Custom Recurve Bows

My buddy just got a custom recurve bow made for himself. A really nice bow by Jack Kempf. The really cool thing about custom recurve bows is that you get exactly what you want. While you may pay the extra pennies, you’re getting the boyers soul in there.

A custom recurve bow is something that you can hand onto your children. You have a personal connection with the maker. You know where they live and they don’t just sell you something. You become their friend.

Now about the actual hard spec features and not just my foofy sentimental mumble.

With custom recurve bows you can get the grip moulded right to your hand like my buddy did. When he holds onto that bow, it just locks in. I mean, it’s made for HIS hand. He also got to pick out the woods, draw length and a host of other features he wanted to specifically have in his bow. Pretty cool.

Another cool thing is that any time he has any questions or may need help with his bow, Jack is only a call away. When I person identifies himself with his work, he puts his best foot forward. Jack does.

As a side note.. the hardest thing about doing research for these articles is not buying everything I see. It’s like women and shoes, I swear. Now I think I need a #60 pound take down recurve because I saw it on ebay… and I want one.

So what options do you have when putting in the custom requests for your recurve bow? Let’s run the list:

Arrow Rest: Ah, the classic question of if you want to go pure traditional and shoot off the shelf or go with the questionably more accurate arrow rest on your custom.

Tips: Tons of options for limb tips. Do you want your custom recurve bow to sport some antler up there? No problem. Think of it and you can probably get it.

Length: Depending on if you are bush bashing or small blind hunting you might want a shorter bow length. Don’t want stack or finger pinch? Maybe you should go a little longer.

Draw Weight: Just getting into it? Have not shot for years? Maybe you want a custom bow that you can shoot well into your senior years. Lower weights are good there. Something in the 45-55 range. Then again, maybe you just want to blow and arrow through concrete and shoot 60 up. Another thing I’ve run into it that if you hunt in cold weather, draw weights of #60 and up get a little uncomfortable to pull when you are shaking and freezing. Maybe that’s just me.

Woods are pretty self explanatory. You could look at colors, properties and grain patterns for hours… so off you go.

Inlays: Let’s face it. One of the main reasons people get custom recurve bows is so they have a pretty bow they can brag about. Inlays fit the bill here. Look at the bear bows. Or Jack does the antler arrow head inlay. What about mother of pearl?

Limbs: Long or Recurve. Maybe both? My buddy got some long bow limbs to go on his custom recurve bow just because he could.

Sight or Quiver Mounts: Maybe you’ll shoot with a sight or want to mount a quiver on the side of your bow. Then again maybe you want to use a back quiver and leave your bow pristine and unblemished.

Here are some locations and names of custom recurve bow makers for you elitist archers out there
Jack Kempf in Edmonton (made my buddies bow)
http://www.jefferyarchery.com
http://www.weswallacebows.com/
http://www.hummingbirdbows.com/
http://www.assenheimer-bows.com/bows.html

If you know any custom recurve bow makers or are one yourself. Heck, even if you want to say hi, leave a comment below.