From: shawn@ut-emx.uucp (Shawn Boyd)
Newsgroups: alt.archery
Subject: Re: Long Bow Sales
Date: 28 Jul 92 00:27:47 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin; Austin, Texas

In article <1992Jul23.151556.8055@infonode.ingr.com> 
daryl@dman.b24a.ingr.com (Daryl Owens) writes:
>I have been following this group for a few weeks now and am trying to 
>get back into the swing of things after a fifteen year absence from
>archery.  My officemate has asked me to post the following request for 
>information.
>                      * * * * *
>

 Welcome back.  

>Does any know where we can get the names of manufacturers and/or stores
>that sell Long Bows (preferably all wood construction) in the 50-60 lb
>range.
>
 
 I haven't seen any follow ups to this posting, so maybe I can help.  Normally,
 I'd defer on this to someone with more experience.  My activities with a 
 bow are limited to practice for hunting, then hunting, and I have trained and 
 hunted primarily (actually, almost exclusively) with compounds.  I do own 
 what can be loosely referred to as a longbow known as a Martin Pioneer ML-10
 longbow which I shoot when I'm bored with the old routine of draw-anchor-aim...
 squeeeeeeze-that-release routine of practicing with my compounds.  There's 
 something free and easy (well, maybe not exactly "easy") about instinctive 
 anchor and shoot technique that's a lot of fun.  That is the full extent of 
 my experience with stick bows, so I am not pretending to any high level of 
 expertise.  I can however, give you some addresses, and some preliminary 
 thoughts.

 For purposes of this posting I'll expand the traditional definition of a long-
 bow to include both true English longbows (those being a subset of selfbows) as
 well as bows made of laminates through limb and riser.  I'll include all wood
 offerings from traditional bowyers that I can find, but for the sake of 
 completeness, (as well as out of regard for your friend's pocket book) I'll 
 not disallow "glass" as a component in either limb or riser.  Let's start 
 with the low end bows first.  All have glass in the limbs, some just on the 
 back, some on back and belly.  I'm seeing ranges of $140.00 to $275.00.  Any-
 thing less, and you may very well be the owner of a less than useful bow.  
 Anything more, and you've graduated from the starter arena of traditional 
 archery (although I'll say that you can pay more for a lousey bow).

 Interestingly, Bowhunter's Discount Warehouse offers two longbows from Martin 
 and Indian-Martin in this Summer's catalog.  The Pioneer ML-10 (which I have 
 so much fun with) prices out at $141.00.  The Indian-Martin Bushmaster runs 
 $199.00.  The ML-10 is made of Maple and Black glass on back and belly with 
 an unspecified hardwood stacking the grip at the riser.  Since I happen to own
 this bow, and enjoy shooting it, I can say that it's a good starter bow and 
 comes in two weights; 50#'s at AMO 28" and 70#'s at AMO 28" -- naturally, 
 "your mileage will vary" according to your draw length (almost bound to be 
 longer than 28").  

 The Indian-Martin Bushmaster runs $199.00.  It's limbs are Red Elm, with an 
 exotic wood riser (something called Amazakway).  The limbs are clear glass 
 backed.  The belly is not glassed.  I've never seen it, never shot it.  It 
 comes in three weights, 50#, 60# and 70#.   It has a deflex (AKA reflex) limb
 design (not a recurve, but definately flexed) and therefore will not qualify 
 as a longbow among some traditionalists.  The Amazakway riser is grey and 
 brown, so it is probably a very handsome bow with those Red Elm limbs.  I 
 wonder if "Amazakway" is a wood coming from region(s) along the Amazon.  I 
 just had a bit of fun trying to find the wood in a dictionary and came across
 "Amazon" in my poking around.  It seems that the word probably comes from the 
 Greek "a" meaning "without" and "mastos" meaning without-breast; presumably, 
 one of which was removed by individuals in the mythological race of women 
 warriors to facilitate the shooting of the bow.  Jeez Louise!  Archery is fun 
 but... oh well, I digress.  Back to business.

 There are also several good offerings in recurves, but those aren't what you're
 looking for.  For further information;

 Address: Bowhunter Discount Warehouse       Phone (orders only): 717-432-8611
          1045 Zeigler Road, PO Box 158      FAX (orders only)  : 717-432-2683
          Wellsville, PA  17365              Customer Service   : 717-432-8651

 It seems that Cabela's has a couple of middle to high-middle priced longbows
 in for this fall.  I was very pleased to see that their prices seem to in 
 line with the archery specialty mail order houses this time.  They are an up-
 scale outfitter, that sometimes was a little pricey, but they must be reading
 other people's mail outs, because this year, prices have improved.  They have 
 two Jerry Hill longbows for sale.  If you haven't heard of Jerry Hill, maybe 
 you've heard of Howard Hill, his uncle.  Both these bows are absolutely 
 beautiful weapons.  Cabela's wants $199.95 for the Wildcat II, and $274.95 
 for the Stalker Deluxe.  I've seen, but never shot, both these bows.  The 
 difference in price comes primarily from the number of laminates in the wood
 constructs of the limb and riser -- 38 layers in the Wildcat, and 48 in the 
 Stalker.  Also the Wildcat has a black glass back, the Stalker has a clear 
 glass back. 

 Address: Cabela's                            Phone orders: 1-800-237-4444
          812 - 13th Avenue                   Customer Ser: 1-800-237-8888
          Sidney, Nebraska  69160 

 I've dealt with Cabela's and have invariably been impressed with their service,
 and the quality of their products.  They rate right up there with REI and  
 Gander Mountain in terms of high end mail order houses -- and, of course, REI
 isn't about to sell anything you might go shoot something with.  Also, this 
 year, we have the added attraction of very competitive prices on bows and 
 archery tackle from Cabela's.  :-)

 OK, now for the big boys.  You'll have to contact these guys on more down 
 scale (less "sheik") terms.  I've never had the pleasure of dealing with any
 of these people, but know of their products by reputation.  These bows are 
 going to run ya just a wee-bit more I dare say.

 Jim Brackenbury Bows        Mostly recurves, but he might make longbows.  You 
 8326 S.E. 252nd Ave         can write and ask.  Charges $1.00 for "full color
 Gresham, OR  97080          brochure."  Don't know about his longbows, but you
 503-666-1667                should check -- his take down recurves are awesome.

 Robertson Stykbow           A traditional purist -- another one that wants a 
 Box 1432 - TB               dollar for a brochure (sigh...)
 Hamilton, MT  59840
 406-363-2528

 Black Widow Bows            These guys are known for their take down recurves.
 PO Box 160                  ...but they also make killer looking longbows, and
 Highlandville, MO  65669    whaddya know, this time the brochure's free.  Be 
 417-587-3358                sure to check these people out.  A famous, rep-
 417-587-6284 (FAX)          table company, making high quality products.

 Three Rivers Archery Supply --a big outfit for traditionalist; they want two 
 130 South Clinton           bucks for their catalog; but they gotta a lotta 
 Fort Wayne, Indiana  46802  stuff in it.
 no phone in the ad          

 Those are the one's I know of, and can say that without a doubt you won't be 
 wasting time researching the company/bowyer's and their bows.  There are many
 others, with whom I have no experience.  I saw a picture, though, of a bow I
 want to know more about from a company called American Longbow.  They show a 
 picture in an ad of a beautiful, simple longbow.  It would be a true self bow
 (no laminates) if it weren't for a buttery smoothe finished bamboo back about
 a quarter inch thick completely backing the bow almost to the nocks with a 
 100% natural wood belly.  No laminates, no glass anywhere.  Beautiful.  The
 riser at the grip was traditionally stacked with a carved wood piece for the
 lucky archer's palm grip.  Magnificent.  If you're serious, and want to spend
 some for real bucks on a keeper write to:

 American Longbow
 PO Box 2159
 Myrtle Creek, Oregon  97457
 503-863-7287

 These companies' addresses are from a periodical called Traditional Bowhunter.
 They have ads for many other companies I haven't included here because I know
 nothing about them.  For subscription information for the magazine write:

 Traditional Bowhunter
 PO Box 15583
 Boise, Idaho  83715
 208-888-4710

>Thanks in advance,
>
> - Daryl -

 Certainly.  And welcome back, friend.  Good lines and flat shots to you.

 Shawn Boyd
 Austin, Texas