Let’s say a used longbow or recurve is up for sale or trade. What are your criteria/expectations for “excellent”, “very good” or simply “good” used condition?

I consider them all to be in good used condition. In my mind there is no such thing as excellent and very good would be pushing it.

After all it's used.

Excellent is like new. Very good shows some signs of use, but very few and no deep scratches or nicks. Good is serviceable, but with scratches and nicks, etc.

However, what one person might consider a deep scratch, another may consider minor and not worth mentioning.

That's why I always ask for a lot of pictures.

Keep your expectations low and you will nearly always be happy. Does it shoot? Are there any separations in the glue areas? If not, then it's probably in good shape. The subjective superlatives are meaningless anyway other than to coax more money from a buyer. Some of the best bows I ended up with were in just what some would consider fair shape. After a refinish, spit and polish, they were excellent....in my opinion.

As a buyer from Missouri, if I don’t know the seller, I want them to “Show Me” some photos. As a seller, I want to be fair to the buyer but also faiir to myself. What I’m hearing is “excellent” is used, but looks new out of the factory shipping box. If it looks like a new bow that’s been hanging on the rack in an archery shop and handled and shot by customers, it’s “very good”.

As a buyer from Missouri, if I don’t know the seller, I want them to “Show Me” some photos. As a seller, I want to be fair to the buyer but also faiir to myself. What I’m hearing is “excellent” is used, but looks new out of the factory shipping box. If it looks like a new bow that’s been hanging on the rack in an archery shop and handled and shot by customers, it’s “very good”.

Uncle Lijah, everyone has their own way of describing things, so ask for photos, or if selling send plenty. Other than that, it is 'guess what they mean'. I don't get all torn up about descriptions because there are usually photos to correspond. Only thing I care about is will it hold together and is there any visible separation. Guys who aren't archers, that are selling bows, really have no clue anyway since they have no interest. Digital photos are cheap and easy.

As for descriptions, it's usually New, Near Mint..meaning never used and looks like new. Excellent can mean a few scratches on a used bow but no ugly bumps or gouges and finish is ..... well excellent. Very good means functional and finish intact but can have scratches and a few bumps. Good means it works and has a history but not beat to crap. Fair usually means it needs comestic work and maybe has some holes, or stress lines. Poor means you likely shouldn't buy it, and it has likely been used to pound fence posts.

Of course none of that means anything to 95% of buyers and sellers, since their own ideas take over. You may have 'Pretty good, Okay, Not too bad, and Could use some attention, and That thing has seen much better days'.

I’ve been sending pictures of bows when requested by the buyer as well as a detailed video it’s really easy with a smart phone if any imperfections I really focus on that with the video it give the buyers a good piece of mind !!

I like it when they say brand new. I don't care if you just bought it 5 min. ago, it's not new any more once it's been purchased.

What are the guidelines for pricing used bows? I have a Longbow that has been on the rack 20 years and never shot. Don’t know if it would be safe to shoot. It appears to be in flawless condition but I wouldn’t know about the glues and the health of the laminations. It’s a beauty and was fast flight compatible ( circa late nineties) I would never want to rip anybody off , That would be very wrong of me. Are there any brokers/ appraisers that could check it out??

trad47 you have to look at what similar bows are selling for or even their asking prices to get some idea. Also if you list a bow and get no responses you're either too high in price or the bow does not have much demand the market. Bows that have collector value will be a bit more esoteric to price. Either way if you lower the price enough someone will buy it. eBay is a great resource for price analysis.

I have seen "never shot" in the description of bows.

Makes me suspicious, who would have a bow in there possession more than a minute without having to sling a few arrows through it, not me.

I got a new Belcher Union Jack last night from my son and wife for my birthday. Managed to string it up and sling four arrows out the front door into my target while the wife was changing her clothes so we could go to dinner.

Would of spoiled my meal if I had to wait to see how it was going to shoot until today. I loved it by the way.

That phrase is used as a selling point for firearms sellers and will draw more money from serious collectors but I never understood using it in describing a bow. Good Day

I have had pretty decent luck with the bows I've purchased since getting back into shooting. Most of the of the sellers have been more than honest. I only had one consideration on a longbow I bought last year and that was the string was off center and this was on a very super expensive longbow. Not expensive to me but original price wise right up there. I paid about 1/4 of the original price. Shoots good though but truthfully not as good as another longbow from the same maker that if you purchased new would be a few hundred bucks less, than his top model so go figure.

Just picked up two recurves over the last 2 months that again if I had to purchase them new I couldn't afford, well I could but to me its stupid money to buy them new. I even hate to say this but I like shooting them better them than my longbows. The 2 curves are that good. One is a Habu Bushmaster and the other a Norm Johnson Blacktail Stalker one piece. It is a superb shooter, quick on point and smooth and stable.

Do your homework when buying, get the pics of the bow, and if the limbs are sound with no twist or delamination you should be good to. I refinished both the Habu and Blacktail and they look excellent and shoot as good as they look. keepem sharp

the last bow I sold I considered in excellent condition not like new but better than what I'd consider fair or good. when I bought the bow used the black limbs had some slight scratches like from briars or tree branches I put a few coats of furniture polish & they vanished when I sold the bow for less than 1/2 of new in fact for less than 1/2 of a set of new limbs the buyer was disappointed in the condition of the bow. I instantly offered to buy it back & pay the shipping but he refused. what is excellent to one is not to another

Elderly, next time you go to buy a new car try telling that to the salesman.

I have a bow now that is in excellent condition. It has never been shot and is like new. It is new. It has just set in my house instead of a warehouse somewhere.

I have a bow now that is in excellent condition. It has never been shot and is like new. It is new. It has just set in my house instead of a warehouse somewhere.

I bought a Browning Medallion for $30 that was in "very bad condition"...turns out it was just a little dirty and near perfect when cleaned up a bit.

I also bought a RWH that was in "excellent" condition, that ended up being extremely warped and had several scratches and gouges that were not noticeable in photos.

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