Grahams Dyna Bos

John H. Graham II started building bows in 1968 while teaching woodshop in Pocatello, Idaho. After a student asked how to make a bow, Graham researched archery design and lamination techniques from his college furniture-building background, then built his first bow jig for $75.

By 1971, Graham moved to Fontana, California and rented a 600 sq. ft. garage for $35/month. He built six different recurve models with laminated limbs and wooden risers, eventually partnering with foundry owner Dawson Ritz to design aluminum risers. His bows sold through Seattle Archery, Hugh Rich Archery, and other regional distributors.

Graham developed his signature DynaBo design starting in 1977, addressing problems he saw in competitor designs—specifically the damage caused when shooters stepped on the top limb. His 1979 T.D. DynaBo featured:

• •Two-stud riser system for 30-second takedown and 60-second reassembly
• •Single-cam mechanism easier to manufacture and more affordable
• •Built by Graham himself (~85% hand-built per bow)
• •Personally signed and test-shot before delivery

By 1981, his expanded 2,700 sq. ft. shop produced primarily DynaBos for customers worldwide.

In 1985, Graham created what he considers his finest bow: the DynaCurve. Features included:

A new riser design with graphite/epoxy lower limb, offering 30% let-off with recurve-like smoothness. Test specs: #53 draw weight, 2020 arrow at 580 grains, 238 fps, 78-yard point-blank range.

The DynaCurve earned the North American Archery Award and was featured in major magazine articles. Graham killed an elk with it in Brown's Canyon in 1984.

Graham built less than 5,000 DynaBos total across three models (T.D. DynaBo, DynaCurve, DynaDraw). He retired from bow building in 1988 and transitioned to custom kit-car manufacturing, adding 2,200 sq. ft. to his shop to build replica vehicles.

Now 79 and fully retired from 38 years of teaching school, Graham notes that Martin Archery later produced a DynaBo based on his 1979 design. He credits the DynaBo cam system's manufacturing efficiency and cost advantages to influencing the broader archery industry.