A buddy of mine is looking for a Custom Recurve. He is aware of Black Widow. I am looking for a list of Bowyers he could look up and see their bows on line. I know a couple like Palmer and TimberHawk but I know you guys know a lot more. Also does anyone know when Kalamazoo is in 2019? I am going to try and direct him there. DANNY

Robertson st know in Montana

Sorry Robertson stickbow

Kota, awesome recurve. Don't see many for sale used, that should tell you something.

Look through the pages of Traditional Bowhunter, there are too many to name.

Toelke, BigJim, RER, Sierra Blanca,,etc....

Does he have a preferred style? Or maybe a strict budget cap?

Just thinking about my longbow thread, it’s hard enough to narrow it down when you already have a style and relative length in mind...

Good luck!

Wes Wallace, Sheafer, Blacktail, Palmer, etc. Tons of them.

Hill Country bows, Java bows

Navajo Bows (Roy Hall)

Google is your friend, and much quicker and more concise. Try typing in custom recurve makers (bowyers), or custom longbow makers.

Black Widow is all you need to know.

Sorry I suggested Navajo, I did not read your OP thoroughly enough. Mr Hall builds longbows, however I think he does build a “50’s recurve”

Here are a few that I've owned over the years before I went to Bear Archery only. Their bows were excellent bows in my opinion.

Dick Robertson ( Robertson Stykbow )

Schafer ( Schafer Silvertip Custom Bows, Inc. )

Bob Morrison ( Morrison Archery )

Mahaska Custom Bows ( Not sure if they are till in business )

Al Kimery of Trad-Al archery makes the fastest, quietest, smoothest recurve I have ever owned.

Richard Korte (Nemah) and Jay St Charles also make excellent bows. Lance

St Joe and Great Northern are really good bow makers.

Look in the classifieds, just about every one is covered.

Schafer, Tall Tines, RER, Fox archery, Black River. Mahaska is out of business.

Zipper is my favorite

Bob Lee bows

Have him get a Tall Tines, he'd want for nothing in any category.

Ron King of Fox Archery.

Rich Emery bows.

Gregg Coffey JavaMan

Brandon. Does not build bows any more, eh. Pity.

DDave

Oh yeah, and Abe, and Dick, and Yote, and Craig, and Jack, and Dave, and Paul, and Norm, and Larry (not custom just great bows), and Marc, and Dan, and Red, and a bunch more.

Oh yeah and Jon. Great builders all of them. I have had bows built by most of them. They are all best at something.

Norm Johnson. One of the best ever does not make the Snakebit any more. Works of art. Great shooters. Kind of saddened to learn he is planning on retiring.

DDave

Not a custom but still one of the nicest bows I have ever owned, or ever will. Built by a bowyer who really knew their craft. Details beyond imagining.

DDave

Who thinks to add just the right amount of purpleheart to make a great bow even better. May be the only one in existence made like that. Bowyer just had an idea and some purpleheart on hand.

DDave

I agree w the Robertsons and Schafers.

Chad Holm of Holm-Made Traditional Bows

Ron King of Fox Archery.

was pleasantly suprised with what I got form him (maverick & Breed models)

I also like the Black Widow one piece bows

Not a recurve like you asked for, but the ultimate for me is a Northern Mist American Its a personal thing and only you can know what you like

Lots of custom recurves builders out there and all are good,Sierra Blanca bows are top notch at a great price built by a heck of a nice guy named Jess Stuart.

Schafer silvertip. Double carbon limbs.

SAY WHAT!!!??? David McLendon!! Say it isn't so! Bummer.

I agree with you camodave, it's hard to beat some of those old vintage bows. And most of those bowyers that aren't around anymore. Happy too have the ones I do.

Tall Tines by Brian Wessel. Robertson by Dick Robertson. Morrison Archery by Bob Morrison. All great guys and unbelievable artist. And incredible bows!!

At least there's still some great bowyers in Iowa .

Way too many options. I bought a widow. I'm happy with it. Even if there big, ugly and loud. I will say mines alittle loud, but I still would buy it again in a heart beat. If I get another, it will be a blacktail.

Predator/Hunters Niche in Michigan

Chucks custom bows, this is where my next bow is coming from. Also stalker stickbows static recurve and sierra blanca

Kalamazoo is January 25-27

We will be set up stop by and visit. Hope to see you there

White Wolf, also Maddog Archery

In no particular order-Shafer Robertson and Morrison.

Look up Hurst Bows; Coltin Hurst, Plentywood, MT. Worked for, and inspired by Dick Robertsonand Tim Finley(Kota Bows). A new Bowyer soon to be very well known. Awesome Recurve! The “Prana”

The one thing that these threads tell you is that there are many great bows out there, and he should shoot a lot and see what he likes best. We all have our favorites, now it's time for him to find his.

Many great bowyers mentioned. One that I didn't see mentioned that you may check out is Wagstaff Archery. Conner started by building longbows, but has recently started making recurves with static limbs. Don't think he has any pictures posted on his site yet, but you can see the quality of his LB's and give him a call . . .

Michael

Many great bowyers mentioned. One that I didn't see mentioned that you may check out is Wagstaff Archery. Conner started by building longbows, but has recently started making recurves with static limbs. Don't think he has any pictures posted on his site yet, but you can see the quality of his LB's and give him a call . . .

Michael

I would give Tom a call at Zipper bows he just came out with a new recurve limb and they are unbelievable. I should be receiving mine next week!

Mike Fedora Sr,

This thread is very comical I must say.

I have customs many can vouch for mine that were beyond custom and pretty bad to the bone. Guys just say what they shoot contact them. There's several mentioned I would not even own their bows if they were given to me.LOL

Pretty harsh? Yes I agree but it's what I think and as long as others say what they think then why can't I? LOL

I recommend looking at the styles of bows you think you might like to have and then contact them and discuss options and price's as well as time if you are willing to wait. And some you are going to wait that's for sure.

I could recommend bowyers that will give you a bow to be proud of for a price or a bow with options that will knock your nuts off.

It all depends on what you want on your bow that dictates price. Every option adds to the price.

Choose a bowyer who is well known for his bows that they sell well because if it ever comes to the time to sell them then you don't want one thats not at least popular enough to be desirable.

There's a guy on this site how builds replica Bear bows he's someone to look into if you wanted a new Bear bow built.

Fedora is hard to beat but Tolkes are alike to look at. I have others that are gorgeous I could mention like Blacktails, Schaffers.

Brandon Stahl by far are the best bows I ever owned a true craftsman. I vote for the number #1 but he is not building anymore.

There's ultimate bowyers and then secondary builders they all are not alike and they all aren't demandable either so that when you sell you don't get your clock cleaned.

I now own my second Black Widow take down recurve. The only string I have ever used on my widows were the D-97 Black Widow strings. Both bows shoot quiet for me. Are beautiful bows, and are not slow. If you are looking for a good bow, Black Widow would be worth looking at.

Stalker stickbows are great especially the coyote

Abe Penner - Caribow

This is the Golden Age of the custom bowyers sooo many to choose from and all top notch. Anyone that is been spoken is a master bowyer.

Samick

Also - longbows James Berry in WA State

Wes Wallace and Mike Treadway

Google

Flash already mentioned Bob Lee bows. They make custom and also have a fair inventory of completed bows. Have your friend go to www.boblee.com and he should be able to look over quite a selection. They have a very nice website. I fully admit I am partial to their bows but they are real shooters. This being said, there are a lot of other fine bows out there but Bob Lee is just one outstanding option for him.

Al Kimery of Trad-Al bows made me this beauty and it is the fastest, quietest and smoothest recurve I have shot.

As someone asked early in this thread, is your friend on a budget? Experienced recurve shooter?

I would *not* suggest a custom bow for a beginner. Better off with a decent used bow or an inexpensive import, preferably a takedown with fairly light limbs.

Look at Rocky Mountain Specialty Gear (RMS Gear). They have lots of bows pictured. You can get an Idea of what you like, and then call the Boyer.

One name I will mention is Poppe Archery. He makes a custom one piece bow that looks great for about half price of most customs. I've never owned or shot one, but I've heard good things about them.

Hunters Niche Predator - Ranks right up there with Black Widow. Great people, Great bows.

Bob Lee bows. Jacksonville Texas. I own two. Great bows and great people to deal with. I have killed many animals with the two Bob Lee bows I own. I love them.They shoot where you aim. No stack and mine are very quiet.

Maddog archery makes a nice recurve called ...Big Dog

Stop by and see Dave and Tracey in Kalamazoo at St Joe River Bows. Top shelf people with great customer service.

Well, Linecutter, any updates?

v-archery, Netherlands

Tall Tines by Brian Wessel Robertson Morrison

I have to disagree with Cacciatore which is unusual.I think times are tougher now than in years for custom bowyers

Dave Windauer gets my vote, but then I have only shot Schafer Bows for the last 35+ years. You won't be sorry.

Silvrtip

Kginrick gave pretty much the best advise. There’s some great bows mentioned but just looking can’t get someone to be sure they’ll like it. Have him shoot a bunch than decide. The “his experience/budget” thing also is valid. If he’s already a stykbow guy he’ll have some of his own ideas. Weight, length, etc all gotta be addressed. If money is limited he may need to rule out some awfully nice looking styks.

FOX ARCHERY

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