In a recent thread I asked how many bows people have gotten, kept, sold, and why. I would like to refine that more here and ask what you love about the bow or bows you thought were the best you ever had. What makes a bow a "keeper" or one you wish you kept, compared to other bows? What is it about a bow that you love the most? For example, is it:

1. beauty or looks

2. speed

3. grip

4. accuracy in shooting

5. quietness

6. overall feel

7. size, length, weight, limb shape, or design

8. historical or sentimental value

9. other!

I'm in the process of deciding which bows I want to keep or let go of, and it's difficult! Any insights will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Shandor

I like a deflexed riser that is heavy. Limbs that will not stack out to 32". Straight black is fine with me. I am not pretty neither should my bow.

It may be interesting to discuss, but I can't imagine it will help you narrow down your search for keepers.

1) I keep a variety of bows for different reasons. So some might fail for one reason or another, but still be keepers.

2)People fall into different personality types, though presumably being an archer or bowhunter might narrow that down a little. My main interest is challenge. So one major bow type I have are simple bent sticks, but in glass composite because I don't have the patience where archery is concerned to worry about stuff like leaving a bow strung or keeping it dry after every use. I have other things like that to worry about already.

3) I keep an increasing number of ILFs around, I have had them for over 20 years, but usually only one. I keep them around because kids are using them; and they are a good testbeds for archery experiments; A friend can try out archery with them more easily. I don't see me getting rid of them because they all work together. The same riser can take on different limbs or attachments to do different things, so even if I didn't have kids around, the same bits and pieces would set me up to get old and drop weight; play around with new shooting techniques, or try out gear.

4) I have a lot of bows but don't really collect them. However... I have come to like various bowyers over the years and would not want to get rid of those bows. I have one bow I did go after to collect because it is actual fine art in the sense of a well executed object that tells us a story about who we are. The bowyer intended to do that when he made it, yet one would not know it to look at it. I think it is potentially the most important bow art piece ever made, at least in the history of plastic composite bows. Of course since archers mostly don't think in these term, or spend much money, it is not valuable.

5) I have a few bows I keep around to protect me against buying them against. :) My Black Widow with 2 limb sets is like that. They have pretty pervasive marketing. I don't really like my Widow, but I figure if I ever sell it, I might get the itch again...

6) I have some bows that I like because I really wanted them when I didn't have the money to buy any bow I wanted. Some of these are minor interests like that bow that was called something like the Archery 2000 recurve, it had sights built into a track machined in the riser. I'd pick one of those up if I found it at a garage sale, but wouldn't chase one. I used to like the Mercury Hunter, when I was a kid, and almost bought the most elaborate one they ever made with all kinds of laminated dyed actionwood in it, but it was left handed. A few of these I have picked up over the years, but at this point I wouldn't really bother because I am downsizing.

7) Hey it is Canada, you never know when they will ban firearms. We have the second best access to guns in the world, and one of the lowest murder rates, but you can't be too careful, so kick a gun owner every chance you get. As a result I keep a compound bow on tap. I have a Matthews ultralight, which has to be one of the best compounds ever made. Early Matthews bows solved all the problems with the compound format. Since then, all manufacturers have worked to make them better, but a bow of that era remains perfectly sound. A Matthews shooter, I think, won the first IBO held after the introduction of 12s with the Ultralite, and it is basically a hunting bow. Paid 55 bucks for it.

So on the basis of my record, I think people have vary specific, sometimes a little crazy, reasons for their bow collections.

Still it is the owner's decision!!!!!!!!!

Mine is much more complicated. 1. Do I like it and do I shoot well with it. That's it. A bow should be like a comfortable pair of old shoes.

I think that MR. Stout nailed it? Got to LIKE IT and SHOOT WELL WITH IT! JMHO.

There are always those one rifle guys, shooting wise that is me. There is usually only one bow, currently two, that I am really shooting.

Of course if you don't buy a lot of bows then you don't have to worry about these things.

If I was starting out. I would settle on some kind of bow I liked and buy it in maybe 5 draw weights. I think different draw weights are far more useful than different models. And there are top bows where you could get together 5 versions for a lot less than what one new Mathews compound, or some of the rocketship Xguns cost.

Shandor...I know this will make you roll your eyes but I assume you want honesty.....The best 3 bows I ever had and still have them must have the right grip, must have they right accuracy and the right overall feel. However the most important thing about them is that they all have the name BLACK WIDOW on them. With that, the first 3 things are always built right in from the factory !!!!!! Just saying !!! "Whitie"

What I like about my favorite bows are they are simple, silent, durable, deadly efficient, one of a kind, beautiful, no flat surfaces edges or corners, curvy with flow, of natural material, easily braced/unbraced on the move, weigh just 16-20 ounces, balance perfectly in my hand from carrying at my side throughout the entire draw, sounds like a cliche but they really do feel an extension of me, inherently tuned from the first arrow, easy to shoot well, dead in the hand at the shot, and I've greatly invested myself in their making.

Remove any ONE of those features, and it falls from favor.

George x3

I sold 5 heavy bows this year, all now in good hands I am sure,,,,,, now buying more bows, just lighter weight,,,,

buying target bows at 25lbs and looking for hunting bows around 40.....

they have to be lefties,,,,,

I want a bow, that shoots well, we all do, but since the bow is part of me, I have to like its looks,,,

I've not been shooting but for 2 years 7 months but I've developed a liking for longbows. Like George said I have a couple that are just more comfortable than others. And I feel like those are my broke in shoes. So new to this though ,that I still like trying new ones.

The best bows are they ones that fit me well, shoot well, and have great craftsmanship and beauty. I have owned some bows that shot awesome but looked like they were built in a junior high shop class. They went away. For the prices charged there really is no reason not to have a good looking bow. My keepers at the moment are Schafer, Whippenstick, Tall Tines, Blacktail, and Robertson. That is more than enough but I still love to try other makes.

It’s all about the feel ! I appreciate a good looking bow as much as anyone but to me it’s all about how the bow feels from the time I pick it up till after the shot. Grip, balance, smoothness, shot. If it feels like how I want a bow to feel which is probably not the same as the next guy wants.

my favorite bow is scratched up, a little heavy to pull now, needs a new string and quiver.......but it just fits and is a shootin" machine........just like my old Jeep, we just belong together......when you find her, you WILL know.....

Thanks everyone. Some good insights. George... you've had lots of bows. How many old pairs of shoes have you had, or do you have?

One problem I'm having is that as I learn to shoot better, more bows seem to be great shooters. It used to be that if I shot a bow really well I thought it must be the bow and I kept looking for bows that shot the best. I still am but now I have too many bows that shoot equally well or nearly so. They are all beautiful in their own way, also. I've already gotten rid of bows I didn't like the feel of, or that I couldn't shoot. I suppose now it's a matter of shooting them more and making more fine distinctions between how well they feel and shoot for me.

No one mentioned length so far. I've found that 60" bows are fun to shoot and practical, but are harder to shoot as well as 64 or 66" bows. For myself. So I'm thinking of selling off some of the 60" bows even though I love them also. Back to the shoe metaphor, it's like having a pair of shoes you really like... except they may rub on the big toe at times b/c they are a little too short or narrow.

Personally I don't really care as long as the bow is comfortable to hold and shoot, and has enough spedd to work in my use enviroment. Outside of that, it makes little or no difference to me what it's made of, who it's made by, or what it looks like.

Some times I like shorter bows, some times I like longer bows, some times recurves, some times longbows.

To me a bow is nothing more than a tool to fling arrows, that's about all. All of them have the same potential for accuracy, and for the most part there is little or no difference in the performance of any of them regardless of cost.

If a bow shoots quietly and hits where I am looking I will probably hold on to it.

Good looks the first thing I notice, but been surprised by bows not so good looking in how they perform. You have to shoot a bow to know if it is a keeper.

I've owned Widows and Silvertips that I couldn't get rid of fast enough, some of the bows I've kept aren't real pretty but they sure shoot well.

Just has to be one I can shoot good . The rest of it I can make do

Quiet, got to be quiet. Shhhhh....

Comfortable in the hand, quiet, and I can shoot it accurately. It's a keeper.

Beauty in a bow is important to me. I love wood and beautiful wood is a thing to enjoy. I also think a beautiful bow shifts my state of mind and I shoot it better. However if I shoot a bow well, even if it isn't the nicest looking one, I start to appreciate it's beauty more! If I ever find the best shooting bow and it's ugly, I suppose I can put a bag over it.

Shoot ability is everything. I'm not into the gingerbread although I do admire the craftsmanship that goes into the high end models, but I'm a hunter first and I'm rough on equipment. Some of those bows today are so beautiful that I would hate to scratch them up or be in the rain or strap to a 4 wheeler.

I appreciate the beauty of wood. But out of all the bows I had at one time, I kept the bows that I like to shoot. Wall hangers, or bowrack queens collect dust. I’m not knocking other archers for collecting, it just isn’t what I like. I look at any bow as something that was designed and made to be used and enjoyed. Other than sentimental or historical reason’s, anything that just sit’s is better off sold and the money put toward something else or saved.

Why is it so many folks feel a bow can't be used, or has to forfeit all other good attributes if it's visually appealing?

we don't feel that way, you can use what you want, it doesn't bother me if you scratch up your fancy bow, I just don't want scratch up my fancy bow

I just want my bow to be well built structurally, and properly made.

If it meets those two criteria, and I do my part in tuning, then:

it's going to be stable,

it's going to be fast,

it's going to be quiet,

and it's going to shoot every bit as good as I am capable of shooting it.

That pretty much covers it all.

I like a good looking bow, but I treat my bows pretty rough, so looks aren't that important. I actually prefer metal risers, and there are ways to make them look pretty darn good.

The grip? Well, I grip every bow I shoot with a center line hold, and no palm pressure. Not necessarily high wrist, but no palm pressure. That being the case, as long as the grip isn't grossly over or under size I'm usually good with it.

Rick

As for looks, the magic and power of a bow is in its arc. The coiled snake curve when it is strung and brought to life, and the mortal arc when drawn in lethal intent. If there is beauty in the thing, it is there.

I'm gonna agree w George here too

I note that nobody went with an obvious answer: the best bow is the one I shoot the most critters with. Applying that criteria, a 1971 Bear Grizzly with spray can camo is the Grail of Grails. I only had one bow for 40 years and I liked to shoot critters, so that was that. Now my "best" bow is the one I pick to shoot when I am stressed, sore , distracted, etc. and I just want to go shoot and forget the rest. That bow changes from time to time, but its always a bow that is quiet, shoots where I point.

Jeff Durnell, Nailed it for me, I was always a lam bow shooter for over 50 years until I made my first bow from a stave, now I'm hooked, I will never go back to a store bought or custom built Lam bow, they just don't compare to the ones you make for yourself.

You can make and adjust everything to your liking, you don't have to shoot fifty bows to find the grip you like or the smoothness. Mother nature already put it there, you just have to find it and shape it into a usable weapon.

When I released an arrow for the first time, I thought I was in a different world, there was no sound, no hand shock the arrow went to the center of the target and penetrated much further than my lam bows ever did. I had to look at my bow to be sure I had released the arrow, everything was so smooth and it felt very powerful. I can talk all day, but you just will not understand until you make one yourself.

Just because I made it, I'm not bragging on it, if it didn't turn out to be superior to my other bows I would have just stopped and not said a word.

1. beauty or looks I prefer pretty bows, one of the joys of this sport. I take care of them, so they still look pretty after days in the field.

2. speed Not the end all, be all, but it needs to be decent in this category.

3. grip Absolute must for me, needs to be like my favorite pair of gloves, hand just melts into it.

4. accuracy in shooting I want a bow that is accurate when everything is good and one that can hide my flaws when everything isn't perfect.

5. quietness As a bowhunter, I demand this trait. I have sold some of the most beautiful bows that I shot really well because I couldn't get them quiet enough. I normally don't have this problem, but there have been a few.

6. overall feel If you have the 5 traits listed above, you have the overall feel.

7. size, length, weight, limb shape, or design I like longbows but I don't like long, longbows. I have hunted with and killed deer with bows up to 66"s, but it takes planning and some sets just won't work. 60"s seems to be about right for me. I like bows on the lighter side, in physical weight, no need to carry a heavy bow around all day.

8. historical or sentimental value Not for me, just not that type of person.

9. other!

All of the above except 1, and 8. And even 8 on 1 bow. I still have my first laminated bow from 1966.

You just wait, Ron. It gets better. Lots better ;^)

Jeff Durnell: Very well said.

I can't imagine how it could get better, but I'm looking forward to it.

Shandor, All of the qualities you list matter to me, but as I've tried more and more different Golden Era recurves (and a few more modern customs), I've narrowed my focus, and now I mostly look for the right design from the right bowmaker--and having said that, I'm also a sucker for the prettiest woods.

The vintage bows that I like best are FASCO, Drake, Howatt, Wing, Browning, Hoyt, and Shakespeare; and the years that interest me the most are from 1959 to 1966.

My bias is towards one-piece recurves in a hunting weight, and the only lengths that appeal to me are from 58" to 62"--anything shorter is characterized as an Evil Dwarf Bow; anything longer is a Target Bomber. Sadly, many of the most beautiful bows ever made fall into this latter category. I can only lament that the 1960 FASCO Phantom and the 1962 Wing Presentation were never made in a 62" length--ah, what might have been!

Luckily, Hoyt made just a few 62" Pro Medalists, Wing made just a few 60" White Wings and 62" Swift Wings, and Harry Drake made a very few 62" bows...and of course Howatt, Browning and Shakespeare made lots of great 58", 60" and 62" bows.

All of my assorted quirks and prejudices, combined with my innate Yankee cheapness, allow me to be happy with a collection of about a dozen bows. Eight of them are classic "production" bows from the years mentioned, four of them are modern customs that have vintage looks, and then there's a couple of outliers that earned their way in based on pure performance (a '69 Groves Spitfire and a '70 Tice & Watts). Hmmm...I guess that makes an "archers dozen" of fourteen.

Thanks again everyone for your comments. I've been a readin' 'em! I have my own preferences for years, makes, models, types and so on but even within relatively narrow limits, there is a mountain of bows.

Reading these posts I realized more about how I select bows I want to keep or let go of. One way is if I miss shooting a bow I haven't shot for a while, b/c I've been shooting other bows to see how they shoot or if I like them. Then I make a note to shoot the bow I miss next. Or I put off shooting a bow in the moment that I thought I should shoot, and enjoy the one I missed. The more I miss shooting a bow the more I know it's a keeper.

I've read many posts in which people say they sold a bow and wish they never had. That would really be missing a bow! I'm trying not to create that heartache for myself.

Another thing that helps me decide is that I take photos of the best grouping or shot almost every time I shoot. I save them in folders for each bow. I look at them sometimes when I can't shoot just for enjoyment, and I use them to help determine the best arrow spine for each bow. But I found that sometimes they also help me decide which bows I love the most. For example I was about to sell a bow I haven't shot in almost a year... due to recovering from a surgery. It's on the heavy side for me. When I looked at the arrow grouping photos, I realized I can't sell that bow. It was one of my best shooters even when I wasn't shooting that well. It also doesn't hurt that it's gorgeous and a unique design. I love that bow. I just have to get re- acquainted with it.

Shandor

I think every bow I've sold, I regret doing it at some later date, so I dont buy many bows.

I made the switch from Longbow to Barebow 4 years ago, I went through a few different ILF risers, limbs and even arrows to find a setup that works for me. Looking back it has to be accuracy and ease of shooting, this setup has given me medals in world/Euro Field, Indoors and 3D. I haven't looked at or dreamed of another setup in last couple of years, I feel pretty lucky as I know some people just can't find that perfect bow for themselves.

1. ,3. ,4. ,9.,just love a D style long bow.

It does not matter how many bows you have or sell there are always more out there. At times I have wished I had a bow back, but that feeling goes away very quickly.

DDave

This seems to be a theme with a long history. Even back in 1966 The Lovin' Spoonful was singing about which bows to keep and which to let go of:

Did you ever have to make up your mind? And pick up on one and leave the other behind? It's not often easy and not often kind. Did you ever have to make up your mind? Did you ever have to finally decide? And say yes to one and let the other one ride? There's so many changes and tears you must hide. Did you ever have to finally decide?

I think their singer, John Sebastian, went on to design the Sebastien Flute line of metal risers and metal accessories, hehe. He made the wrong choice.

Kerry, you got the singer right but not sure about the rest! But thanks for your comments above. Looks like you've narrowed it down by brand, years, lengths, wood, and shooting. I've done something similar, but with a focus on Bear bows from 59-62 after trying other models. I love them but also knowing I would be buying, trying and selling I figured it was easier to resell Bears than some other brands. I've tried some other brands also and recently got a custom RER Arroyo, 62", that I love also.

Since you like 62" bows it seems a 58-62 Grizzly would fit your mix. I got one recently and it's one of my best shooting bows for me. But then, so are many of the others!

Yes, I hold a high regard for Bear bows...buying them low and selling them high has enabled me to buy the bows I really want!

Actually, I think the Bear bows from 1959 to 1962 are right up there with the best of that era...and are definitely the nicest Bears, IMO. The whole Bear lineup in 1959 seemed like a quantum leap forward, in terms of the many innovations it brought.

I decided that there had to be one Bear in my collection, and it's a 1959 Grizzly with a 60# draw. It's a beautiful, historic, and incredibly quiet bow. I got it in a swap with Knifeguy; I sent him a 1959 White Wing, 60" and 51# draw, that was equally wonderful.

I like them all... Somehow, someway I stopped trying to buy them all, lol.

Actually my wife bought me a Black Widow Longbow a few years back for my birthday. For obvious reason it has become my go-to bow. The bow is smooth, very quite and just fun to shoot.

Several years back I was giving a fellow shooting lessons (rifle). He made the comment to me, "why in the world would anybody want to shoot more than one rifle, it is hard enough to learn just one?" That statement has always stuck with me. Shooting a rifle or bow is very easy if you're shooting known distance at close range. When you start reaching out with your shots, you had better know your weapon if you want to be good and accurate.

I still love all my long longbows the most. :)

1. beauty or looks

Very important...I like wood risers and nice styling-do not like modern bows and metal risers. I do like unique bows with a cool, but functional, design such as a Sanders Sportster or a Buddy Watson Special that has uncountable riser lams. Just about every one of my faves is funky to look at.

2. speed

That comes with excellent limb design and a good bow has to have it.

3. grip

That's the key to accuracy.

4. accuracy in shooting

No brainer...who on earth wants a bow that is not stable and does not point well??

5. quietness

If it's a good design it will be quiet with the right string and shaft. Otherwise out it goes.

6. overall feel

7. size, length, weight, limb shape, or design

I am moving away from a lot of my short bows but unlike Kerry I don't mind some of them. Same with the longer ones. Shooting a Firedrake is just wonderful, as is a bunch of other San Diego bows. Same with the 1950's Roots.

I do tend to focus on 56-62" hunting recurves but that doesn't mean I'm pitching my Super Necedah's or Kodiak Magnums.

I like older recurves from 1958-1970 but have quite a few exceptions like some modern Howatt's like the Saber, Super Diablo and a Dreamcatcher and also some very old ones...see next category.

8. historical or sentimental value

The Na-Po I have likely belonged to Roy Hoff and the 1953 Howatt Mamba was likely one of the first bows designed for women. But I shoot them too.

9. other

Peter, thanks for posting. All good points but two things you said helped me: "3. grip

That's the key to accuracy.

4. accuracy in shooting

No brainer...who on earth wants a bow that is not stable and does not point well??"

Those two, grip and accuracy, are related as you say but I hand't thought of it that way. I like various kinds of grips... but not all of them... but whether very thin or with a palm swell, if it fits well and makes the bow point where I want it to, the bow shoots accurately. Very simple. I had thought that should be able to shoot any bow well regardless of how the grip fit. But since there are so many to choose from, and since even bows of the same model have varying shaped grips, it's an important thing to check! Thanks.

The ones that feel good in hand are all "the best".

Grip shape is everything. Mister Rasp has been pressed into service a few times to make one of my bows a keeper.

Alternatively, I have bought a second bow model of the same type I already home and keep the one with the nicer grip.

A good example was a Howatt Saber, which are rare as hen's teeth. I picked up the second one knowing I could find someone who wanted it here (and I did.)

The grips on them were remarkably different and I was happy to have the ability to pick the slimmer one. I was accurate with the original but had to pay attention to exact placement...the slimmer one just fits into the pocket in my hand like it is part of me...one of my favourites for sure.

Crookedstix also checkered the grip on a Don Adams Thunderbird clone that I now have and that makes a real difference in accuracy...I shoot with a firm grip and the bow does not move around.

Think I'll be using a rasp soon!

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