Toelke or black widow

[thinhorn_AK]

If you were looking for a takedown longbow and wanted to buy once-cry once, which would you get? I’ve been wanting a longbow for awhile after shooting my friends. I was looking at the bivouac but for a few hundred bucks more you can get the best.

Does anybody have a toelke or black widow takedown longbow?

Thanks!!!

 

[wildwilderness]

Black widow has that “rental” option to try one out. Seems like a good idea if you are going to put that much into a bow

 

[Clintopher]

I haven’t had my finger on the pulse for quite a while but 10-15 years ago there where many awesome bowyers out there. I owned a few and shot a bunch more. My advice, worry more about your skills than the bow. They’ll all get the job done. It’s simply a matter of how pretty you want the bow to be.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

I've owned three Toelkes. Loved all of them. Still want another one right now. I sold the off because my bows were way heavier than I like to shoot, and a Widow was catching my eye at the time. I don't think you can beat a Toelke Whip on the longbow front. Especially now that they offer their target grip as an option. On the recurve side, I am really enjoying my Widow PMA. But I don't think it's any better than my old Toelke SS. I just got the itch to try something new. If anything the Toelke is quieter, and has less limb vibration after the shot.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I haven’t had my finger on the pulse for quite a while but 10-15 years ago there where many awesome bowyers out there. I owned a few and shot a bunch more. My advice, worry more about your skills than the bow. They’ll all get the job done. It’s simply a matter of how pretty you want the bow to be.

I agree, but to practice the skills I need to have a bow. Right now I just have a few recurves but my buddy has a long bow and I’ve really been enjoying it. I think it’s a Mohawk or a tomahawk or something.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Black widow has that “rental” option to try one out. Seems like a good idea if you are going to put that much into a bow

Yeah that is sweet.

 

[Clintopher]

Well in that case allow to confound the issue.

centaurarchery

centaurarchery

centaurarchery.com

I never shot one but these are what I was chomping on the bit for right before life got in the way and stopped going in the woods altogether.

 

[TxxAgg]

Toelke or Centaur

i've had many of each.

 

[Clintopher]

I’ve never heard a cross word about a Toelke though. Always admired them from afar as well.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Well in that case allow to confound the issue.

centaurarchery

centaurarchery

centaurarchery.com

I never shot one but these are what I was chomping on the bit for right before life got in the way and stopped going in the woods altogether.

Wow, those are cool. How many damn bow companies are there right now lol.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Wow, those are cool. How many damn bow companies are there right now lol.

Lots... Centaur is another great longbow. Toelke's do have a shorter wait time than most custom bowyers, if that makes a difference to you.

 

[Clintopher]

Not sure how the forum is these days but a decade or so ago tradgang was a pretty good for going down that rabbit hole.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Not sure how the forum is these days but a decade or so ago tradgang was a pretty good for going down that rabbit hole.

I'll check that out. I'm just getting back into it. I shot trad bows years ago and recently pulled out my old bear grizzly, then grabbed a bear super kodiak which is ok. Now after going down the rabbit hole and seeing all the new bows out there right now I'm looking to score a few high end bows, one recurve and one longbow. As much as I'd like to try them all, that just isn't in the cards so I want to be sure what I buy will make me happy. A Toelke whip is Definetly at the top of the list. I don't see much love for Bob Lee bows around here, why is that?

 

[Beendare]

Both great.
If wait time is an issue Toelke is probably going to be better…..usually a month.

BW makes some models that have a heavier riser that Toelke doesn’t make.

So it depends what you are looking for

 

[Wrench]

I have two Toelke take downs, a 64" whip and a 58" Whistler. Both 50@28. The whip is the mist forgiving, quickest takedown that you can't misplace a part for.

I have a Beautiful Stalker and and a Tomahawk that I'm quite partial to as well.

Comparing a Toelke to a widow is quite a stretch. Dan strives for a sleek lightweight bow that performs perfectly and looks very good.

Widow tends ro have more eye apeal and options.....but they're not what steal my heart in a longbow.

The Toelke will be so dead in your hand that you can shoot it without gripping it and it will not jump. They are super quiet. The whip is not as fast as the Whistler, but you CANNOT screw it up. The Whistler is WAAAAY more forgiving than a 58" bow should be capable of.

There's a reason used Toelke bows bring good money and do it fast.

 

[butcherboy]

Not to take away from the Bowen you are looking at but I just ordered a Stalker Coyote FXT today. It’s a takedown that I ordered with interchangeable recurve and longbow limbs. Splayed maple on the back and belly of the riser. Cocobolo for the flare. Black and White ebony for the limb veneers footed with Cocobolo. Also ordered a Weasel recurve for my 7 yr old daughter. 3-4 months, can’t wait!

 

[1moredeer]

I shot traditional archery for years, a Black Widow recurve was my bow of choice. I tinkered with long bows and had the opportunity to shoot several different brands. The smoothest bow I’ve ever shot was a Dave Johnson cedar core Longbow. Dave retired but has since resumed building longbows. I have no affiliation with him, he just builds a fantastic bow.

 

[CentexBowhunter]

Just got my whistler in and it shoots like a dream! No experience with Widows, but liking my toelke so far. Dan made the process easy too

 

[Blackcow]

Much love for Bob Lee’s here. I’ve had a pile of them, from the Wing presentation I bought with chore money at a yard sale in 1981( I was 8, couldn’t draw it to my anchor for a year lol. But I worked at it daily), to the 2 blackhawks I’ve bought this year, and a bunch in between. My girlfriend( now wife) bought me a hunter in 93 for our anniversary and an exotic bicentennial for our 20th wedding anniversary.
But, I had a 66” whip, and a 1 piece 64ss. I sold the whip last fall with the intention of having a 2 piece made. I got sidetracked till May and when I got around to calling Dan they’re 5-6 months out. I’ve got a matching whip and 64ss coming in October ish.
Totally different animals. The toelkes are going to be lighter mass weight than any bob lee, even with the 10x riser in micarta and take down bolt. The take down toelke is about the same mass weight as the black widow pl iirc. About 2lbs give or take.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Much love for Bob Lee’s here. I’ve had a pile of them, from the Wing presentation I bought with chore money at a yard sale in 1981( I was 8, couldn’t draw it to my anchor for a year lol. But I worked at it daily), to the 2 blackhawks I’ve bought this year, and a bunch in between. My girlfriend( now wife) bought me a hunter in 93 for our anniversary and an exotic bicentennial for our 20th wedding anniversary.
But, I had a 66” whip, and a 1 piece 64ss. I sold the whip last fall with the intention of having a 2 piece made. I got sidetracked till May and when I got around to calling Dan they’re 5-6 months out. I’ve got a matching whip and 64ss coming in October ish.
Totally different animals. The toelkes are going to be lighter mass weight than any bob lee, even with the 10x riser in micarta and take down bolt. The take down toelke is about the same mass weight as the black widow pl iirc. About 2lbs give or take.

Right now I’m pretty sold on a 66” take down whip. Now to decide which recurve to get.