Can't go wrong with this bad boy from one of our sponsors! Just my opinion of course. We all have our favorites.
ASL Holy Grail (http://montanabows.blogspot.com/2017/01/tz-68-super-d.html?m=1)
TZ68, huh? Wonder where that model name came from. All kidding aside, I might have to try this bow.
Oh baby!
Except that really isn't an ASL.
Except that really isn't an ASL.
Not sure about AsL or ACLU...but gotta love the title....NO POLITICS!!!!! HA!!!!!
The term ASL floats around as an American Semi Longbow from what I've read and is what the Hill Style bows are also referred to. A straight limbed longbow that's either straight, string follow, or reflexed a bit at the ends. Unless someone is splitting hairs anyways. I'm sure someone could claim to be the authority on all things longbow and disagree perhaps.
I certainly didn't name that bow but I do like it! Just my opinion as we all like to share what revs our love for this craft. As steel sharpens steel eh!
Todd, do you have one of these bows?
Saw the new 68" on Dan's website yesterday and it only took about .3 seconds to guess where the name came from! That's awesome!
I am sure the TZ is a fine bow, but I wonder if it has more of a R/D feel. Perhaps ASFL would be a better term for some of the R/Ds since they do not have quite the same limb core compression values. Ah, but its the shot that counts, what's in a bunch of letters anyway?
I don't own the TZ but do own a 66" Super D. To me they handle a little more like an ASL than R/D but ymmv. Really they are a unique little animal all their own. I tried and tried to be a bow snob and to not like mine because it's not really an ASL or a R/D without success. Has a little pulse like an ASL, grip like an R/D, straight thru the handle but a hint of curl at the tip. Just a different design.
But with all that said, it just plain shoots for me for some reason. The draw is smoother and more linear than any I have felt. The shelf is tiny and cut perfect, I have struggled at times with string torque issues and have to really mess up bad to clank one off the riser. They may not be for everyone but don't knock it until you try it, they are absolutely fantastic longbows if your not hung up on being purely Hill.
I have a 68", a 66" and a 64" Super D. I draw 29" and there is not a rumor of stacking with any of them, "handshock" is more like feeling your pulse, they are beautiful, smooth-drawing, fast and way quieter than quiet. I like them a lot.
Don't get me wrong, I have shot a bunch of critters with Robertson Longbows. I always wonder about those in between bows. I have had a bow that I would classify in between a Robertson and a Hill style. A 2/3 reverse 68" R/D, one of the best shooting bows that i have shot, it was a little light for my arrows at my draw length, so I gave it to a friend in need of a good bow. He has come to realize and suspect that his bow is better than mine in most any shooting category. He is good about sharing the meat that he takes with it. He goes to Texas every year and comes back with a trailer load of frozen meat from piggies and free range axis deer.
Monterey, I've got two of these bows. The first one made and one with some real pretty knotty juniper for veneers.
Maybe just calling it a reflexed tip longbow would be more appropriate.
It certainly has zero deflex in the limb. It's straight limbed like a hill until you get towards the ends where it flares out a tad more than a HH bow.
But what's in a name anyways like Pavan said.
I bugged Dan for a while to make a 68" version and I think we are all better off now that he and Jared did! He said he was calling it the TZ68 when he finally went to production. Pretty neat and humbling.
Now I'm guessing if it wasn't for Jim Wright, the Super D limbs might not have been tweaked over a year ago. Atad more reflex was added smoothing it out on both ends of the shot. I think Jim's input carried a lot of weight in that regard and good on Jim for that!
As far as classifying it. The limbs are about an inch wide at the fades on a 66" and 1 1/16 on the 68 with deep cores. Narrow and deep like those HH bows are. It shoots different than the Dwyer Original which is an R/D bow, they aren't the same. I've had three of those over the years.
Good on ya Todd. Like my 66" SD a LOT no matter what category it falls under. Mentioned to Dan a while back that the grip just seemed to suit me well and wondered if it could be made with whip limbs. Early Jan. I received a two-piece D riser with whip limbs. He said to try it awhile and see what I thought. Long story short, he aint getting it back.
Pictures Mike!!!
Think I'd call that an ASL.
Todd...
Good stuff mate! A fine inclusion to the 'ASL' stable...über cool name too my friend!!
I own2 of Dans bows and they are top notch !
I would of rather it been called the CK68:) I love mine.
I sent you a video clip of me shooting mine earlier today, like 10 minutes before I posted this.