Interview with Jim Neaves of Centaur Archery
Tucked into Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains, master bowyer Jim Neaves has been shaping wood, fiberglass, and carbon into lightning-fast longbows and recurves for nearly 30 years. Just shy of 50, Jim has already left a mark on the traditional archery world with home-based shop, Centaur Archery. What began as a teenager’s fascination with arrows in flight has grown into a lifelong craft — blending art, engineering, and a deep respect for the hunt.
Figure 01: A beautifully preserved Osage selfbow that Jim made in 2010.
Matthew: You’re not even 50, yet you’ve been making bows for nearly three decades. How did that begin?
Jim: I was born and raised here in Montana, and the Bitterroots have always been home. Like most kids in their early teens, I whittled little sapling bows and arrows, and became fascinated by watching an arrow in flight. It’s mesmerizing — like staring at a campfire.
By the time I was 19, I was researching how to build real hunting-weight bows and started out with selfbows. I still dabble in those, but I soon moved into laminated longbows. Along the way, I had some great mentors: Gordy Mickens of Selway Archery, Darryl Forslund who taught me limb lamination, and many Montana bowyers who inspired me. Howard Hill Archery was once based here, Neil Jacobson of Bear Paw Bows worked up near Flathead Lake, the late Dale Dye made fine recurves, and Dwayne Jessup of Thunder Horn Archery is practically a neighbor. Even Dick Robertson hailed from this area.
Figure 02: Jim Neaves working on an osage stave with an antique draw knife. I am not sure if the hoochie daddy shorts are part of his daily uniform, but they do not seem OSHA approved.
Matthew: It sounds like Montana has been a hotbed of bowyers.
Jim: Absolutely. If you sat down with all of us, it’d be an encyclopedia’s worth of stories. I’d probably do as much listening as talking — most of those guys are older, and they’ve all been great sounding boards over the years.
Matthew: How did you land on the name Centaur Archery?
Jim: It comes from my astrological sign, Sagittarius — the centaur with a bow. It’s always been a meaningful symbol to me. In 2000 I decided to make it official, and Centaur Archery has been my full-time work ever since.
Matthew: Your bows have a very distinct aesthetic. I’ve seen only a handful in person, but they’re instantly recognizable. Where did that style come from?
Jim: The profile actually traces back to one of my very first designs. Over time I’ve refined it, but the silhouette was inspired by a manta ray. Picture one swimming away with its wings rising on the upstroke — that’s the shape you’ll see in my bows.
For me, bowmaking has always been an artistic outlet as much as a craft. I loved art as a kid, and this work lets me bring beauty and function together in every piece.
Figure 03: Right handed 58” 40# @ 28” one piece, glass model longbow. The handle is royal Jacaranda Dymalux with a thumb rest, small stippling, engraved cross and elk antler fingerboard.
Matthew: I’ve thought about making bows full time, but I’m afraid it would lose its joy and feel like just a job. How do you keep it balanced?
Jim: There’s definitely pressure. I have a family to provide for, and production is always on my mind. But the work remains therapeutic because no two bows are identical. Each one feeds the creative side of my brain.
When I approach it as art — a chance to create beauty and function — it stops feeling like a hustle. The shop becomes a place where I disconnect from stress and reconnect with the values that first drew me to archery.
Figure 04: Left-handed 58“ 32# @ 24” one piece, Super Curve. The carbon fiber limbs are backed with a diamondback rattlesnake.
Matthew: Spoken like a true artist and craftsman. What bow are you hunting with this year?
Jim: My personal bow is a 58-inch Super Curve, a 49-pound takedown model with a dark matter rise with lime green accents. This particular formula provides phenomenal performance for my shorter, 25-inch draw length. Its a fairly compact, super fast, and quiet bow that is just fun to shoot.
Matthew: I wish you the best of luck chasing deer and elk this fall in the Bitterroots and river bottoms. How should folks contact you to order a Centaur Archery bow?
Jim: All of our order forms and contact information can be found at www.centaurarchery.com, and most of our photos dwell on our Facebook page under the same name. I want to provide customer experience, rather than just customer service. Give me a call so that we can discuss exactly what you’re looking for in a bow – both in design and application. We’ll ensure you come away with the right tool for the job.
Find Centaur Archery at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentaurArchery
Instagram: @centaurarchery
Author’s Note: I was lucky enough to shoot a Centaur Super Curve at this year’s Eastern Traditional Archery Rendezvous (ETAR) – that I saw hanging on a pal’s vendor wall. After I put about ten arrows through that bow I knew I needed one. I’ve since put down my deposit on a Centaur Archery Super Curve (takedown) and hope to put it to use in Spring 2025 chasing bears.
About the Author: Matthew Morris is a long-time hunter, aspiring bowyer, and family man. He is the host of the Bowyer Podcast, where he chats with masters of their craft to uncover the deeper “why” behind reviving the old ways in a modern world.
