Bow Options – Customize Your Great Northern Traditional Bow

Bow Options, Features & Ordering Information

At Great Northern Bow Co., every bow is built one at a time with the same focus that has defined our bows for decades—clean design, dependable performance, and handcrafted quality. Whether you are ordering your first traditional bow or adding another custom bow to your lineup, the details matter. From handle shape and riser materials to bow length and takedown options, each choice helps create a bow that feels right in your hand and performs the way you want it to in the field.

Why Choose a Great Northern Bow

A Great Northern bow is built for hunters and archers who appreciate traditional design, field-proven function, and custom craftsmanship. Our bows are known for their clean lines, stability, and performance, but just as important is the ability to build a bow that fits the way you shoot.

When ordering your bow, you can choose from a range of options and features that allow you to tailor your bow to your preferences, style, and hunting needs.

Custom Bow Options & Features

Green Fiberglass

For archers who appreciate the classic look of traditional bows from the 1960s and 70s, Great Northern offers green fiberglass on any of our bows. It’s a timeless option that combines vintage style with modern performance.

If you would like green fiberglass on your bow, simply mention it when placing your order.

Please note: Our limited-edition green is no longer available, but standard Gordon green glass is still offered.

Jack Knife Folding System

Our Jack Knife Folding System is one of the most unique and practical options available on a traditional bow. Designed for simplicity, durability, and ease of use, it provides fast, positive alignment with no loose parts and no tools required.

This system has been field-tested for more than 30 years without a single failure and is an excellent choice for:

Pickup cabs
Air travel
Backpacking
Horseback hunts
Any situation where compact transport matters

The Jack Knife system is available on all custom models of Great Northern bows.

Handle Options

Traditional Straight Grip

The traditional straight grip is the original Great Northern standard. It features straight sides with no locator index, offering a simple, clean feel that many traditional archers prefer.

Indexed Locator Grip

Our indexed locator grip is designed for archers who want a more defined hand position. It is slightly dished on the belly and fuller on the sides, creating a more positive and repeatable grip.

Power Wedges

Great Northern Power Wedges are standard on all models and are designed to improve

the overall performance of the bow.

Benefits include:

Enhanced performance
Increased stability
Stronger limb tips

This feature is part of what gives Great Northern bows their reputation for dependable field performance and durability.

Rattlesnake Bow Backing

For archers who want a bow with a truly distinctive look, rattlesnake bow backing adds both beauty and character. Skins are permanently bonded over the back glass and finished to a high standard, creating a striking appearance with a natural camouflage effect.

It’s a classic custom touch that gives a bow a one-of-a-kind look in the field.

Dymondwood Risers & Overlays

Great Northern offers Dymondwood risers and overlays for archers who want the rich look of figured wood combined with outstanding strength and consistency.

Made from ultra-thin laminations of domestic hardwoods that are impregnated with bonding resins and dyes, Dymondwood provides:

Excellent durability
Consistent performance
A flawless finish
The natural beauty often associated with exotic woods

Choosing the Right Bow Length

Selecting the proper bow length is one of the most important parts of ordering a traditional bow. A bow that fits your draw length and shooting style will feel smoother, more comfortable, and more efficient in the field.

If you are moving from a compound bow or a modern high-wrist recurve to a traditionally styled longbow or recurve, your draw length will usually be shorter on a traditional bow. In most cases, archers find that their traditional draw length is 2 to 3 inches shorter than their compound draw length.

Why Traditional Draw Length Is Shorter

There are three main reasons for this difference:

1. Traditional bows require a different kind of draw

Unlike a compound, a traditional bow places continuous tension on the archer throughout the draw cycle. This often creates a slightly more compact shooting posture.

2. Traditional bows are shot with a different hand position

Great Northern longbows and recurves are designed to be shot with a flat hand or broken wrist, rather than the high-wrist grip common on many compounds and modern recurves.

3. Traditional handles are slimmer through the shelf

The handle and shelf area of a traditional bow are generally muc

h slimmer than those of a compound or contemporary recurve, meaning less riser is pushed out in front of the shooter at full draw.

Using the Bow Length Chart

After determining your draw length, use the Great Northern bow length chart as a guide when selecting the proper bow length.

As a general rule:

Lean toward the longer side for recurves
Lean toward the shorter side for longbows and Bushbows

Keep These Two Principles in Mind

For any given draw length and bow length:

The shorter the bow, the greater the performance.
The longer the bow, the greater the stability.

The best choice depends on which of those qualities matters most to you.

Warranty Information

Five-Year Limited Warranty

Great Northern bows are guaranteed to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of five (5) years from the date of purchase.

This warranty applies only to the original purchaser and is not transferable.

This warranty is void if the bow shows signs of:

Misuse
Mishandling
Alteration

Warranty Coverage by Year

Years One & Two

During the first and second year, Great Northern will repair or replace the bow, whichever we determine to be appropriate.

The owner is responsible for all shipping charges to and from our shop.

Year Three

During the third year, Great Northern will repair or replace the bow, whichever we determine to be appropriate.

If the bow is replaced, the owner is responsible for 25% of the original purchase price
All shipping costs are the responsibility of the owner

Years Four & Five

During the fourth and fifth year, Great Northern will repair or replace the bow, whichever we determine to be appropriate.

If the bow is replaced, the owner is responsible for 50% of the original purchase price
All shipping costs are the responsibility of the owner

Additional Warranty Information

If damage occurs due to owner misuse or fault, repairs may still be made at our current repair rates
Bows returned for repair must be shipped to our shop postage prepaid
This warranty does not apply to bowstrings
This warranty does not apply to the finish on any bow

This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights that vary from state to state. Some states do not allow limitations on incidental or consequential damages, so portions of this warranty may not apply.

Before Returning a Bow

Please contact Great Northern Bow Co. for authorization before returning any bow for warranty work or repair.

When returning a bow, please include a letter describing the nature of the problem or claim.

Warranty Is Void If

The bow has been braced improperly or an incorrect string has been used
Recurves must be strung with a bow stringer only
Any attempt has been made to alter the bow
The model number or product identification information has been removed or defaced
Flagrant misuse or abuse is plainly evident