At Stone Age Outdoors, we work hard to build primitive style custom bows that are exactly what you want and last you through your lifetime. While we don’t expect our products to fail or have issues, it does happen occasionally.

This guide is here to help you properly use your bow and guide you in case you should need warranty. If there are ever any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. We want our customers to be completely satisfied and experience great customer service.

Along these lines, I will say that I am very willing to work with customers in special situations (say your bow broke two days after warranty ran out) if they contact me and are respectful. Starting to yell and curse at me will not get you anywhere.

Liability Disclaimer:

When using any products acquired from Stone Age Outdoors, it is the customers responsibility to take any and all safety precautions they deem necessary. Stone Age Outdoors will not be held liable for any injuries and/or deaths that happen while using our products whether it be personal or non personal.

Refunds:

Refunds for purchased products are definitely possible in certain instances, but that does not include shipping costs, packaging and handling.

It is the customers responsibility to make sure the bow makes it back to me if you have been approved for a refund (no refunds after one week from delivery date). This might require getting insurance against theft or damage.

Contact me personally if you desire a refund and we’ll see what we can work out. 

 

Wooden bows:

Contrary to what many think, wooden bows (self bows made from a single piece of wood) can and do last a long time. If treated properly, they can last for a lifetime!

However, because they are still wooden bows, they can not handle as much abuse as their fiberglass relatives. So even though they are super durable when treated properly, care must be taken to ensure longevity. 

All wood bows have their own unique character like knots, dips, wavy grain and other inconsistencies. But all these things make it so every bow is unique in its character. No one has a bow that’s exactly like yours! 

Moisture content:

Moisture plays a crucial role in the stability of your bow. Too little moisture and your bow might explode. Too much moisture and it can start performing sluggishly although typically it won’t break. If you notice your bow getting a bit sluggish because of humidity, take it inside and let it dry out at room temperature. If you happen to get caught in the rain for a few hours, wipe the bow down with a cloth and allow it time to dry out at room temperature. Avoid leaving your bow in hot vehicles. Sometimes I have to make heat corrections on a bow and if the bow is allowed to get too hot it might go back to its original shape. White woods absorb moisture from humidity a lot easier than Osage orange does. A properly sealed Osage bow is hardly affected by humidity. Just another reason why Osage is king! It is also not recommended to store your bow in any damp places. 

Side note: If you ordered an Osage bow, you’ll notice when you get your bow it will be a kind of gold/yellow color. As it ages though, Osage Orange heartwood turns into a beautiful dark brown! So your bow will continue to turn darker for years.

Customization:

If you have something in mind that you would like to see on your bow but don’t see it on my website, feel free to contact me and ask about it! I'm very willing to look into it for you so you get the exact bow that you want. Or if you’re looking for a specific type of wood feel free to ask and I’ll see what I can do! Take note that extra customization fees may apply on top of the usual price depending what you’re looking for. 

Stringing or bracing your bow:

Take a moment before stringing your bow to check the tips and limbs for any cracks, splinters or anything that looks abnormal. Once you’ve had your bow for a while, it shouldn’t be too hard to notice anything out of the ordinary. If you notice anything (like a crack or splinter), carefully unstring the bow (don’t shoot it!) and contact me. 

The bow should only be bent as far as is required for stringing, and the string should be kept tight while sliding it up to the nock. If the string is slack while stringing it means there is excessive tension being put on one limb and may cause it to break, possibly voiding warranty. 

Stringing Methods:

Step through method (recommended): This method is the simplest and safest method and therefore it is the one I recommend using. You can easily find instructions for this method online. The buyer assumes all responsibility for taking proper safety measures when stringing the bow. 

Push/Pull Method: This method works good but is harder to master. Your eyes and face are also in greater danger when pulling the bow towards yourself. This method isn’t recommended. 

Commercial Bow Stringers: Using one of these is not recommended for a wooden bow. It is far too easy to overdraw and potentially crack or break the bow while stringing. If your bow breaks while using one of these your warranty will be voided!

Shooting Your Bow: 

Never draw your bow past the specified draw length! Draw length is measured from the back (the side facing away from you) of the bow to the string. It is your responsibility to know your draw length. Don’t give your bow to other people, if they break it because it was overdrawn, your warranty is voided.

DO NOT DRY FIRE YOUR BOW! Bows store tremendous amounts of energy in the limbs at full draw. When shooting, the arrow absorbs that energy. If there is no arrow to absorb that energy, the bow limbs absorb it and could explode. Dry firing is drawing the bow and releasing without having an arrow nocked. This is harmful to the bow and can break it.

Avoid using ultra light carbon arrows as this is similar to dry firing your bow. Make sure you’re shooting arrows that are enough gpp (grains per pound) for your bow. The recommended weight is 10 gpp. This means your arrow should have 10 grains of weight for every pound of draw weight your bow has. 

Brace Height:

Brace height is measured from the thickest part of the handle on the belly side of the bow to the string. Lowering or raising brace height can be achieved by spinning the string one way or the other. It is not recommended to spin it too far though. 

Brace height for selfbows is lower than modern fiberglass bows. Recommended brace height is between 5.5 and 6 inches. If it’s too low it causes wrist slap, but if it’s too high you lose arrow speed because the power stroke on the bow isn’t as long. 

5.75 inches is usually very nice. 

How long can you leave your bow strung? 

If it’s not in use, unstring it. Always unstring it after you’re done shooting. If you’re hunting all day it’s perfectly fine, just make sure to unstring it overnight. The biggest thing is to not leave it strung for multiple days at once. Leaving a self bow strung for too long will cause it to lose performance. 

Storing your bow:

I recommend storing your bow either laying flat somewhere or hanging it up on a peg or something similar. Try to avoid hangers like nails, screws and other things that could scratch or gouge the bow. A rack with wooden pegs works really well!

It isn’t recommended to store it standing upright in a corner resting on the bottom tip as this can lead to the limb weakening over time. Avoid storing it in hot, dry places such as by a wood stove, furnace, or hot water heater, hot vehicles etc.

Don't leave your bow laying in direct sunlight if there’s shade to be had. Anything hot and dry! Also avoid damp places like sheds, storage containers or any place that gets damp. 

Bow care:

There is not a whole lot that I haven’t covered already. My bows are sealed with a polyurethane which is extremely durable. Even so, if you notice sealer wearing off or scraped off, it’s a good idea to reseal it. I haven’t used primitive sealers as of yet just because commercial sealers are less maintenance and stronger.

Other than that, regularly check your bow for any cracks, splinters or anything out of the ordinary. It’s also a good idea to wax your bowstring occasionally, especially when you notice it’s getting a bit fuzzy.