Lets do something different. I'm looking to try more longbows. List all the ones you have shot and which ones are your favorite. I think this will give us a better perspective. Here are mine:
Black Widow, Tomahawk Diamond Thunderstorm, Martin Savanah, red oak self bow, bamboo backed hickory and a crow creek take down. I Like the Black widow the best so far.
Saluki , ReR vortex , centaur , acient spitits , montana , pronghorn , abbott, snow shoe, mosshorn ,couple osage self bows, bbo, fowley, and i'm sure I have missed some but right now the Saluki is my go to bow :0)
Shot many and definitely like the ones I built myself the best. Never got to shoot a Saluki. It looks ike a great shooting bow. I'll have to try one some time just to see if it shoots like it looks.
Thunderstick MOAB, Black Widow PL, Black Widow LAG, Bighorn Ramhunter, Stewart, Super Shrew, Griffin, Martin, Bear, Yellowstone, Fox, Caribow, Hummingbird.
I am fondest of the LAG Widow, but I think the PL would be right there if it had the LAG grip. The MOAB, I think is the easiest bow to shoot that I have tried. I just got the Yellowstone Half Breed, 3 pc. takedown and haven't got to spend alot of time with it yet, but so far I am impressed with it. Lots of good ones out there, just kinda depends on what feels/shoots right for you.....finding the right one is what makes it fun!
Hill , Harrison ,21st century older model, Quillins bamboo longhunter, Matlock x2 and predator X ,G&L takedowns ,Habu ,Robertson Mystical,Horne traditionalist,Massey longhorn,Shrew,JK traditions,Ferguson Safari and wildcat,pse by Earl Hoyt,moab,Martin Vision,Predator phoniex,Montana bowworks,Rainmaker by Casey Allen,Mosshorn,Widow lag,Tomohawk,Richard Vaughnadore longbows,Deathwish,My own homemade junkers,Keith Brunner aka "mudfeather"`s homemade takedowns.Probably a lots more I can`t remember. I liked the MatlockX2 and Widow the best of the one piece and Mudfeathers takedown of the takedowns.I really , really want a widow just can`t talk the wife in to it. I will say the HHC by Harrison was the most accurate for me.RC
Widow PL, Brack Non-typical, Morrison Cougar, Morrison Dakota, Marriah Chinook, Horne Brushbow, Tomahawk. I guess my favorite is the Brackenbury Non-typical because it is so easy to keep a consistent grip. Plus the bow draws smooth and shoots hard.
Claudia
Widow (both LAG and PL), Hill, Morrison (Cougar and Dakota), Dwyer (two models), Fox, Wes Wallace, Liberty (Contender and Chief), Turkey Creek, Shrew, CariBow, Adcock, Pronghorn (one and three piece), Horne Brush and Traditional, Robertson, Massey, MOAB, Martin, Bear, Griffin, a few self bows, Tolke Whip, 7 Lakes, Black Swan, Mahaska, Sentman and probably 8 or 9 that I am forgetting.
This answer will be different for everyone. But if I had to pick one longbow.....it would be a Liberty Chief. I love the grip, Allen is great to work with, and the bows have simple beauty.
Horne Combo LB, Pronghorn (1 & 3 piece) Bitterroot (T/D), Selway Li'l shooter, Shrew, Jerry Hill, Navajo (T/D), Great Plains (T/D)
Out of those few, the Horne stands head & shoulders above the rest. Fastest, smoothest, easiest to point. If I could have my dreambow, it would look & feel like the Navajo, weight the same as the Shrew & shoot like the Horne!
Widow PL, Robertson Mystical, Bears Paw, Martin Savanah, Mahantango, and a few others I can't seem to remember.
I have had the pleasure of shooting more than just a handful of arrows from each of these bows and the Mahantango is hands down the smoothest and hardest hitter of the group.
Robertson mystical, Robertson Puris,Great Northern, Stotler, Benchmark, Morrison Cougar,Adcock ACS CX, Black Widow LAG and Black Widow PL. The winner , to me, is the Black Widow PL.
Anything made by Mark Horne. My buddy Dan
Bonner makes a good bow too!
Just a few,Tomahawk,Shrew,Hummingbird,Toelke Whip.
I haven't found anything that compares to the Whip--I sold the rest of the longbows.I'm even considering selling my Widow and buying another Whip.
Fedora xtreme, brack-nontypical, robertson, kohannah, bear, turkey creek and just shot a bunch more a few times. Each one has certain things I love, but I find myself always picking up the creek. Have another one on order as we speak. The brakenbury would be my choice on a takedown.
ACS CX....got one of Dan Bonner's bows too and its a shooter. Had to say that cause I don't wanna make my boy mad. Those are the only two long bows that I have shot.
7 Lakes Howard Hill Robertson Styckbows
Black Swan Brackenberry Tomahawk Shrew
Black Widow (recurves and longbows) Dreamcatcher
Howatt Hummingbird The list is another half page but these are my favorites.
My favorite: The longbow blanks I've finished myself from 7 Lakes.
Widow, Harrier, Cougar, Vison, Moosejaw, Turkey Creek, Black Feather, Fox Triple, Wesley, Redman, Big5, Jefferies, Centaur, Shrew, Fedora, ACS, old type Adcock, Mountaineer, best is my Tsunami.
Being good friends with someone who's been dealing in used traditional equipment put me in a position to try many different bows I shoot left or right handed but prefer lefty sense I'm left eye dominant. For me a long strait handled Howard Hill in the 60# Range Just seemed to do it for me. When the first shot has to be on the money! the handle seems to force everything inline and the longer length bow seems to help with finger pinch a good release is most critical to me. Mike
Quillian Bamboo Longhunter. Chaparral Kaibab. Saxon American Classic. Lightning longbows. Great Plains. Shrew Samarai. Griffin. Abbot. Dwyer. Ancient Spitits- Mountain Ash and Cahokia. Miller BBO. Martin- Savannah, Bamboo Viper, Stick, Mountaineer, Bushmaster, Vision. Adcock. Bear Montana. Ferguson. Morrison Cougar. Berry Rrothers. Leon Stewart. Turkey Creek. Roy Hall. 21st Century. There's proly a couple I forgot about.
The ones that stand out in my mind are the Chaparrals, Abbots, AS Cahokia, Savannah, Berry Brothers, Miller BBO, Lightning, Leon Stewart, Dwyer.
Least impressed with the Adcock, Martin Stick, Roy Hall Caddo.
I still have the Abbot. Wish I still had the Chaparral and the Dwyer.
Robertson Vision and Fuson, Hill, Fox, Widows, Snoe shoe, a Byron Monarch and a Monty Monarch, Wallace and Jack Harrison HHC and HSS. The Harrison bows are the fastest longbows I've seen and quite as a mouse. I like a plain straight grip on these bows.
The best one I have shot is a thunder horn. they are made in MT. they have a great locator grip and handle. they are reflex/deflex and they shoot very fast and very quiet. Another great one is a Big river Bow made by John mcdonald in WI. He makes a great bow for a good price. hope that helps. Drake
After shooting many types of long bows I settled on The Pronghorn and the shrew...Now I have 2 Pronghorns and 3 Shrews.... Keepers
I've shot many types but currently have two morrison's(shawnee dakota and cougar), a griffin and a pronghorn. All keepers for me.
I shoot my snowshoe longbow the best!
I have only shot a couple. Black Widow, 21st Century, McCullough, Morrison, Treadway, and Horne.
My favorites are the Treadway and Horne.
Bill
Standard R/d Longbows:
Deathwish, Robertson Purist,Sentmen, Kentuckian,Wes Wallace. Favorite= Wes Wallace
Hill Type Longbow: Nothern Mist Shelton (string follow)
Hybrid: Elberg Jaguar special,Morrison 56"(pre-Dakota), Thunderhorn Heart Stopper, Thunder Stick M.O.A.B. Favorite = M.O.A.B. (Thunderhorn is a close second but a little too heavey draw wt.)
Overall Preference:
1st - M.O.A.B.
2nd - Wes Wallace Royal
3rd - Northern Mist shelton
Hmmmmm,
Is this like going to confession??
Back in the late 70's moving forward till today:
Howard Hill Tembo(still have)
Howard Hill Big Five (86# during the 'big bow era)
Robertson Mystical
Robertson (next grade up back in mid 80,s)
Doug Hill cedar core
Talon
JD Berry
Super Shrew Samurai (going on 8 years and still my go to bow)
I've shot:
Super Shrew Limited, Super Shrew Carbon Classic, Super Shrew Chameleon and regular Super Shrew
Black Widow (LAG)
Jerry Hill
21st Century
Morrison
Great Northern
Northern Mist
American Longbow by Schultz
Thunderstick MOAB
Meigs Duoflex
There are some very good bows in there, but the Shrew Samurai fits me the best for hunting. If I'm feeling nostalgic, the Hill Tembo and some Acme premium arrows quench my thirst nicely.
Martins (Stick, Twig, Vision, Savannah, and one or two more I can't remember the name of), Black Widow (old and new style), Tomahawk, Fedora, Navajo, Marriah, Morrison, Adcock, Harrison, Great Plains, Turkey Creek, Crow Creek, Hill (Jerry and Howard), Bear, Samick, PSE, Shrew, Ferguson, Holmes, Matthews, 21st Century, drew a Black Swan but didn't shoot it.......probably at least a dozen more I can't remember at the moment and a few I doubt anyone here has heard of.
Some I liked pretty well, some I wouldn't give $5 for a truck load of them if I had to use them.
My favorite, and the only one I still own and shoot (other than my selfbow) is the Chek-Mate Crusader.
Chad
Ok , I have shot just about most of these mentioned... the few bows I go back to are these: Black Widow (just something about them, Longhorn( JIm Blecher now) , Montana bows (whip by Dan toelke , Acadian Woods by Tim Mullins...I shoot from 42 pounds to about 60 #...I wish I had my ole Wilderness Lefty longbow Neil Russell made for me!!!!! 66" I miss her...Mark#78 :)
I have limited experience with longbows. I did have a Wes Wallace Royal and a RER Vortex. I liked the Vortex better between the two because of lack of handshock over the Royal. Then I bought a Adcock 3 piece. Still have the Adcock!
I haven't shot near as many as some folks on here but out of those that I did own - Green Mountain, Stotler, Dwyer, Thunderhorn, Ridgerunner, Tomahawk, Stewart and Morrison Shawnee w/dakota limbs. The Shawnee was by far the best in my opinion.
Well this is quite a list: Bear Montana, Martin Savannah, J.D.Berry Apollo, Harison/Fisk American Wolf, Arvin Weaver, Toelke Whip, Rivers Edge Vorex, Thunderstick X, Steve Abbott, Karch Tomahawk, Pronghorn Fast Flight, Morrison Cougar, Sam Harper, Sley, Big River, Bob Lee T/D and Stick, 21st Century Nova and Venus, East Lake, Bob Sarrell's, Mathews Heritage, Bear Comemorative Edition and some I have long since forgotten! My favorite was the J.D. Berry. It displayed the finest craftsmanship I have ever seen. It shot like a dream. It was just to heavy for me. If I find one in the 45-50# range I will buy it and never sell it. That's my opinion for what ever it's worth. Now if we get into recurves that's a whole other list. Lol!! :biglaugh:
-Leonard-
Literally, almost all of them. After trying various longbows at expos and trad events over a two year period, I settled on the PL by Black Widow. Fantastic bow. I shoot it as well or better than my recurves. A PLEASURE to shoot and carry in the woods.
Abbotts, Adcock, Kota, Liberty, Toelke are the ones I remember. My favorite was a 64" Abbott yew longbow. Simply gorgeous, light, balanced, with moderate reflex/deflex.
Over the years I've owned and shot more than I can remember. Favorites: deflex/reflex is a Robertson Mystical/Purist; Hybrid is a Selway/Centaur Lil Mag; and Hill style is the John Schulz Trophy Hunter closely followed by my old 1988 Dave Johnson (Bethany, OK) with cedar limbs (avatar pic).
Libertys,Griffins,morrison dakota and shawnees,Dwyers,Treadway,centuars,Cane Dragon,Fredericks,black swan classic,northern Mist.Howard Hill,shrews,Great Northern,Matlock,Stotler,Berrys,Hornes and a few more.Too many too remember.I really liked all of em in one way or another.I couldnt really pick just one.Its splitting hairs.
I have owned,Hill Wesley Special,Harrison HHC,Harrison Black Wolf,Leon Stewert,JD Berry,Vinson Miner Cane Dragon,Stotler Game Getter,Shrew Special Deluxe,Griffin,Cari-Bow Featherhorn,Cari-Bow Silver Fox,Black Feather,Lotz Huntin' Stick,Morrison Cougar,O.L. Adcock ACS #10,O.L. Adcock pre ACS,A&H ACS CX,O.L. Adcock ACS CX,and a few I probably forgot. Best shooter bar none for me was my old ACS, wish I still had it, a close second was the Lotz Huntin' stick that was made by Mickey's bro Randy and the Cari-Bow Featherhorn. For take downs, the Cari-Bow Silver Fox is hard to beat.
Danny
I took wood shop in high school while others learned typing and the list is long; but shorter than Danny's...........my ACS CX is the smoothest.
jerry hill apache, rer recurve, osage orange selfbow, allegheny, skb horse bow, timber ghost, bob sarrells longbow, would love to try more my go to bow at this time is my bob sarrells.
Griffin and Fedora Excellerators are high on my list.I have never shot a bow I liked more than my Griffin.
Owned and shot many.
My favorite is....GRIFFIN
Habu Death Adder, Martin Savannah, A&H ACS CX.
Habu Death Adder was my favorite. It was a 2003 model with a sort of square grip. When I got it, I wasn't sure if I would like it, but it turned out to be the bow I was the most consistent with. It was a little heavy for me so I sold it.
However, I have a Brackenbury Non-Typical and Habu VyperKahn L coming. I sent the money in for my Morrison Shawnee limbs, so I'll get to shoot that one soon.
I've owned/shot so many longbows it would make me dizzy trying to remember them all BUT' it is real easy to remember the ones I liked the best.
1st. my RER Vortex aka 'my little black bow'
2nd. the Super Shrew 'deluxe' double carbon I sold to....
3rd. the Morrison Dakota I sold to....
4th. all the rest :thumbsup:
Martin (don't remember the model)
Martin Shadow
Bighorn Ramhunter
Shrew
Pronghorn 3 piece
Sentman
Fox
Kobekona river ( My favorite )
Lets not forget Acadian woods treestick and cajun hunter.
These are longbows that I have owned:
(2) HH Wesley Special
(2) HH Big 5's
(2) HH Cheetahs
(2) J.D Berry
Great Northern Bush Bow
Great Northern Critter Getter
(2) 7 Lakes
Morrison Cougar
Morrison Dakota
Martin ML-10
Martin Mountaineer
Martin Stick
Sentman
Navajo T/D
Horne T/D
Ancient Spirits Sequoia T/D
Ancient Spirits Mt Ash
J.K Chastain Wapiti T/D
Pacific YewT/D
Zebra
Legend
Shrew
Robertson Buffalo bow
Fedora T/D
Appalachian Archery
Striker Stinger
Chek-Mate Thunderbird
Chek-Mate Longhorn
Rodney Wright Firehawk
Mosshorn
I'm sure that I have forgotten a few.
My favorite of the list above would be the Navajo T/D and the Chek-Mate Longhorn and the Stiker Stinger.
Tony better not let the wife see that list ! LOL :biglaugh:
I've shot most of the longbows made over the past 30-40 years, and owned a good number of them. Among my favorites -- Straight bow, Howard Hill; R/D bows, Robertson, GN Critter Gitter, Monarch, and Dwyer; Hybrids, Morrison Dakota.
Most all of my bows are JD Berry bows. My favorite long bow is my Tipan with a reverse handle. 64in and 55@28.
i've shot a couple of the longbows the stick bow from martin and i shot the montana bow and i have shot a couple of the named bows but my favorite is the one i am shooting now made by bill griffen
rob k
Hill, Zebra, Lofton, Frederick, Bear, Martin, Bingham, Checkmate, Hummingbird. Hummingbird would be my favorite, with Checkmate right behind it.
Bob,
Your right but I think she has a good idea. I also remembered another longbow I also had 2 Lofton longbows.
Straight - Schulz and Hill (made by Craig)
R/D - Adcock ACS
there are my LB: hornes 3 pieces, G sentman, dakota (morrison), ACS, french guy waka (100#, 90#, 80#), french phoebus blackfeet, border falcon (80#; 65#), rosini indiano, robertson vision, shrew laclair....my favorite is a 90#@28 french guy waka.
I have only shot a couple:
Kanati R/D
Treadway's: 56" and 58"..
Love the treadway, workmansip, performance and one heck of a great guy, Mike Treadway...
treadway, schafer, morrison, timberghost, 7-lakes, northern mist, martin
of these i felt the treadway was the best followed very closely by the schafer
Man let's see ...hybrids... Ok two Chaparral Kaibabs,two Horne's Brushbows,one Fedora Xcellerator, one RE Vortex, one 54" Treadway,two Turkey Creeks,one Shrew,and a Saxon American. I now own a Shrew, TurkeyCreek, and the Saxon. I've shot a couple of Roy Halls, A Bob Lee, A 58" Treadway,A Wes Wallace Royal [a very nice bow]Mon River Possum Stick and Mountain Bow, MOAB, Bear Montana, Martin's . I can honestly say I liked just about everyone and would buy another of just about everyone.I'm very happy with the three I own now but my favorite has to be the TurkeyCreek. FYI I did three robinhoods the past couple of months and they were with the Treadway, TurkeyCreek, and the Shrew.
Ok let's see. Robertson Mystical,Robertson Purist, Sunset Hill,David Miller String follow bow,Adcock ACS,Northern Mist,Navajo,Treadway,Chuck Jones Osage Royal,Black Swan,Dan Milburn,Rose Oak,Selway/Centaur,Dave Johnson from Oklahoma,Shrew,Black Widow,Fox,Black Rhino,John McCullough,Martin,MOAB,Ancient Spirits.And many I cannot remember. Now don't ask what my favorite is. to many bows to little time, oh I mean to little money. Flint
JK Traditions, Mahaska, Martin ML10, Bear Cub, and selfbows I have built.
The JK by Jason Kendall is the best. I have a Katani on order. I hope that will be the absolute best.
Samick equus recurve, samick longbow, Johnny Snyman selfbow, Timberpoint r/d longbow, Old Pearson fibreglass youth bow in sixties and about twenty of my own. I thought I was a bow nut but the lists here are the stuff of dreams, I assume you guys trade on and never actually 'own more than a couple' at a time?
Stunning that there is so much choice and quality out there.
Henri Cartier Bresson (I think it was him)took all his pictures with a 35mm SLR and 50 mm lens, said there wasn't enough time to learn any other and he had not exhausted the possibilities of that one lens. Austere and fabulous photographer that he was!
chrisg :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
Harrelson, Marriah, Black Widow, Turkey Creek, ACS-CX, Horne, Morrison, Howard Hill, Dwyer, Tomahawk, Navajo, Great Plains, Martin, 21st Century, numerous self bows and laminated bows made by less known bowyers. Probably some I'm forgetting.
Presently own 3 Harrelsons, 2 ACS-CX, 1 Turkey Creek, & 1 Osage Selfbow (Eric Krewson). I have a "best" and a "favorite" and they are not the same. My "favorite" (the bow I hunt with) changes from week to week.
Robertson Mystical, Martin Savanah, Mahantango, Clarendon Hills, and some no name stick. I would say Mahantango makes me forget about the others.
Martin Stickbow/ Martin Savannah/ Fox (very Nice ) Black Widwo PLV / Roy Hall Apache (Very Nice just couldn't get used to grip) Bear Longbow (don't remember the name, "Cub" maybe???) and Finally Wes Wallace Royal! THE Wes Wallace Royal is the best L/B I have shot. From the first time I put it together and strung it up and took a shot/ BINGO! BEST BOW I'VE SHOT!!!!
Not the fastest, Not the most expensive, it is one of the prettiest and right up there with the quitest. But most importantly for me is the fact that I shoot it well and really like it!
JD Berry Yaweh, JD Berry Renaissance, Black Widow, HH Halfbreed, Tim Miegs, 21st Century, Great Northern, Elberg 56".
Favorite is JD Berry Renaissance.
Close second was halfbreed.
(Not much for high brace heights)
and for shorties Elberg for best lil bow.
JD Berry, Great Northern, Bob Lee TD and Bicentennial Stick, Black Widow LAG & PL, Howard Hill, Northern Mist, Shawnee Traditions, Martin vision, Martin Savannah, Predator, Elburg, Talon, 21st Century New Moon, Robertson Mystical, John Maus Lonewolf. My current favorite is John Maus Lonewolf Autumn Storm Ultra.