months later in the 1st IBO Trad shoot. The bow wasn't anything special but it did the job. : )

Missouribreaks has the most accurate answer. So hard to pick just one.

If the tiller is correct, we are all in the same group. The shooter makes the best bow.

Will congratulations on that. That’s not easy I don’t care who you are. The best I think I’ve done is 7th. But that’s not worth talking about. 100 points behind the leader is not saying much. Those folks don’t shoot junk bows though. Well maybe once .??????

Will congratulations on that. That’s not easy I don’t care who you are. The best I think I’ve done is 7th. But that’s not worth talking about. 100 points behind the leader is not saying much. Those folks don’t shoot junk bows though. Well maybe once .??????

Haven't met many self bow makers but we have several in our local club that make a few. Virgil Lewis from Lucedale Miss has made me several bows and he made my grandson a bow that he won the 2016 IBO World Championship with. Many people in ASTB have several of his bows. He certainly stands by what he makes. He gives back to archery by giving bows to raffle for our children's hospital benefit shoot and gives lots of bows to young archers to get them started. He is a man of outstanding character .Glad to call him friend.

Lots of replies, and interest with the old thread updated Arvin. I count 32 replies on the new post, and 39 on the old post before you were on here.

John Strunk

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