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First Custom

Petrichor

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2021
Messages
1,206
Location
Spring Hill, TN
Because I can’t figure out how to pm photos from my phone I’ll just do a post. I have been asked many times including recently about first custom bows. There are many many bowyers out there and you can spend as much as you’d like. One over looked many times is Mike from maddog archery. His prices are more than reasonable and if you are ready for a custom bow he makes a good one. Here was my very first custom bow almost 8 years ago. Maddog prairie predator 42lbs at 26”. For 325 bucks you can barely buy a good production bow for that.

I won the mango veneers on another site and had them shipped to Mike for use. Typically he has colored glass which in some regards is just a cool. I’ve recently looked at picking up a backup bow the same poundage as my Toelke, and Mike is number 1 on my list. I’ll be going green glass and Osage riser to match my sons bow. The one pictured below matches my daughters bow
 

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Just to highlight how reasonable those prices are I literally had $350 in materials alone to build the bow in the New bow in the works thread. I added some additional "flares" that added cost plus I'm sure there is savings in buying material in bulk but, I have no idea how guys build custom bows at that price point.
 
Just to highlight how reasonable those prices are I literally had $350 in materials alone to build the bow in the New bow in the works thread. I added some additional "flares" that added cost plus I'm sure there is savings in buying material in bulk but, I have no idea how guys build custom bows at that price point.
With all inflation and such. I paid 295 for mine 8 years ago and he’s only increased 30 buck. Also the dude has a heart for charity. Every year he gives dozens of children’s long bows away with a set of arrows and an arm guard and a glove for the sole purpose of introducing children to archery. It’s called the youth bow program and my son is a recipient of one of those bows. The only stipulation it’s not even really a stipulation it’s kind of more of an honor code thing. Is when your child has outgrown the bow pass it on to either the next child or another child that could benefit. It really is amazing.
 
Here is Jack with his maddog youth bow program bow. I actually need to buy him another pup because he’s a lefty and we didn’t know that when we won.
 

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This bow is about to become my daughters as she outgrows her pup. I may start to let her try and shoot it soon. She’s been begging for a hunting weight bow for a while now. Let her try out the bow today. She’s almost able to pull it to her draw. She’s gonna have to work up to it though.
 
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Got my bow from Mike! 54" Pairie Predator 41lbs@27dl. Bocote and Walnut riser with a cocobolo ascent strip. Red Elm core with Zebrawood Veneer and clear glass.

So far I'm in love with it. I think everything transition together really well. Just got to play around with it for a few minutes only. But it is quiet and little vibrations. Don't quite know the speed since I'm not at a level of being able to tell arrows speed to be honest.

I highly recommend Maddog, glad @Petrichor talked me into it.

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