Trad bow pricing

[Wlog]

There is a definite uptick in the amount of people converting over to traditional bows. Looking around at prices of bows, there are a lot of options for low cost, production bows. I think these type of bows shoot just fine and seem to hold up well they usually leave a little to be desired in appearance.

Let’s face it, part of the allure of traditional bows (to me at least) is the aesthetics. Nothing like looking at a high dollar custom work of art type bow. On this custom end bows are typically in the $1,000-$1,700 range give or take a bit. To spend that kind of money on the bow then you need arrows, quiver, etc., it’s hard to commit to that jump where you’re laying down your $200 bow and spending $1,500.

Why are there not more bowyers making the midrange $400-$700 bows. There needs to be more options where it’s a good performing hunting bow with just enough visual appeal to satisfy your appetite on aesthetics part but not so pretty that your afraid to scratch it going through briars.

I know there are some options, bear for example. But more recently it seems like they are having some quality control issues.

What do you all think?

 

[GCTerpfan]

It’s the cost of materials. Smaller bowyers can’t buy materials at a price point that allows them to build bows in that price range. You either have to purchase large amounts of materials and mass produce them like Bear, make your own materials, laminations, etc., or buy materials and mass produce them overseas to hit that price point.

Buying materials for one or two bows at a time and depending on wood choices, limb materials, etc. it’s easy to have $350-$500 per bow in materials alone.

 

[Jammintree]

In addition to material costs, Larger scale operations can afford highly specified tools, process and automation that quickens the work and reduces the amount of labor in each item. As an example a one person operation is likely to shape the bow by hand using a variety of small tools, and Bear may do that same process in 1/10 the time with a CNC machine.

 

[Wlog]

I was pretty excited to see that Howatt was back up in full swing. Was looking at getting a black mamba and the first review I watched was of one delaminating. Could be a one off issue and the guy did say it was a factory blemished model.

I have a Howatt Mamba from early 2000’s that I like but is a little heavier than I want to shoot anymore.

 

[BowhunterXC]

I agree with the point of cost issues, made by GCTerfan and Jammintree.

You can save some money by going with the ILF system (International Limb Fit). It also allows you to pick and choose your limbs and risers, which helps the individual to decide what they really like. I started out with an inexpensive 17" wood riser from October Mountain Products and some affordable Samick carbon/foam limbs from 3 Rivers Archery. If I recall, I had $185 in the riser, $220 in the limbs and $30 for a string. A nice "starter kit" to get into it and see if that's the way I want to go. I shot it for a year, then began expanding into other risers and limbs, as I could afford it. Years later, I have 2 Satori risers (a 17" and a 19") with different sets of limbs and enjoy both bows.

The nice thing about an ILF setup is the ability to switch to a different set of limbs that suit the way you want to shoot and how they feel as those limbs are being shot. As nice as Black Widow bows are, their limbs have a specific feel to them and if you don't like it, you're out the $1600 price tag for a custom bow and you get to start over with another brand.

 

[HuumanCreed]

So there are a few bowyers that make bow at the 400-700 range. Check out Mahantango Custom Bow. His bow range from 450-650 depending on what you are asking for. Jim make about 3-4 bows a month as a hobby. He's a Mennonite who use very little power tools.

But I feel you are not tapping into the used market as there are tons of nice looking bows.

Omega and Kanati are also well known bowyers who make good bows in that price range.

There are also a few bowyers on Facebook if you want to look around those traditional groups.

But honestly, its not just the looks of the bow, it is also the name of the bowyer that you're buying. Let be real, a lot of the smaller bowyers now a days are adopting CNC into their process, most are actually pretty open about it. Black Widows, Stalkers, heck even Javaman outsourced certain part of his building process to a machine shop. NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THAT.

Mad Dog used to be the best low price bowyer, his bow was $300 but he recently retired because the price of materials were getting too expensive. So instead of raising the price, he rather just retired.

But if you are interested in a custom bow for say $500. I highly recommend Mahantango. Or Chise bow as another member here recently got one and is very happy with it.

Took a Jump

Bought a longbow after seeing some things on here about Chise, and talking with him on the phone for a couple days! This thing is SWEET 44# @ 28”. Super lightweight (almost too light?) and whisper quiet. This is his A Stalker, 60” with D97 string. Bamboo cores with gray glass.

saddlehunter.com

 

[HawRiverArcher]

I've actually gone back into trad because of the spiralling cost of compound archery is killing my hunting budget. Even if you buy a lower cost bow like a Bear ($550) which I did 3 years ago, by the time you get some quality strings ($120-200) a good sight, ($100-600), and decent rest ($100-300), then arrows, you're still getting close to or over $1000. Not to mention if you want to tune or adjust your bow yourself, then there's $400 for a press just to get going.

I have an old Samick riser from a yard sell $10 years ago, bought some 45# limbs for $70, and a better string, $34, then some 500 spine arrows, $70 for a dozen, and some turkey feathers, $14 for 50. Now I'm shooting and having a blast. I already had fletching jigs, inserts, and broadheads from my compound stuff. In the past few months I bought another bow, an ILF setup for $200. If I wanted to buy some higher or lower poundage limbs for my compound they'd be $2-300 by themselves.

All told I'm still coming in under a complete compound setup. And if I want to tune something, I don't need any special tools besides what I already have.

If I had a couple grand to spare I would gladly give my money to an experienced craftsman to pay for his time in crafting a custom bow...but I don't so I look for the best deal in my budget that shoots good.

It also isn't even that material costs have gone up its that the price of transporting those goods has exploded the last decade. Then there's the skilled labor costs because those skills are dying and those that have them can justifiably demand increased wages. Which is why I've also begun making self bows and soon will try my first laminated recurve. Archery and hunting are becoming luxury pursuits I'm afraid and the more popular they become for.good or bad the more we're all going to pay for it

 

[KYhunter66]

There is a definite uptick in the amount of people converting over to traditional bows. Looking around at prices of bows, there are a lot of options for low cost, production bows. I think these type of bows shoot just fine and seem to hold up well they usually leave a little to be desired in appearance.

Let’s face it, part of the allure of traditional bows (to me at least) is the aesthetics. Nothing like looking at a high dollar custom work of art type bow. On this custom end bows are typically in the $1,000-$1,700 range give or take a bit. To spend that kind of money on the bow then you need arrows, quiver, etc., it’s hard to commit to that jump where you’re laying down your $200 bow and spending $1,500.

Why are there not more bowyers making the midrange $400-$700 bows. There needs to be more options where it’s a good performing hunting bow with just enough visual appeal to satisfy your appetite on aesthetics part but not so pretty that your afraid to scratch it going through briars.

I know there are some options, bear for example. But more recently it seems like they are having some quality control issues.

What do you all think?

Bivouac bows Jim Belcher and Georiga make some really nice bows at a good price I just received my Hilljacks and they are flawless.

 

[Swampwalker]

Bivouac bows Jim Belcher and Georiga make some really nice bows at a good price I just received my Hilljacks and they are flawless.

Yep, Jim's a friend and makes a fine bow.

 

[Jammintree]

I’ve picked up a couple vintage bows from Craigslist for $50.

 

[HawRiverArcher]

I'm kicking myself for all the cheap vintage bows I've passed up on Craigslist over the years. Unfortunately they seem to be realizing what they have and can charge near me and the sweet deals have dried up.

 

[JoyRyd]

First, I’m not a bowyer. Second, I’ve never considered making my own trad bow. Third, if a custom bowyers builds a bow with a fault…..they will almost ALWAYS replace or repair without charge…..it’s a pride/personal thing:

That out of the way, I believe the craftsmanship, artistic input, and creativity that custom bowyers possess is exactly relational to cost. I’m at a point in my life, and now hunting career (+/- 45 yrs), that I won’t shoot a bow I don’t have some form of connection with. These include beauty, sentimental value, or just a great shooter. I’m also at a point in my life where I don’t buy to buy. If I purchase a bow, it is never based on cost. I’ve earned that.

I understand that there needs to be an avenue for younger hunters to enter the trad market. But, my advice to them is simple: work hard, save your money, buy what you want (not need), and reap the benefits. Just My Opinion, of course.

 

[Phopkins]

I don't think custom bowyers are generally overpriced. They should be entitled to a wage befitting any craftsman. Realize that if one were to make $75 per hour as self employed that is on par with someone making about $40 with a decent benefit package. Maybe less than 40 with health insurance costs the way they are.

 

[Heydeerman]

I don't think custom bowyers are generally overpriced. They should be entitled to a wage befitting any craftsman. Realize that if one were to make $75 per hour as self employed that is on par with someone making about $40 with a decent benefit package. Maybe less than 40 with health insurance costs the way they are.

I would agree. The list of guys building good custom bows gets shorter every year. A guy should get paid for what he knows as well as what he does.

 

[HuumanCreed]

First, I’m not a bowyer. Second, I’ve never considered making my own trad bow. Third, if a custom bowyers builds a bow with a fault…..they will almost ALWAYS replace or repair without charge…..it’s a pride/personal thing:

That out of the way, I believe the craftsmanship, artistic input, and creativity that custom bowyers possess is exactly relational to cost. I’m at a point in my life, and now hunting career (+/- 45 yrs), that I won’t shoot a bow I don’t have some form of connection with. These include beauty, sentimental value, or just a great shooter. I’m also at a point in my life where I don’t buy to buy. If I purchase a bow, it is never based on cost. I’ve earned that.

I understand that there needs to be an avenue for younger hunters to enter the trad market. But, my advice to them is simple: work hard, save your money, buy what you want (not need), and reap the benefits. Just My Opinion, of course.

Making bows as a living is not going to make you rich. Especially for such a small buyers base. But supplies pay a big part in prices. Most bowyers are probably making less profits than what you think they are making.

Did I missed something? Custom bowyers just jump up 20% overnight????

Average price for all the well known bowyers and smaller bowyers just jump up a lot. Big Jim was $800 when I check before Christmas and its now $995. A smaller bowyer I had my eye on just change his pricing from $600 to $800. I know Maddog just recently 'retired', but the bowyer made it clear...

saddlehunter.com

 

[Wlog]

My intent in posting isn’t to say that custom bows cost too much or that entry level production bows aren’t any good. Just that there is a large gap in price and am surprised there aren’t more mid price range bows.

 

[HawRiverArcher]

My intent in posting isn’t to say that custom bows cost too much or that entry level production bows aren’t any good. Just that there is a large gap in price and am surprised there aren’t more mid price range bows.

I suspect it's a profit margin thing. Bear makes a few what I would call "mid-range" wood bows, but they can profit off of them as they're machine turned and or molded. In other words one technician can have several being worked at once so labor costs are less.

It's not just a trad bow thing either. You can see mid-range bows are gradually disappearing in the compound world too. There are still some again, Bear being notable. But many manufacturers have turned that over to the Asian companies to provide. Some companies are calling $700-1000 mid-range bow as well when it used to be $200-600. Inflation and price creep I guess.

 

[BTaylor]

My intent in posting isn’t to say that custom bows cost too much or that entry level production bows aren’t any good. Just that there is a large gap in price and am surprised there aren’t more mid price range bows.

Exactly why I never got into making bows to sell. I'd have 30-40 hours in a bow plus materials. $400-500 was just not worth the effort as a side gig. And back then I was already working 50-60 hours a week at my regular job.

 

[GCTerpfan]

Exactly why I never got into making bows to sell. I'd have 30-40 hours in a bow plus materials. $400-500 was just not worth the effort as a side gig. And back then I was already working 50-60 hours a week at my regular job.

You can lose money on everyone you make, you just have to make it up in volume.

 

[Heydeerman]

My intent in posting isn’t to say that custom bows cost too much or that entry level production bows aren’t any good. Just that there is a large gap in price and am surprised there aren’t more mid price range bows.

Back in the day when I sold trad blows and accessories, I used to sell a bunch of Chaparral bows in the $3-400 range, I still have one that I shot every now and then. When John Fazio (RIP) designed that bow he was looking for a bow that would shoot with his high end bows but be affordable to the average guy. He made them with dymondwood handles and maple limbs and they shot great. Bamboo limbs became an option for $50 extra later on. They were hard to beat.