weswallacebows.com

A recurve bow is a bow whose limb tips curve back away from the archer when the bow is unstrung; that shape stores more energy in a shorter bow than a straight-limbed longbow. Choosing a custom one means matching the bow to your draw length and a target weight (within about one pound, per Custom Bows by Wes Wallace), then ordering through the maker's form or by phone with a deposit. This guide covers the fit decisions and the ordering steps for a handcrafted recurve from a small Oregon shop.

Recurve vs. longbow: the practical difference

Both are traditional bows without wheels or pulleys, but they behave differently:

Custom Bows by Wes Wallace builds both, so the choice comes down to how you shoot and where. If you want a shorter bow for hunting cover, a recurve is the usual pick; if you prefer a longer, simpler profile, look at the longbow line.

Matching the bow to you: draw length and weight

The two numbers that matter most are your draw length and the weight you want to pull at that length.

• Draw length is the distance from the string to the deepest part of the grip when you're at full draw, plus a small allowance. A bowyer uses it to size the bow and set the weight.
• Bow weight is measured in pounds at your draw length, not at a standard 28 inches. A bow marked 45 pounds at 28 inches will feel heavier if you draw 30 inches.
• Tolerance: Wes Wallace builds each bow to your specified weight for your draw length, plus or minus one pound. State both numbers clearly when you order.

A simple check before ordering: measure your draw length with a helper or at a shop, and decide on a weight you can control for many shots, not just one. For a first traditional bow, many archers start lighter than they expect.

What to specify when ordering a custom recurve

The shop handcrafts each bow one at a time to your specifications. Expect to provide:

1. Model — the site lists several recurves with pictures and descriptions; the top-of-the-line model is the "Mentor," named for the bowyer's mentor, Jim Brackenbury.
2. Draw length and bow weight — the required weight at your draw length, within one pound.
3. Shooting style — every bow is built to shoot off the shelf, so no arrow rest is needed; say so if you plan otherwise.
4. Deposit and contact details — required to start the order.

The ordering process, step by step

1. Browse the recurve pages and pick a model.
2. Fill out the custom bow order form and send it in with your deposit, or call (503) 632-7365 and pay the deposit by credit card.
3. Wait for a confirmation letter listing your balance and the approximate delivery date.
4. Pay monthly if you like, but the balance must be paid in full before the bow ships.
5. Inspect the bow on arrival: check the weight and draw length against your order, look over the limbs and finish, and confirm it shoots off the shelf as built.

Warranty and what to check on delivery

Every bow carries a two-year warranty against material and workmanship defects. Anything beyond that period depends on the condition of the bow, so keep records of how you store and shoot it. On delivery, verify the draw weight and length first, then examine the limbs and grip for defects before you shoot; report any issue to the shop promptly.

Is a custom recurve the right call for you?

Choose a custom recurve if you want a bow built to your exact draw length and weight, shoot off the shelf, and value one-at-a-time craftsmanship from a bowyer with decades of experience (Wes Wallace has built bows since 1978 and full-time since 1988). Choose an off-the-shelf bow instead if you need something immediately or want to try several weights before committing. For a hunting setup in Oregon cover, the shorter recurve profile is the practical starting point; contact the shop at 21420 S Upper Highland Road, Beavercreek, OR 97004 to confirm current models, lead times, and deposit terms before you send an order.

You order a custom bow by choosing a model, submitting the maker's order form with a deposit (or paying the deposit by phone with a credit card), then waiting for a confirmation letter that states your balance and approximate delivery date. At Custom Bows by Wes Wallace in Beavercreek, Oregon, each recurve or longbow is built one at a time to the customer's specifications and to the required weight for their draw length, plus or minus one pound. Every bow is built to shoot off the shelf. The sections below cover what to decide before ordering, how the process runs, and the payment, delivery, and warranty terms the maker publishes.

What to Decide Before You Order

The maker's site separates recurves and longbows, with photos and descriptions of each model, plus an accessories section. Browse those pages first, because the order form follows the model you pick.

Two specifications drive the build:

• Draw length — the maker builds to the required weight for your draw length, so you need this measurement before ordering.
• Draw weight — the finished bow is built to your requested weight with a tolerance of plus or minus one pound.

Also confirm the arrow rest setup. The site states every bow is built to shoot off the shelf, which suits traditional setups; if you planned on a different rest style, raise it with the maker before the build starts rather than after.

The Ordering Process, Step by Step

1. Browse the bow pages. Review the recurve and longbow models and their descriptions, and note the one you want.
2. Complete the order form. Fill in the Custom Bows Order Form with your specifications.
3. Send the form with your deposit. The deposit is what starts the order.
4. Or order by phone. If you need help ordering, you can place the order over the phone and pay the deposit by credit card.
5. Wait for your confirmation letter. Once the form is processed, you receive a letter with your remaining balance and the approximate delivery date.
6. Pay the balance before shipping. You may make monthly payments on your order, but the balance must be paid in full before the bow ships.

How to verify it worked: the confirmation letter is your proof the order is in the queue — check that the model, draw length, target weight, balance, and approximate delivery date all match what you intended. If anything is off, call (503) 632-7365 before the build progresses.

Common sticking points:

• Sending the form without the deposit — the order isn't processed until the deposit arrives.
• Assuming the quoted delivery date is fixed — the letter gives an approximate date, and each bow is made individually.
• Planning to pay the balance on delivery — payment in full is required before the bow is shipped, so budget the final payment ahead of the ship date.

Payment, Delivery, and Warranty at a Glance

The site does not publish prices, deposit amounts, or shipping costs — ask for these when you call or when you submit the form, and get the figure in writing in your confirmation letter.

Who This Maker Fits

Wes Wallace has worked in woodworking since 1972 and built his first bow in 1978 under Jim Brackenbury, building bows in Jim's shop on and off until the late 1980s and full-time with him from 1988. He started his own company as a full-time occupation in 1991, and named his top-of-the-line recurve the "Mentor" in remembrance of Jim. He crafts each bow himself, with his wife, Paula, handling paperwork and shipping.

That profile suits a buyer who wants a one-at-a-time, hand-built bow matched to their draw length and weight, is comfortable with a deposit-and-wait process, and values a two-year workmanship warranty. If you need a bow immediately, or want published prices and firm delivery dates before committing, this ordering model — deposit first, approximate date, balance due before shipping — will feel slow; ask about current lead times by phone before you send a deposit.

Practical Checklist Before You Send the Deposit

• Model chosen from the recurve or longbow pages
• Draw length measured and confirmed
• Target draw weight noted, remembering the ±1 lb tolerance
• Deposit amount and payment method confirmed (form or phone/credit card)
• Current lead time and shipping cost asked about directly
• Accessories you need identified from the accessories page and ordered on the separate Accessories Order Form

Contact: (503) 632-7365 · 21420 S Upper Highland Road, Beavercreek, OR 97004.

A custom longbow is a single-piece wooden bow built to your draw length and target weight, and you order one by choosing a bowyer, reviewing their bow models, submitting an order form with a deposit, and confirming the balance and delivery date before the bow ships. The approach below fits anyone buying a handcrafted longbow directly from a maker — for example, from Custom Bows by Wes Wallace in Beavercreek, Oregon — rather than a mass-produced bow off a retail shelf.

Longbow vs. Recurve: What Actually Differs

Both are traditional wooden bows, but they behave differently in the hand and in how they're built.

If you want the simplest traditional experience and a bow that's easy to understand and maintain, a longbow is the natural choice. If you've shot recurves and prefer their draw characteristics, stay with a recurve — the same bowyer often makes both, so you can compare within one shop.

What to Specify When You Order

A custom longbow is built around you, so the numbers you provide matter more than the model name.

• Draw length. Measure your actual draw length; the bowyer builds the bow to the required weight at that length. At Custom Bows by Wes Wallace, each bow is built to the required weight for your draw length, plus or minus one pound.
• Target weight. State the poundage you want at your draw length, not a generic catalog number.
• Shelf shooting. Confirm whether you want the bow built to shoot off the shelf. The Wallace shop builds every bow to shoot off the shelf, so if you plan to use a rest, ask about it before ordering.
• Model and wood choices. Browse the maker's bow pages for pictures and descriptions, then note the model and any wood or finish preferences.

Write these down before you fill out any form — they're the details that determine whether the finished bow feels right.

The Ordering Process, Step by Step

1. Browse the maker's bow pages. Look at pictures and descriptions of the available longbows and pick the model that matches your shooting style.
2. Complete the order form. Fill it out with your specifications and send it in with your deposit.
3. Or order by phone. If you need help, you can place the order over the phone using a credit card for the deposit.
4. Wait for confirmation. After your form is processed, you receive a confirmation letter with your balance and the approximate delivery date.
5. Pay as you go, if you like. Monthly payments toward the order are allowed, but the balance must be paid in full before the bow ships.

Verification: the confirmation letter is your checkpoint — check that the draw length, weight, and model listed match what you asked for, and that the delivery estimate fits your season or hunt dates.

Common snag: ordering close to a hunt and assuming the bow will arrive in time. The delivery date is approximate, so build in a buffer and confirm the timeline before you commit a deposit.

Warranty and Bowyer Experience to Check

Before committing, ask two questions: how long is the warranty, and who actually builds the bow?

• Warranty. Custom Bows by Wes Wallace offers a two-year warranty on all bows against material and workmanship defects; coverage beyond that period depends on the condition of the bow. Ask any maker for their equivalent terms in writing.
• Who builds it. At this shop, each bow is handcrafted one at a time by the bowyer himself, with his wife handling paperwork and shipping — a sign that "custom" means one maker, not a factory line.
• Experience. Wes Wallace has been in woodworking since 1972, built his first bow in 1978 under bowyer Jim Brackenbury, worked full-time with him from 1988, and started his own company in 1991. His top-of-the-line recurve, the "Mentor," is named in Brackenbury's memory. A documented apprenticeship and decades of full-time bowyering are reasonable things to look for in any custom maker.

Comparing Custom Longbow Makers

Use the same dimensions for every maker you consider, and get answers in writing:

The Wallace shop publishes a phone number, (503) 632-7365, and a shop address in Beavercreek, OR, and states that its bows are top-quality products at a reasonable price — but it does not list prices online, so call to confirm current pricing and lead time rather than assuming either.

A Practical Example

Suppose you draw 28 inches and want a 50-pound longbow for Oregon blacktail deer season. You'd browse the longbow pages, note the model, fill out the order form specifying 28-inch draw length and 50 pounds at that length, and send it with the deposit. Your confirmation letter should show the balance and an approximate delivery date; you pay the remainder in full before shipping. When the bow arrives, verify the weight and that it's set up to shoot off the shelf, then test it well before opening day.

To start, call the shop or submit the order form with your specifications and deposit — and confirm price, lead time, and warranty terms on that call before any money changes hands.