by petew on Sun Feb 07, 2010 10:49 am
I get to handle a lot of diferent bows, some are afordable to anyone some are very expensive. We have to look at what is good enough for our budget and needs. We can get into this game for very little and have a good shooting bow that will do our task, but at a cost.
As the prices increase I tend to see a few FPS added, and these will cost you. I also see the shooting quality increase in most cases as the price increases, as well as the fit and finish. You pay for this.
When we look at the price a big name demands we should also look at the re-sale price that bow brings in.
Now look at an economical bow from a new Bowyer.It is often a diamond in the rough. It will have less re-sale value, the bowyer may close shop before the warranty expires, and it may be lacking in workmanship, showing a couple "OOPS" marks, that would not be acceptable for a bow costing a lot more. Usualy it will be average in performance, often it has some light shock or vibrations, but in the long run for $350/$450 it will serve you well.Eye candy is usualy not that great. These are usualy plain jane bows. As the Bowyer developes a reputation for his work his prices will increase, or he closes shop from lac of sales. When the beginning bowyer has a design that shoots very well, feels good, and has good performance we get a bargain if we are willing to overlook some cosmetics. Sometimes his workmanship is near perfect, but his design is leaving something to be desired in shooting qualities and performance. Give him a bit of time and as he developes his designs and skill the price will reflect a better bow. When the bow becomes better we can expect to pay more.It is better.
The middle of the road price is where we often see some great bows at great prices , followed by some average bows at a price that is just to high. There are bows in the $500 to $600 range that are outstanding, as well as dogs. Talk to the Bowyer, and tell him what you expect. Ask questions, and find someone you know that has one. Don't rely on forums for good feedback from strangers. Often the posters are close friends trying to help their beer buddies out by raving about the bow, that they have never even shot. Ask in Private messages, and email, phone calls . You will get better feedback. Click the persons name and read their past posts. This will let you know if they are talking from knowledge or repeating what they read.
At the extreem low price you can get a self bow, or Hickory backed bow for around a hundred bucks to a bit more.Some of these are great shooters, for the hundred bucks you paid. Finish is adequate for it's function, lots of tool marks, probably some not so perfect tiller, hand shock is expected, and so on, but it will kill any critter you want, and provide a lot of recreation fun. Some are just plain Jane fun to shoot bows.
Some of these bargain self bows are junk, less than amature in every aspect and not worth $20 bucks .
Some self bows will comand a very high price, and are excelent in craftsmanship , you pay for the name, quality of material and workmanship, and re-sale value. They may make you feel warm and fuzzy when you shoot them , or they may make you very dissapointed. A $150 dollar bow for $700 is not a good experience.
Frequently the consumer is looking for a magic bow .They don't exist. If they shoot a 12" group at 20 yards they hope to buy 2" acuracy. Not going to happen. You can buy eye candy, and shooting quality.It is up to you to learn to shoot and tune to the best of your ability. It puzzles me to see someone drop big bucks on a new bow and complain that their arrows from past bows do not fly right on the new bow and blame the bowyer, or the bow.
As for the 4 hour bow, they do exist, and again some are good, but most are not. The simple design 1 piece bow can and is being made that shoots good, and looks good in 4 hours by a bowyer I know. When he makes these models he is making a lot of the same model at a time, in a production line . Set up / clean up time to do a task is the same if you are cutting out 1 piece or 20. Intricate designs like Sixby makes is not going to be done in 4 hours .
The bowyer making 1 bow at a time will spend a lot more manhours per bow.
{I saw the Piper bow thread.}
Keep your expectations in perspective.You can have an excelent bow for the price, no matter what that price is. It is "excelent for that price!" Big name bowyers can't get away with the flaws that a new kid on the block can. Don't compare a $150 dollar bow to a Thousand dollar bow. Both may be excelent "FOR THE PRICE YOU PAY". If you want pretty it costs, if wou want FPS it costs, if all you want is function, it can be very affordable.
How much time it takes the bowyer to make the bow is realy irelavent.Some Bowyers have minimal tools and are slow methodical workers, some have every tool made, a large spacious shop, and are highly efficent craftsmen. The bottom line is know what you expect to get for your money, and make sure the Bowyer knows what you expect to get for your money. If you can not agree then either find a diferent bowyer, or change your expectations.
You have the right to get a good bow , and the Bowyer has a right to make a profit. Somewhere there is a match if both the customer and bowyer are reasonable in what they expect from each other.
Today I am shooting a $450 bow that is a real nice shooter. Several compound shooters have shot this bow and fell in love with it. 1 Lady likes it so much she purchased a recurve from the Range store after 1 hour shooting it. The little 33#RC she bought cost $235, and is a custom made. It is a real nice bow for the money.Her new Compound is up for sale, she has her mother and her Father in law shooting also. Her husband came up to me Friday night asking where to buy himself a bow like the Demo bow I had him and his wife shooting when she converted. He is realy impressed to see what under $500 can buy, and wants in. I expect that he will be talking to the Bowyer that built this review bow very soon.
Pete
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and not because we want to but because we have to, to complete the orders to collect the check which keeps the lights on, roof over the head and family fed. And thats not speaking in terms of regret for what we do. We choose what we want to do and choose to be proud of it. because after you pay all the bills for the month, pride is about all you got left.
Skype peteward.com
Bob