Hi. My name is Shandor and I'm a bowaholic. To help me understand my own complicated relationship to bows, I'd like to hear how other people manage it. In particular, answers to these questions (any or all) and any other comments.

1. How many bows have you gotten so far?

2. How many have you kept?

3. How do you decide which bow or bows you want to keep, and which you don't? Do you have certain criteria?

4. Do you only get or keep bows you shoot, and/or do you have a particular kind of bow collection with bows you may or may not shoot?

5. Do you have rules for yourself for getting or keeping bows? Or is it more impulsive or spontaneous? Or both?

6. What affects how many bows you keep at any time? For example, money, space, a spouse, a feeling, archery needs, etc.?

7. How often do you look for other bows, and/or get more bows?

8. What do you think is the best way to think about or relate to getting bows? Any words of wisdom?

Or anything else you want to say. Let's keep it on topic and not get into arguments about it. Joking is fine, though!

Between eBay, Craigslist, the Leatherwall classifieds, and a couple of yard sales, I've managed to acquire and try out around 160 vintage recurves in the last four years or so--a number that may seem horrifying to some.

However, I do it all in the name of science. My goal has been to find the cream of the crop--the prettiest, fastest, best-shooting of the many different models made between 1955 and 1970. My rule is to never have more than a dozen on hand at any one time. I have been known to break that rule on occasion, but for the most part I send them out as fast as they come in.

In the last six months or so my collection has pretty much stabilized around the ones I think are the best--or maybe I should say, the ones that best represent the Golden Era of recurves. However, that doesn't stop me from checking the Internet every night, just in case there's something I might still need to try out...or a duplicate of a favorite model that has nicer wood, or is in better condition, than the one currently on my wall. When I see one that I want, I don't hesitate to drop the hammer and buy it--because you might wait five years before another one like it comes up.

There are a handful that are no longer shootable, but I still keep them on the wall as part of the collection. There are also four "modern" custom bows--made by Fred Anderson, Marc Moriez, Abe Penner, and Craig Potter. Marc's Chek-Mate "Hunter II" is the only three-piece in the collection; everything else is a one-piece with what I would call classic lines--and because the Chek-Mate has recessed limbs, it too looks like a one-piece.

I should say that my bias is for punchy hunting bows, and that they can only be between 58" and 62" in length. Though I have tested a few Evil Dwarf bows like the Kodiak Magnum or Shakespeare Super Necedah, I try not to let them stay around any longer than necessary. Likewise, the big old spongey-limbed target bombers are quickly processed and moved along.

Occasionally I will get a bow (made by someone like Harry Drake or George Birnie) that I consider too important for my collection--seriously! When this happens, I try to move it on to a more serious collector. As it stands now, my old recurves span from 1959 to 1970--coupla Howatts, coupla Shakespeares, and one each of FASCO, Wing, Hoyt, Pearson, Groves, and Tice & Watts. Oh yeah...there's one Bear as well. I think there still needs to be a Drake, and perhaps a SABO; but by and large I'm feeling done.

The only bow I wouldn't get rid of have sentimental value. Like the Widow my kids bought me that says for Autumn and Skye's dad. They bought it and it's got their name on it. That bow is going no where. The rest other than unavailable items (no longer made and uncommon) they're all for sale at some point or another. Maybe it's the old dog guy in me. There's always something more suitable for a person. As we age in case you didn't notice guys trade or sell for lighter weights. Someone tries another style or make. Maybe it's just time for something with fancy wood. Than that wood needs to have burl, or be unique in some other way. Personally as a youngster I'd prob get 2 bows a year. If I kept them all there'd be a bunch. There's still a bunch. Wanna say something regarding spouses. They come and go and everyone has a habit. I don't drink, do drugs, play golf, etc. The time I'm not with some lady I'm in the woods or out shooting, running dogs, checking traps, whatever so they don't like it they can spin the wheel with someone else and see if they fair better. For guys who believe in marital bliss and want to keep a spouse from complaining here's a thought. If you have a fish tank with one fish and add one it's pretty obvious. You've doubled the number and made things very obvious. For guys with 50 fish in a tank she has no idea if you add a few as it's hard to count and less obvious. Same w bows, guns, dogs, fishing rods. If she's complaining you got one more you actually don't have enough. She can still count them and you made things obvious. Now there are exceptions. At one point I had a whole yard full of hounds. They were all similar colored. My bird dogs were white. She could count them. Big mistake on my part. I decided to use psychology. I brought 2 more pups home. They were white bird dogs. My wife was Irish so her skin showed lots of color. I got my at the time very young daughters. Pups are fun for kids and as they played my wife got really red!!!!! Really mad!!!! Told you I screwed up. Anyway when she got as mad as she could I broke the news. We were only keeping one. One was my buddy Rob's. Can't get madder than the maddest and I could see her calm slightly so psychology works too. In time my wife and I seperated. That dog stayed. She passed last winter. Really good bitch and I Still miss her, the Irish chick not so much!!

I don't have any hard and fast rules. I'd guess well over a hundred have passed through my hands.

Buying - if it's a bow I want, or want to try, a bow with value, a dirt cheap purchase, a good trade/purchase for future value (trade or sale), a Bear that fits my wants/desires/needs, or just a Bear. ;-)

Keeping - a performer that outperforms what I am currently hunting with. A collectible (short term keep), or something with sentimental value. A duplicate of the latest performer.

Selling - almost all I own are available for sale or trade. Some just may be harder to pry out of my hands.

I love bows and I am too a bowaholic maybe 150 or so in the last 10 years I believe I've tried every design known to man except maybe horn bows or horse bows every bow I own is available for sale or trade just my nature lol I use bows to take game i'm a hunter only they are a tool to me. I'll keep two bows tuned and ready to go hunting and swap or sell the others my favorite design is mild D ,strait handle,or string follow longbows just love the way they feel and shoot my ultimate bow would be a shorter strait handle longbow cut past center to allow easy tuning on carbon arrows so far I have'nt found anyone to build me one and i'm in the market !!!!

my two favorite bows to date GN field bow and a northwind gem reverse handle longbow all bamboo great little sticks

This will be too long to read.

First bow was a new 1962 Kodiak Magnum 48# and second was a new 1963 Tamerlane 32#. Traded the Tamerlane and some others after the Navy in 1970 for a magnesium risered takedown my former coach said he saw at the Nationals in California. Magnum was later lost I thought, but later my best friend said his little brother had it for deer hunting, which is great. Forgeot about two more I gave away, a 40# Howatt I gave to my brother-in-law and a Wing RWH I gave to another fellow grad student. Years later he said his son was using it for hunting, which is fantastic. Funny, I later worked for that University OSU (Okstate) and when I left, my boss, who collects recurves, gave me a Wing RWH. World goes around pretty good. Gave away my hunting/go-to-work truck then. It was a 1993 Ford long-bed 4x4 "bubba truck" I gave to a friend in Oklahoma who shoes horses on the weekends. Wife said the repairs were too high and we couldn't afford it. Had lots of folks offer to buy it, but giving it to someone who could use it to help himself was pretty cool.

Have eight today, that include three Kodaik Specials ('59, '60' and '62) two Kodiaks ('61 and '62) the Wing Head Ski RWH, a Howatt Chinook I bought used for my wife about 1971, and a 2013 30# Kodiak I just received several weeks ago so I could enjoy it and also set it up for a daughter who grew up with her mothers bow in the 1970's. She wants to shoot again in Florida this winter.

As they said on television, eight is enough. May get the courage to downsize to a couple of hunting bows and a couple of low draw weight paper plate killers, but I sure enjoy those old rosewoods hanging behind my desk above my drawing board. When I'm watercolor painting or illustrating, looking at those bows is a nice day-dreaming break. The same day-dreaming break from school work I took looking at my new K Mag when I was 15 on a cold day sitting at the edge of the floor furnance. Sure do love my rosewoods - a lot.

On the last 6-7 years I have had over a hundred, not sure of exact number. Longbows and recurve. While I like both I favor longbow the most. I have had up to 20 at one time but usually keep 10-12 at a time . 8 of them are in the not for sale pile because I either really like them or because of sentimental reasons such as being a gift from wife or kids or someone. I always keep a couple around for selling or trading. A lot of my purchases are spontaneous just because I decide I want to try a certain bow. It’s part of the fun to me to buy a bow get it all set up and the pass it on and do another one. I have been surprised a few times . Buy a bow you think you will love and then hate it and buy one for a trade bow and wind up loving that one. It’s all part of the fun.

I've had seven in in probably 35 year's . I have 3 now , sold the other 4 because I couldn't get them to shoot for me.

I'm like the guys above. I don't know how many I have had ,but its a lot. I'm still searching for the Holy Grail bow ,and I'll know when I find it. To me its all about how it feels in the hand. I have only recurves now (Checkmate Falcon,Groves Spitfire ,and a Big River Super K) I've tried some longbows ,but just have not found the "one". Now as I get older ,I trade for lower poundage bows. All my bows are open to trades,except maybe one. I do like the older Howatt Hunters ,as the seem to shoot and fit my hand the best

I don't know how many total bows that I have owned over the years but it has was a lot. My bow collecting was pretty much self supporting through buying, selling and trading. The most that I have owned at one time was 23. I had over a dozen several years ago and kept them through a much needed and long overdue divorce. Since that time I realized that I was covering my dissatisfaction and unhappiness by accumulating "stuff". I started selling off bows and a large number of collected but unused firearms. I am down to two bows, one Shrew longbow and a Tall Tines recurve and am happy with that and spend my time and attention on shooting those well. I'm not opposed to picking up a deal on a bow for resale or trade and I do plan to order another set of limbs for the recurve at some point but am happy with just the two now.

Around 60 in the past 2 yrs. Down to 5 all ILF.

Hard for me to imagine the number of bows many of you buy and sell. I own 5 bows and have never sold jor traded a bow. I will probably buy one more. I think my time is better spent trying to improve my shooting skills with what I have than chasing that elusive perfect bow.

Used recurves use to be cheap, I bought dozens of them, most i have given away. Of the dozens of longbows that have passed through and a few that I bought as blanks, I never intended them to be primary bows and have also been handed off. Of the bows that became a part of me, not so many. One Hill, two Schulz, two of my own, two of JDs and one Sunset Hill. The last five listed are the ones that remain.

I have 8 custom built bows right now but trying to get down to 4 If I like one I always try to get another one just like it. I have tried a bunch over the years. I keep a list and the last time I looked I think I was up in the 90's.

Rules? Rules? We don't need no steenking rules!

Only ever bought one so-called custom built bow and that was in the 1980's, a longbow from Dave Guthrie. After that, and even prior to, I've had hundreds pass through. Now in all fairness I had an archery shop for quite a while, and during the compound onslaught, recurves were cheap...mainly because you couldn't sell them...the compound literally took over for a number of years.

I haven't bought a custom bow since the longbow back then, I did buy a few of the ones other guys paid retail for after they tired of them. Then I found out they really weren't any better...shooting wise, than a factory bow. I've owned a lot but I only have a few now.

If you're relatively young, and/or have lots of income, you can buy to your heart's content. I don't know of any rules and if I did I would have ignored them anyway. After awhile, when the new wears off, you understand that there are very few of them that are really special.

Keepers are only safe until a better one comes along. 70# is minimum unless I can't get it. Resaleable names and models. I don't have a problem. I have solutions. More bows. Rooty

I don't know how many I have bought, sold or trade, and I have been at it less than 10 years. I don't even know how many I have now, somewhere between a dozen and 20. For me, trade season is coming up, I have one in swap and trade now, and working on some finding some funds for one I really like in the classifieds.

When I started accumulating bows in 1992, I tried to purchase a good example from each of the premier manufacturers from the 1950's and '60's. Then as I would shoot them I would wonder about some other models from the same manufacture and start buying those too. Thus, I now have many bows from Bear, Howatt, Shakespeare, Pearson, Wing and 1 or 2 each of Fasco, E Bud Pierson, Cliff Coe, Indian, Blackhawk, Robin Hood (Black Hunter). I also have a few customs: St. Charles, Jeff Freeman, Richard Korte that I cherish. I often think of selling them but just have a difficult time trying to thin the herd, so to speak, in my mind. I enjoy shooting all of them. The only few I have sold or traded were just too heavy for me to shoot comfortably anymore. I'm still looking for a couple more and my list will be complete. My bows will more than likely be passed down to my son and grandson when I'm gone. Lance.

Sometimes the slightest thing will be poison for one shooter and perfect for another. Not even custom longbows with identical specs are in all ways identical.

I've had close to 250-300 custom and production bows since 2003, shoot them until I want something else then sell or trade.. Longest Ive kept a bow is 2 yrs. and out of all of them there was maybe 3-4 that I actually didn't like or shoot well.. Ive got 1 longbow and 4 recurves now with no plans on buying/selling anymore for a bit..

Maybe 12 used bows (one a short lb that the previous owner disliked)...and one probably new (won it in a charity raffle).

I traded 2 for 2, sold one (a sweet folder that was too short for my purposes), and because I don't shoot one anymore I'll give one away.

I only shoot two LBs and two recurves (Groves and Hoyt). My faves are the LBs, a 66" Bob Watkins and a 66" Sentman.

For the longest time, I only owned one bow. My hunting bow. Right up until 2003, I had only my Adcock longbow and a dozen arrows.

Something happened in 2004 and before I knew it, bows were finding their way home with me. Almost like I opened an orphanage for bows or something. Every time I'd sell one or give one away or trade one off, it seemed two would take it's place. And so it goes...

I've tried (seriously) 3 or 4 times in the past 5 years to purge my garage of bows and arrows. I have not been very successful.

At the moment, there are no fewer than 10 bows and probably 300 arrows in there. LOL

It would require more time, than I am willing to put into the subject!!!

1. 200+

2. 200+

3. British composite bows: 1948-? with special emphasis on "Border bows" & any significant contributors to the UK market in that time. Main interest is 1-piece bows & pre/non-ILF with wood risers. 4. Try to get shooters - at least 80% are.

5. Fill gaps, potential future trades .... Bows with stories.

6. Nothing until recently when the wife wanted to know what I had & their value in case I dropped dead! Answer: I'll leave my PC password in my will & locoation of spreadsheet with details of all bows.

7. Watch all the time.

8. Fit! Where do they fit in the collection.

Collecting & restoring/refinishing old(er) bows is cheaper & more space efficient than doing the same with antique furniture!

Been shooting trad since 1887 and have had many bows. Buy, sell, trade...that's part of the fun with traditional gear, IMHO. Always wanting to try a new or different bow.

I went through a half-dozen recurves in the 10 years before my first compound in 1976, hung onto them, went through maybe three dozen in the past 5 years after I gave up compounds. I turned my first compound into a mighty good Frankenbow. For a while I tried fashionable / collectible bows, but now I mostly "accidentally" buy recurves from the 1960's that nobody seems to want, including unusual bows and bows offered by charities. I feel badly for the seller and for the bow that is getting no love. I think of it as adopting pups that follow me home, then I get them in good shape and find new homes for them. It brings me joy when folks who got a bow from me follow up, send me photos of themselves shooting with that bow. I'm at 10 bows now and don't have enough time to shoot them all regularly, a sign that its time to say bon voyage to some of them, make room in the kennel. I really like trading bows with folks whose taste and credentials I admire and never regret letting one go.

I am down to 2 long bows, that are full use bows, and some older ones for wall hangers....

This past year I sold 5 nice recurves,,,, I could not shoot that weight anymore. Also the bows were too good, to be hanging on a wall.

Those bows had a lot of life left in them, now they are in the hands of younger guys, who will put them to good use, and I got a fair price for all of em,,,,,

Best bow buy this year,,, a black rhino I bought from a vendor, 15lbs at 22 inch draw, I gave it away to a 9 year old future hunter,,,,, he was thrilled, his dad said he shoots all the time

Easy

I have about 30 bows, all made in San Diego during the 50's and 60's when the most influential archers, bowyers, inventors and champions were here.

Those 30 bows represent the history and mostly forgotten story of those men.

Well over 100 right now...have sold about 40...so have owned around 170.

I acquire them so I can see for myself what each model is like and can comment from an informed perspective. I have learned a lot about bowyers and design just from shooting that many bows.

90 % of them were and are quality bows that were very popular in their day. All of them are set up with strings and rests.

I sometimes buy a second bow of a model I really like to compare grips then move the one I don't like.

I collect Howatt's, San Diego bows, Root/Shakepeares and Brownings. I mostly like the pre-70 bows. I do have some newer Howatt's and a Chek-Mate takedown.

I have very few Bear's. Just some K-Mags and a 1955 Kodiak. The rest did not make the cut.

What bows do not make the cut? One's that don't fit me or that I find underwhelming, slow or inconsistent.

What attracts me most and what I seek and keep are uncommon and hard to find old makes, like Na-Po's, FASCO's, Jack Howard's bows and Westbows along with hard to find California bows. Same with Tri-State's recurves like the Jaguar or beauties with no name but high quality.

I shoot them all and enjoy doing it. No wall-hangers...I don't care how valuable they are...they were made to be used.

I get a kick from being able to hand someone a vintage recurve they have only seen pictures of and always wanted to shoot.

I am planning to thin the herd some more...need to do some shooting and move some along. However, every time I do that I become re-attached to the little darling and put it back on the rack!

When I started out in the 70's for forestry division, for the state of Calif, I live in Cardiff.... anyway, I went to get a Downey/Hennesy surf board, and I remember the shaper, telling me, a lot of their glass work, was done for bows,,,,,,

Pdiddly I will send you a PM, I think I have a Root you could have,,,,,,

Whew, I'm not positive on the number of bows that I have owned but I'm sure it's well north of 100. I usually buy used just to try them out, the latest flavor of the month. I think that my tastes changed, sometimes I just didn't like the way the bow fit me. I have 7 right now, with two of them for sale and a 3rd one close to the chopping block. I have two that are not currently in jeopardy, a Black Widow KBX that survived the divorce, it was the only bow I was able to keep during the ordeal and a McCullough Griffin. I think the Griffin may be the best longbow ever made, for me, and John has retired, so I need to hang onto this one.

1) I’ve purchased 31 bows: 8 new, 23 used

2) I currently have 23 recurves

3) If the bow is un-shootable, e.g. I can’t tune it to save my life, I generally sell it. E.g. I had a Kodiak Mag., because it was too short, I could not get a clean release. I had a Herters that was unshootable for me. I also sold one that was right-handed (I’m a south-paw). Had a Howard Hill longbow, awesome bow, but too hard to switch back between longbow and recurve, and I’m a recurve guy.

4) My bow collection is largely an art collection – I only shoot one bow per year, switching between bows is not conducive to consistency for me.

5) Price, desirability, rarity, , etc. No rules. It goes in spurts – no bows for a few years, then I buy/sell a few in a few months.

6) I have three bow racks, 10, 10, and 6, so 26 is the most I can own at any given time, self-imposed rule. 7) Always looking, seldom buy now, my wife discourages ‘collecting’.

8) You only need one bow to shoot, the rest is an art collection, and the logic behind art collecting applies. You could collect for history, for a certain look (fancy woods), time-frame, brand or model fascination, etc.

Well..... Since my post earlier today I ran across a very nice LH '66 Kodiak so now I'm back up to three. It may stay or it may be sold or traded. Just love nice Kodiaks.

2 Grizzlys. A dozen fly rods though. :D

I've been through at least 30 since 2010 -- all recurves, mostly new or as new customs.

I still have 8: 2 Blacktail, 1 Predator, 1 Bear A-Mag, 1 TTTitan II, Bear Custom Kodiak TD, 1 Cascade, and a Rose Oak Heritage.

One I got rid of because it was significantly slower than any I had shot. Proved it on a chronograph after I noticed point-on was 13 yards and on my other bows it is a hair over 30 yards. This was the only bow that ever disappointed me.

Most I sold because I wanted to try another, for various reasons but didn't want to have so much cash tied up in bows I wasn't shooting.

I sold four bows because they were just too fancy to take to the woods. Dumb me, I knew they were when I bought them: Blacktail Snakebit, 1 of 4 (very rare) 100% Rosewood Bear Custom Kodiak TDs, and a B and A rivered Bear Supreme TD.

I felt pretty guilty having so many bows I didn't shoot. Probably should move another 4-5 of what's left.

Yeap, lots of bows over 50 years. At least half of those I wish I had not sold....Bear Takedowns in the 70's, Super Kodiak before that, Howard Gamemaster Jet, 2 original Schafers Silvertips, Savage Deathmaster, Black Widow MAIII, Hill Big 5, etc. Too painful to recall. Down to 3 longbows now. Two Bear Monana's and one Black Widow LAG.

Part ove the enjoyment for me. Although I do have my favorites. I find that the value you paid is not generally the value you will get back. But there's always the exception. I like shooting them all 8 long bows and 4 recurves. Various makes from custom to production. I enjoy them all some are getting a bit hard to hold at anchor so change may be inevitable.

I've been trying to downsize for years. I think I'm "down" to 80-85 now! If I get rid of one I end up with two more. I'M getting better though....Last year I got rid of two and only gained ONE more! :)

As mangonboat once stated ABCD. Acute Bow Collecting Disorder. Many afflicted.

I have to give Frisky credit for believing those few bows he has are the all it of bows. Of course, he is completely wrong, but I can still give him credit.

As you should understand Shandor my bow buying, keeping, selling, is all based on whim of the day, week, month or year. I was a pretty serious collector of things Bear at one time, but once I started selling them it was way easier than I thought. The one bow I will never sell is that lefty 1962 Kodiak Magnum you so kindly got for me, I think I even named it Gratitude for that reason.

When it came time to pick one bow to bring along to hunt with this fall that is the bow that is with me. Something about a bow that fits in the back seat of my truck without having to worry about shutting a tip in the door.

Now I have moved into a different stage of my life and I approach it exactly the same way. In the last month I have bought 2 rifles and a handgun, with another handgun on the way.

DDave

Hi Shandor,

1. How many bows have you gotten so far? At present, about 30 had thousands prior.

2. How many have you kept? approx 30 at all times

3. How do you decide which bow or bows you want to keep, and which you don't? Do you have certain criteria? Criteria; I look for rarities and in left hand nowadays due to scarcity. In days past 40 years past.. i grabbed all the hunter models i could

4. Do you only get or keep bows you shoot, and/or do you have a particular kind of bow collection with bows you may or may not shoot? I shoot them all otherwise they are useless to me. I do have broken ones that have sentimental value to me they are wall art,.

5. Do you have rules for yourself for getting or keeping bows? Or is it more impulsive or spontaneous? Or both? ALL spontaneous and impulsive ,,its a disease.Like alcoholism.

6. What affects how many bows you keep at any time? For example, money, space, a spouse, a feeling, archery needs, etc.? More buy and flip at a good profit margin to finance other hobbies like guns and hunting

7. How often do you look for other bows, and/or get more bows? weekly

8. What do you think is the best way to think about or relate to getting bows? Any words of wisdom? Know your history, absorb the info, be realistic to yourself and others. Oh...and don't get cocky.. I am cocky by nature...(NJ bred). I am softening up in my old age. You make longtime - lifelong friends in this hobby ..cherish that alone and be humble and you'll do well. share knowledge and teach the youngins. before you get too old and or ill... sell the collection.. family not into the hobby, have no value for what you have collected. Also, don't leave the widow with a boat load of crap... she has enough on her plate with your passing. Same goes for game mounts.

its wonderlust. got 15 or 20 now and one on the way,as you know lol. I agree with droptine, git rid of them before you go! around here if you bought 50 to the flea mkt. at $50 ea. you would leave with 48 :) if we get our wants balanced with our needs we will have one bow.......... :)

The reason you have many bows, is you desire to own the best and the search to find it will never end. It ended with me. I found the best and was able to stop the search. Crookedstix and Pdiddly brought along their best, and they were nothing compared to mine! MTQuiver paid $2,000 for his bow, and it's inferior to my Grail and Bow of Bows. So, the only reason I'll get new bows is to go down in draw weight.

Joe

I think if you have a great experience buying a piece of gear, and aren't too smart about it, you try to recapture that experience through further purchases.

I used to shoot IBO compound, because between our gun laws, and other stuff, it was the most competitive shooting sport where I live. Got take out by an accident, but during that period I would buy 3+ usually new compounds a year. Back in the 90s technology was improving rapidly, for instance we had the entry of the first machined aluminum risers, which was long overdue. Really getting those bows set up for the comps I was in was nearly a full time job, and I dropped a few classes. The point I am getting to though is that having a really great dealer would make all the difference. This guy in Watertown would hmm and haw over some deal you were proposing, and then say he probably couldn't do it (he was for real it might be about some gaudy red bow he had a small market for), but in the end he would always quote a great price. Having a for real wheeler and dealer who could make deals work for everyone was huge. No limit really to the bows one could buy and sell. Never came across anything like that in stick world.

On sticks, I have no idea how many I have owned. Under 50. about 10 getting the first bow that actually worked for me, mostly different customs. Then about 10 getting settled into longbows when I discovered I preferred those. Recently been buying up bows that will see me through the ages of 60-80 (or whatever is granted). Recently a bizarre explosion of ILF bows also. Probably I could have cut down the process if I lived nearer a world class bow shop, while I don't even live near a bow shop (city of about 10 million, go figure).

Been at this for a long time, probably have owned over 350 bows by most of the high end bowyers and a bunch of old Bears. Only have 5 on the rack now, 4 Schafer Silvertips and 1 Huntsman.

My ILF collection is an interesting example of how stuff gets out of hand. I have owned a few of the target bows over the years, but when the hunting ILF thing took off, I bought a custom metal riser I really liked the look of because it represented an opportunity to build a firewall against future lust, should I get interested in ILF. It was the TAC Firefly, and it worked for about 10 years. I didn't shoot it, it sat there like insurance. Then I got interested and also needed some kid bows, so I bought one more riser and about 5 limb sets. Still a relatively small collection. Then the SF went on sale for 50 bucks, and I figured it would be fun to see how good a FITA cheapo riser was. Then Firefly and Blacksheep TAC riser came up for sale and I had to get those, one for insurance, and the other for possible IBO use. before one know s it, one bow is five bows and 80 limb sets...

Obviously by some counts this is small potatoes, but it happens within a category of bow where fit is pretty much guaranteed, there aren't any of these purchases that didn't work out, and up till now, there aren't really any of these bows that are the product of collectivists. The only questionable riser was the second Firefly and I had to go after that one to keep the overall deal alive, and it makes some sense as a need, vs a want. So that is how 1 bow can multiply into many in a category I don't even really like.

Bow collection is a weird thing. It isn't rifles where you can get one good one and leave it at that. I have a 308 Scout Rifle, and it is fine. The fit thing just isn't as hard to figure out, and 308 ballistics are sufficient, one doesn't hunger after a few more feet per second. One can as a technical obsession, but there is no doubt standard ballistics are functional. There is plenty of doubt archery ballistics are functional. It's a weird thing because in archery back in the day of 70 pound bows, the one bow was good for everything from rabbits to nearly elephant (Fred did his with a 75 pound recurve I believe). But shot placement is key you can't drill the animal from any direction, and the accuracy is actually marginal for the task. So the desire to improve archery gear is not imaginary.

Biggest of all is that rifle tech, except in the AR platform, doesn't change much. It has been half a century since the superiority of plastic stocks was evident in benchrest, and the vast majority of synthetic stocks are still crap, still don't have proper combs (plastic or wood) etc... We know what the ideal bolt action is, but very few people make it in produciton guns. In bows, big changes happen every year. Mostly in the more technical bows like compounds and Xguns, but every 10 years sees significant change in sticks.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I've been reading them and will continue to read them. Then maybe I'll chime in.

Shandor

Thinking back when I started shooting, I used to feel guilty sometimes having a fancy target bow and a rosewood hunting bow when many could only afford one half-ugly bow, some target arrows and a few woodies then. Often wonder why I have eight old rosewoods now, when one high-end ILF with several limb sets would do everything I need and could be used for shooting any archery event. That's a situation I'm having to deal with this week when I'm limping out to pack a small Wells Cargo trailer wirh a bad foot when its cold outside to go to home to Florida for the winter.

Just one ILF case instead of eight bow socks and several boxes of a bazillion different sized arrows and equipment. Did that after the Navy where I traded a bunch of bows for one fancy take down. That bow was perfect as a young poor married graduate student and I used that bow for all kinds of archery events and went hunting with it too.

Thinking about the inevitable or that plot on the fourty-four, need to downsize all things, but I like what I have. Like I tell my dog Roger Longnose when we're sitting 'round. "We're just a couple of old farts", and so are my bows.

Let the record show that since Frisky was unable to draw my Tice & Watts or Pdiddly's Chek-Mate, he has no basis for comparison...whereas Peter and I both got to shoot his Drake and Deathmaster. I will simply be kind...and say that all four are spectacular bows, even though the Drake is also an Evil Dwarf Bow, which I refuse to have any more of.

I was very glad to see Rich (Droptine) weigh in on this thread. I learned a lot from some conversations with him early in my collecting phase. When someone who has owned, shot, and refinished thousands of bows tells you to grab any Monterey you can get your hands on...it's worth taking note.

Thanks Kerry,,longtime since we spoke. Looking back reagrding collecting.. the time has gone by so fast now pushing 60 i have to really say it has been great fun and rewarding in as i have gotten to meet a great many collector. i feel blessed and honored to know most of you and look forward to meeting more.

Ironically this thread got me really looking at my bows the last day (thanks Shandor). I should be in a tree but, I am working on bows in my shop today ...then off for 2 days of bowhunting with my 1971 Lefty B handle and #1 limbs same year i recently obtained from its original owner complete with ppwk from the purchase in 1971. This same bow was the one i used last week to kill a dandy old buck

Don't know how many over the years but right now there are 4 Bear T/D's and a Big River SK and 2 longbows. It seemed whenever I had others My go to for hunting was always a Bear T/D. The Big River is for sentiment as it belonged a good friend who died. Being left handed has hampered my buying some over the years. Best shooting recurve was a Carrolls T/D and longbow was made by Dennis Beck from Iowa, He told me if he could ever figure out what it he did differently with that bow he'd do it to all of them he made.

The truth is, I was able to easily draw the Tice & Watts Crookedstix showed me. It was 52 pounds. I found it an excellent feeling bow. Nobody but MT has shot the Grail since I purchased it. I didn't take it out the night Crookedstix was here. At least I don't think I did. I think I brought out the Deathmaster and Hoyt. Anyway, their shooting was so so and none of their bows were up to snuff. They obviously weren't mighty hunters. I'm going to save them backstrap for next year, so they get some wild game to eat.

Joe

It's raining and cold out so I'll take some time to answer my own questions:

1. How many bows have you gotten so far? I don't know for sure! I think about 60 in almost 3 years.

2. How many have you kept? About half of those. I have some more than that but they are on the sell or give list.

3. How do you decide which bow or bows you want to keep, and which you don't? Do you have certain criteria? I learned a like 59-62 Bear bows the most but I have a few others. Has to be a bow I shoot well, and that I love. It helps if the bow is also beautiful. I'm a bit different since due to back injuries I have a range of bows in weights from 25 to 50#s. So I can shoot what I like depending on how I feel that day. I try to have bows in 2-3# increments but not in all models I like. 60" to 66" but I have two 56" and am tending away from under 62". Shorter bows are fun to shoot but harder to shoot well.

4. Do you only get or keep bows you shoot, and/or do you have a particular kind of bow collection with bows you may or may not shoot? My "rule" is only to keep bows I shoot. I may have a lot of bows but I don't consider myself a bow collector for the sake of having a collection of a certain type.

5. Do you have rules for yourself for getting or keeping bows? Or is it more impulsive or spontaneous? Or both? No duplicates unless it's an upgrade and replacement for one to sell. I have a list of what I want but it depends on what shows up! I've made some bad choices acting impulsively and wind up just having to sell, pack and ship more bows. I'm getting better at it though.

6. What affects how many bows you keep at any time? For example, money, space, a spouse, a feeling, archery needs, etc.? I'm starting to get more bows than I think I can get around to shooting so I'm in the process of comparing them and deciding which to keep and which to let go of. But it seems like a never- ending process. Which is fine. It's more a feeling of having too many bows and choosing to pass some on.

7. How often do you look for other bows, and/or get more bows? Looking every day, more than once a day. Getting depends on what I find! There aren't many bows I'm interested in anymore that I don't already have. But I might see one I didn't think I wanted and suddenly convince myself I "need" to try it! So far no one is harmed by my addiction, though.

8. What do you think is the best way to think about or relate to getting bows? Any words of wisdom?

I was thinking about this recently. I decided to compare getting bows to other things people get. Not "collectibles" which would be obvious, but every day things people have multiples of without thinking they have a collection or a problem. Here's what I came up with:

1. Foodies have many devices for preparing food. I added up about 25-30 devices found in many homes that are all used to prepare, heat or cook food. Some are inexpensive, many cost as much as a used bow and some cost more than a very expensive custom bow. Look around you'll see what I mean. Don't forget the grill, camp stove, and smoker outside.

2. Guys (and some gals) have a lot of power tools and equipment but they don't think they have a collection. Chainsaws, various power saws, drills, air compressors, sanders, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, string trimmers, snow blowers, tractors, and others... not to mention hand tools.

3. Shoes, boots and footwear. I have at least 10 pairs and I try to keep it to a minimum. Winter snow boots. Muck boots. 2nd muck boots. Rubber bottom slip on boots. House shoes. Dress shoes (rarely worn now). Work outside boots. Shoes to wear in town. Hiking shoes. Summer shoes. Winter shoes. Etc. And many women (and some men) have dozens, even hundreds of pairs of shoes in their closets. If you're a guy, how many pairs of shoes does your wife have? As many bows as you, or more? LOL!

4. Electronic gadgets. Computers, smart phones, TVs, music players, security devices, cameras, radios, various kinds of meters, games, etc. It really ads up if you look around at what you or many people have!

That's as far as I've gotten. It may be easier to see a lot of bows, or to say only one or two are needed. But how many ways to we need to cook food? Oven/range; wood stove; deep fryer: microwave; bread maker; slow cooker; waffle maker; popcorn toaster; rice cooker; toaster; counter top oven; outdoor grill; it goes on and on, and that's not even including pots and pans! Maybe we're more sane for having a lot of bows! At least they are also beautiful, and generally don't depreciate in value.

That's my two cents!

4 at present,and we wont count 2 Excalibur horizontal bows,, 1 Damon howatt,,1 bear grizzly,,,one colt.one "kiddies" bow. They'll do me. Gonna pick up a Bear Super Kodiak later "just because" --- Damon Howatt awful sweet bow though!!

I have had 20ish bows but am down to 4 and would sell one of them. I am now only keeping what I shoot. I tried a lot of bows, but it turns out I shoot one about the same as another, so nowadays I have kinda quit looking and don't see me buying anymore unless one of mine break. For me, looking for the perfect bow just turned into a waste of time and money

Haven't had near as many as some of you but have been through a few, Some stayed a while and some got sold pretty quick. If I bought one and it didn't shoot as well as whatever was my go to bow at the time it got sold or traded. If it shot better for me it became my go to bow and the one it replaced would eventually get sold.

If, 45 years ago, I would have had the bow, at the same poundage, as the bow I have now, I would have owned very few bows in my life. Maybe one 5 pounds heavier and one 5 pounds lighter, but that would have been it. I knew it then, but went on a long round about search to end up where I should have started. Actually, I am pretty certain that the 55 pound bow that i have now, A Sunset Hill, is better than the 55 pound bow that John Schulz suggested and I am also certain that would have been a great bow as well. I am down to the best four bows that I have ever shot in my life. One I made, two JD made and one Nate Steen made.

I have bought so many it is hard to estimate. Not counting how many I bought and sold while in the business, my guess would be close to 200. I still buy bows if I think I can re-sell and make a few dollars, as a hobby, not a business. I re-finish them, add a new string etc,if needed but not always. One thing I learned early on about buying and selling is not everyone likes what I like. Just because I liked the bow, it does not mean others will. I watch classified ads on several sites and try to keep track of what is selling, and for what price, and what is not selling. I don't buy near as often as I did in the past, but it is an addiction that I can't let go. What do I like? Now days my personal favorite bows are ILF. For the money, they can't be beat.

If Frisky could have actually drawn my Chek-Mate he would have discovered what a real tack driver bow shoots like. Maybe he can try again next year when he eats more Wheaties! I also shot my 60# 1967 Kaibab that night...he could not remember that it seems.

We only looked at the Hoyt PM with the Martian antennae...we did not shoot it...Frisky has memory issues.

He needs to get some sleep I think.

While we were there he did seemed fixated that we were going to shoot another hole in his garage window beside the one he put there at some time. Yes...the one he keeps trying to say we made.

Not to worry..contrary to the Mighty One's account crookedstix and my shooting was wicked good, even in the dark. We did not shoot 47" high as Frisky insists.

If we had hit that window with our mighty bows we would have knocked down the end wall of his garage!!

I did get to shoot the Deathmaster and it was very, very nice. Now I know why Joe drools all over it.

I also liked MT's beautiful Schafer but did not shoot it.

Joe needs more bows. Nice bows.

I might send him one soon.

Some of you guys need to have a private conversation. You keep talking about things that are personal between you and not about this thread, or only very marginally about it. It's not funny and not interesting. Why don't you start another thread and then you can talk to each as much as you want.

I offered Frisky a chance to shoot a real bow the right way if he veered ventured back this way to visit his old girl friend. I even offered to grill up some rib eyes, but no. His old girl friend may be crazy, but she is hot.

not veered, ever, although 'veered' would be a good word as well.

What did you ask Renewed Archer?

Something 'bout our history of our buying and trading, how many and when, which ones were the good'uns, how many do-ya keep round the house, and do those we have now get used a lot, or what happened to our past bows, and other things like that? There were a lot of questions to answer though, so I will read your post again case I might have missed something.

Think the ole dog stories on here are typical of any great post like yours, and those personal experiences by all, either now or before 1960 are great. Sure like your post though. You could always post again and I'll try to have another dog story to help ya. - Babbling Bob

Renewed Archer...you asked for opinions and asked a lot of questions.

You also said "Or anything else you want to say. Let's keep it on topic and not get into arguments about it. Joking is fine, though!"

That's what I was doing when I responded.

I guess some of us missed the rule change somewhere along the line?

Got three, had four, gave one, a Bear Grizzly 35# to a young wounded vet who was asking around on here if anyone had a Griz for sale, who had an injured shoulder and needed a lower poundage bow to be able to keep shooting. I hope he's able to shoot now! I still have my other three, won't get rid of those. Gonna buy my wife one for Christmas, probably a Samick or similar 30 or 35#er.

Of the many bows I have sold probably the only one I regret selling was the Blacktail Snakebit, especially since they are no longer available. The one comfort I have is that I know it is in good hands and appreciated.

DDave

Right now i own at least 60 or better selfbows ,and sinew backed bows that i have made myself.I also have 23 to be exact vintage long bows and recurves.I have made ,and sold or traded over the years my own recurves ,and longbows at least a couple dozen.I love trad and selfbows of all kinds, and i have a couple that are dear to my heart for target shooting and hunting.

Over the years (about 60) I've come full circle a couple of times from recurves to longbows, to self bows, to hybrids, etc., not necessarily in that order. Now I have a couple of each in my accumulation that I consider the best, at least they work the best for me.

My buying and selling has tapered off the past few years. Now when I sell a bow, it's most likely to buy another like it at a lower weight. Still on the look out for a few bucket list bows though.

I'm a bowahalic. I don't keep track, I just enjoy trying new bows. I definitely have my favorites. But on the other hand there's a new favorite waiting around the corner. Especially since I'm dropping poundage to allow me to continue to shoot.

Renewed Archer, like many here, I'm renewed too. Started back to shooting with only obtaining one old rosewood Bear in mind. Had to look around and save for a long time to find the one I wanted that I could afford. Now I have eight bows total including one which is my wife's old closeted Damon Howatt Chinnok, and a Red Wing Hunter my former boss gave to me, plus five old Bears (1959 to 1962) and a 2013 59'er.

Owned many and traded a bunch through the years to acquire other latest and greatest bows of their era. Gave three away, all of which were really good'uns including a Wing hunting bow (to a graduate school friend), and a Damon Howatt hunting bow (to my brother-in-law) and a '62 Kodiak Magnum (my best friend's little brother when I was in the Navy).

Had only one bow only twice, and that was in 1962 and in the early 1970's. Always had a hunting bow and a target bow.

Started back by buying two Kodiak Speicals ('59 and '60) and two Kodiaks ('61 and '62). The Specials and Kodiaks were bought to be backups for their similar models as the first ones I acquired had minor stress lines. This was actually encouraged by my wife, as she could understand some of those old bows might not make it over time, and we would be too poor after retiring to replace them. I did as I was told and bought those backups.

Done with buying, and need to get out and use what I got. Like my old Bears as they remind me of when I was very active in archery and my best friends, who were all just a bunch of good ole belt buckle wearing characters from Oklahoma, were still around telling the same old stories.

I have no idea how many but I once had a shop full of them and inflicted the addiction on many others along the way. I will say hundreds and let it go at that. A limited income nowadays keeps me in check...well, pretty much anyway. My interests at present are maybe a few old 50's models that I haven't seen in awhile. My buddy Scott is also inflicted/addicted and is carrying on where I left off. ;)

In the late 80's and early 90's when I started I bought all kinds of bows. I found that I didn't shoot all of them and was just hoarding them. I took them to the Baltimore shoot and gave some away and sold others. Lost a lot of money on it but I learned for me since I was really into hunting that I shot better sticking with bis and the money saved could be used for hunts.

I have had lots......some good, some not so much. When I hit 35 I reduced the number up to 45, then sold some and now I'm back to a more reasonable number........51. I just can't help myself.

My highest was 99 at one time. I been able to get down to like 45 now. I looked at them at one time and thought just how sick is this.

It never stopped at bows it was other things also hunting and fishing and cooking things.

Its all a sickness and a perversion I found it to be for me. I don't know what it is for others but until you come to the understanding your either going to keep buying or you will run out of money probably.

At one time or actually a couple times I was going to start a fire and throw them all into it all my junk.

I have 2,500.00 bows and I looked back at all these customs I had and I ask myself why? I was going to get a 5,000.00 Black tail built until I came to my senses and God stepped in. You want God to step in on you. I can tell you all about things that have happened to me by being a glutton and extremes.

A many has to come to terms one day whats inside him that drives him to extremes.

THINK ABOUT WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. LOL

Men make all sorts of excuses for being friviales and extreme and there's no sound reasoning to it no matter whats said!

I had one wall in my bow room insulated with longbows, that's just crazy, I can only shoot them one at a time. I have a couple that, even though they are '10's for looks and function, I can almost hear Bolero playing in the back ground when I brace them. I think they may be cheating on me behind my back. I may need to divorce them.

6 bows here. I am embarrassed as hell because two of my most recent acquisitions ( back to back) turned out to be the wrong bows for me. I also sold A Roy Hall R/D 8 years ago due to financial necessities. The remainder are 1 self bow and a very old walnut deflected Longbow that was my first bow. Yes, it is a terrible addiction and a person of my means probably would / should never buy even one. That being said it has been a journey for the past 25 yrs. My passion for shooting is unabated.. I am glad that the so called imports are now available For way less cash. My advice to anyone considering getting custom is go meet the bowyer get to know him and he get to know you. Try all bows before making a deposit. Otherwise it’s a crapshoot.

I have five or six at any given time. I get a new bow every two or three years and always sell one to help finance it.

Skipping the compounds I owned. Bear 76er #35. Bear Hunter takedown #55. PSE Coyote #45. Martin Rebel #45. Martin Victory #45. Samick Sage #35 and #40. Hoyt Excel with #32 and #36 SF limbs. Hoyt Satori #35 and a Frankenbow from a Bear compound. I have not sold anything, I still have them all. Why would you sell a bow?

Why? Because the wife / gf might think you have an addiction. I hope you are rich and have an understanding wife/ GF. I too have a collection and trying to thin out the herd and or find a good hiding place lol. Ain’t those bows irresistible?

I've gone through a few dozen bows. I just enjoy buying, selling, and trading them, as well as shooting them of course. Currently I have 2 lonbows and three recurves. I don't have any plans to buy or sell today, but tomorrow might be a different story.

1. How many bows have you gotten so far? i have shot 20-30 different bows from various bowyers i have bought 8 since 2007

2. How many have you kept? currently own 4

3. How do you decide which bow or bows you want to keep, and which you don't? Do you have certain criteria? if i fall out of love with one i get rid of it.

4. Do you only get or keep bows you shoot, and/or do you have a particular kind of bow collection with bows you may or may not shoot? i only keep bows i shoot except my 1st custom bow i bought was a black widow i still have it even though i haven't hunted with it in 4 years. i will prob shoot it again.

5. Do you have rules for yourself for getting or keeping bows? Or is it more impulsive or spontaneous? Or both? i know i like bows between 56-58 inches long 45-50lbs. so if they are between those specs i will

6. What affects how many bows you keep at any time? For example, money, space, a spouse, a feeling, archery needs, etc.? i keep what i want when i want.

7. How often do you look for other bows, and/or get more bows? I go to 1-2 traditional shoots a year and try out other peoples bows. if i shoot one that gives me the fever ill start looking for one from their. i never buy before i shoot.

8. What do you think is the best way to think about or relate to getting bows? Any words of wisdom? never buy before you shoot the brand and grip style. you could love it or hate it. dont over bow yourself.

Some good words Cat.

Bowaholic/shopaholic,here.A few over a hundred.I buy high and sell low.I've never made a profit on any boe i've sold.I probably sold about 25-30 because i needed the money.I sold the prettiest bow i ever had(a good shooter) for a third of what i paid for it.Lately i've bought a bunch of lower priced bows- mostly for training students and a few of the new wave Asian recurves-that have replaced the inexpensive American bows.I also like the Ragim bows.I went down to about 60 and now are up to around 70 or 75.There are 4 bows that have never left the shipping boxes.i look at trad bows almost every day on ebay and the classifieds.

1. How many bows have you gotten so far? I haven't a clue how many recurve and longbows bows I've owned in forty-nine years of shooting them. The most I ever owned at one time was thirty-six, both production and custom bows.

2. How many have you kept? I currently own fifteen bows.

3. How do you decide which bow or bows you want to keep, and which you don't? Do you have certain criteria? Twenty years ago I sold all my non-Bear bows and now only shoot Bear bows. So Bear bows is my criteria. I still have every Bear bow I ever owned even my first one a 1969 45# Bear Green Fox that my Dad bought me for Christmas.

4. Do you only get or keep bows you shoot, and/or do you have a particular kind of bow collection with bows you may or may not shoot? I shoot every bow I own. I do have favorites I shoot more than others.

5. Do you have rules for yourself for getting or keeping bows? Or is it more impulsive or spontaneous? Or both? The only rules I have is I stick with Bear bows. I like the Grayling Bear bows best. I guess I'm both impulsive and spontaneous when it comes to buying bows.

6. What affects how many bows you keep at any time? For example, money, space, a spouse, a feeling, archery needs, etc.? Price is a factor, also finding them in good to excellent condition.

7. How often do you look for other bows, and/or get more bows? I look all the time. If I find one I want in the poundage I want, and in good to excellent condition for a good price I buy it.

8. What do you think is the best way to think about or relate to getting bows? Any words of wisdom? Buy what you like, shoot what you like. Life is to short to not do things you enjoy.

OP: 'Any words of wisdom?'

'Life is to short to not do things you enjoy.' Nemophilist.

Haunter of the woods, I couldn't agree more. When I get old and can't draw a bow, I want to be able to say I drew some wonderful bows, I shot targets at long range, I piled up arrows at 20 yards, and I helped a bunch of kids get started in a sport that has given me decades of satisfaction.

I had better get started on getting those kids started.

1. About 35.

2. 28

3. Sold off the really heavy ones.

4. Kept the ones I can shoot comfortably.

5. Both.

6 Needs, It's always needs........lol.

7. Look everyday.

8. "This is THE bow.".........LOL.

Well over a hundred currently about 30 in inventory. The quest for the perfect bow. I don't sell any Shrew's, Java Man, Hummingbirds,or Bear's. I'm constantly looking for the Holy Grail.

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