Tons of them. Black Widow always lied about how their bows shot so hard that you had to use a stiffer arrow than others (because of their vertically stacked laminate limbs....lol). In reality, they were just more cut to or past centershot than many other wood bows from the 1990s/early 2000s, which necessitates a stiffer spine. This was well known at tradtalk.com back when it was very popular and a bit of a running joke. Can't blame them, it's a great spin job and marketing and I believed it at first also when reading their lit and watching their videos. Actual speed tests showed that they were only slightly above average in the speed department, with many bows shooting harder.

I would go to Lancaster Archery and get a wood handle that accepts ILF limbs and then buy some ILF longbow limbs.

 

Widows ain’t know for their speeds. Border, Morrison and South’s ACS limbs are much faster then any widow longbow all specs the same.

 

I would almost bet that the Bear Ausable would be as fast and a lot cheaper.

 

Love my ausable

 

Fruitman -

The guys pretty much nailed it. There's a lot of hype with BWs; not that they are "bad", just not stellar in any real (quantifiable) regard.

With that, if you can figure out exactly what it is about your BW that you like, you might be able to find another bow with similar features. On the other hand, what's your experience with other longbows? With an open mind, you might actually find something you like better at a lower price. Just can't say from here.

Viper1 out.

 

Northern Mist makes a great longbow! Have 2 of them

 

You would have to define what is great about the Black Widow. There was a used one on the wall of the shop for a year or so. I shot it several times, and didn't get along with it well enough to justify the price. The Omega Royal Huntsman and Imperial grip work much better for me.

 

Omega longbows

 

I did very well this year competing with an Omega Royal Huntsman longbow. Equal quality and performance to much higher priced bows.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I've been hunting with traditional bows for about 35 years or so. Many of those years I was a self Bowyer and I even made some good laminate longbows. I got to a place in my life where I didn't enjoy making bows as much as I enjoyed shooting and hunting with them.

I bought a BW longbow in the 90s because, at the time, they were held out as "the best" in my circles. I liked how smooth they are, how quiet, and how little handshock they had. Above all, I liked how lightweight they are.

I have an ILF bow and several sets of limbs. I'm not really a fan. Mine (a Morrison) seems to be louder than my one piece longbows. Its also much heavier. I got the 43# BW after surgery on both shoulders. I'm to the point I'd like to go up to 48# but will not pay BW prices.

I will check out Northern Mist and Omega. I will also check out any other recommendations I get from you guys for one piece longbows. Thanks again.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I've been hunting with traditional bows for about 35 years or so. Many of those years I was a self Bowyer and I even made some good laminate longbows. I got to a place in my life where I didn't enjoy making bows as much as I enjoyed shooting and hunting with them.

I bought a BW longbow in the 90s because, at the time, they were held out as "the best" in my circles. I liked how smooth they are, how quiet, and how little handshock they had. Above all, I liked how lightweight they are.

I have an ILF bow and several sets of limbs. I'm not really a fan. Mine (a Morrison) seems to be louder than my one piece longbows. Its also much heavier. I got the 43# BW after surgery on both shoulders. I'm to the point I'd like to go up to 48# but will not pay BW prices.

I will check out Northern Mist and Omega. I will also check out any other recommendations I get from you guys for one piece longbows. Thanks again.

Look on the classifieds here. Between now and mid December some good deals to be had. Black Widows are always on the market. There's a good chance you can find a gently used one for a fair price.

 

Look up Wes Wallace Bows. I have 2 of his Royal LB’s. My new one (last year) has everything he has to offer except checkering of grip and spliced limb lams. Still under a grand. Wait time was 7 months.

 

The claim that some of these longbows seriously outperform is simply not true unless you are talking centaur. I‘ve owned some with carbon limbs, including Dryad ACS longbow limbs- there is only so much you can get out of those conventional longbow designs. The reports of world beating performance are highly exaggerated. Some slightly outperform …but its not significant. You have to look at Border/Centaur if you want serious performance increases.

I would look for a used longbow in your specs- tons of them out there…or a new Omega.

 

For the money it's hard to beat the Mesa longbow from 3rivers.

 

Can confirm. I have the Old Mountain Mesa 45lb in 64", I draw it a little heavier. Outshoots my Bodniks, and some on this site found it is faster than the Toelke Whip.

It has a really nice arrow cast, no hand shock and quick recovery. I think the speed comes from the unusually narrow limb profile.

It's not cut real close to center, but is a quick bareshaft tune nonetheless.

 

No doubt there are many fine longbow makers out there with lower prices then the Black Widow. And probably many cast an arrow much faster. With that being said there certainly isn't anything wrong with the Black Widow. When matched up with the correct shaft, it's a nice looking, quality shooting bow that's backed up with some history and wonderful customer service.

 

If they would cut the PL past center I'd own one. But they make the excuse it would weake. The bow too much.

 

If you order G10 in the riser they will cut to center.

 

To isn't an eighth past.

 

Yes, that’s why I said “to center”
And because it will make the riser too weak is not an excuse. It’s a reason. Think they ever tested their theory?

 

Well Doug, many other bowyers do. In fact every one of my five Primal Tech bows are cut 3/32nds to 1/8th past center. Big Jim will cut his past center. Bob Lee will as well. Many bowyers do. So I would think given the fact that others can with G10 or micarta then they could as well.

The fact of the matter is many old timers of the trad world think it's their job to police what is really trad and what isn't. I've seen discussions on this very subject on traditional forums and there's always a turd or two who want to demean or belittle someone for shooting bows cut past center because that's not what a traditional bow is.
Maybe that's not the case here but regardless, I like a bow cut past center. I can shoot stiffer and heavier arrows that way and they are much easier to tune with.
I have shot a couple though and they are nice bows.

 

I've seen discussions on this very subject on traditional forums and there's always a turd or two who want to demean or belittle someone for shooting bows cut past center because that's not what a traditional bow is.

The irony being for 60,000 years or so, bows didn't even have windows. An ASL is an extremely modern high tech and untraditional bow when you zoom out a couple of clicks. And that's before we even get started on space age string materials and glues!

We trad archers can tend to be a little myopic and precious.

 

Agreed G Cook, it gets a bit ridiculous and its a rabbit hole argument.
I ask those DB’s that say that- why didn’t you knapp your own BHs from obsidian If you want to be “ authentic” trad

 

I'm sorry Doug. I guess I was just wondering why you were defending their apparent lack of ability to adjust to customer's needs. I didn't intend to offend your sensitivities.
The fact that I thought I was very clear in my statement yet you found the need to challenge my point of view caused me to respond more directly and with more reasoning on why I believed they are incorrect in it causing a weak riser "IF" they use G10. But hey, until the carbon limbs they hadn't done anything new in decades. BW makes fine bows. Except for the PL and PSR I find none of them have nice lines. But they have continued to attract a wide customer base so regardless of what I think, I'm sure they'll survive my insensitive pointvof view.

 

I'm sorry Doug. I guess I was just wondering why you were defending their apparent lack of ability to adjust to customer's needs. I didn't intend to offend your sensitivities.
The fact that I thought I was very clear in my statement yet you found the need to challenge my point of view caused me to respond more directly and with more reasoning on why I believed they are incorrect in it causing a weak riser "IF" they use G10. But hey, until the carbon limbs they hadn't done anything new in decades. BW makes fine bows. Except for the PL and PSR I find none of them have nice lines. But they have continued to attract a wide customer base so regardless of what I think, I'm sure they'll survive my insensitive pointvof view.

Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 Seek help.

 

😆

 

Lol. Sorry bud. Just messing with you.

 

A few I’d look at would be Robertson, Stalker makes a sweet longbow, Kegan at Omega makes a great longbow, Wade at Rustic Archer makes a slick longbow, Northern Mist, Poison Dart, St. Patrick Lake, Cari-Bow makes the Featherhorn and that is a fantastic bow. Lots of great ones to look at. I agree with everything stated above so have some fun trying new stuff out.

 

""The fact of the matter is many old timers of the trad world think it's their job to police what is really trad and what isn't. I've seen discussions on this very subject on traditional forums and there's always a turd or two who want to demean or belittle someone for shooting bows cut past center because that's not what a traditional bow is. ""

It's not the old guys with this attitude, it's the modern "Trad" generation that thinks "traditional" is something that it never was, not what it really is or was. Us old guys know what was here back in the day and are comfortable with a lot of those things....including risers cut inside of center. That was being done even in the 50's, for pete's sake. Other things we are comfortable with are elevated rests; sights; and even releases that were also available shortly after WWII. It's not the old guys at all...look around you and check IDs.

 

In the last decade or so…I’ve seen a lot less Trad police types…lthats a good thing…who cares anyway…

 

The only thing BW has over the competitors is name recognition and resale value.