Hey Guys,
I am wondering if anyone has pictures of a Jerry Pierce Choctaw Recurve they would be willing to share. I am slightly obsessed with these bows. I have a few pics in some back copies of Traditional Bowhunter but the magazines are in storage back in the states.
Thanks in advance, Jack
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e322/rayhammond123/Piercegripbelly.jpg)
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e322/rayhammond123/Piercelacewoodriser.jpg)
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e322/rayhammond123/Pierceriserback.jpg)
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e322/rayhammond123/Piercestrungup.jpg)
Osage,with Padauk stripes..lacewood pieces on belly side of riser
Holly Mackeral Ray, thats fast. Thanks so much for those. What timeframe/year did that come from. Thanks again, Jack
1/31/1994
You're welcome.
Sure has the looks of a very expensive Super Diablo. Nice bow
From what I've gathered, the bow's basic design was patterned after the 58" Damon Howatt Hi Speed. Jerry then added his own touches of course. They are works of art for sure.
I hope there are more pics to come. I love seeing pics of Jerry's bows.
Thank you for sharing.
Jerry Pierce, was a fine gentleman and a gifted bowyer. Legend has it he never sold a bow, only giving them away to deserving individuals or for auctions such as the PBS and United Bowhunters of Illinois. Maybe Fletcher aka: Rick Stillman or Tom Mussatto who actually knew him and called him friend will contribute to this post. I only breifly met him one time. While at a UBI banquet I was admiring a Choktaw donated for auction when another member told me "Jerry always paints his personal bows black..." My response was a dismayed " why would anyone paint such a gorgeous bow?" When a gray haired gent behind me said " I would..." He then turned and walked away. I learned later that night that the gray haired gent was Jerry himself...
John McCreary
Those are the stories i have read and heard about. I surly wish i could have meet Jerry. Seems like someone i would sit and talk to easily.
I love the idea of making bows just to give away.
Brandon, I believe you are correct. I don't know about the exact model, but Jerry's bows were fashioned after Howatt recurves. When Jerry was a young man, working at Caterpillar in Peoria, and trying to raise 3 kids he didn't have any spare money. He told me he broke a few Howatts, which were his bow of choice, and that he couldn't afford to keep buying them. That's how he got started making his own. Being a precision machinist by trade, which at that time was the most specialized union job at Cat, he was naturally gifted at the intricate stuff such as the finger joint, which are now known as Pierce Points. That name was arrived at by Dick Robertson. He asked Jerry how he made that design and since Jerry was gracious enough to explain it to Dick, and gave his "blessing" on Dick using the design, Dick wanted to return the favor by giving Jerry all the credit for the design, thus the name "Pierce Points".
As John said, Jerry painted all of his hunting bows flat black. I'm not sure if all of them had the finger joint accents, I highly doubt it. But if you could get your hands on one of the black ones and were able to remove the finish, it would undoubtedly still be a piece of art compared to most bows. Not all, of course.
If you think seeing one painted black would shock a feller, check this out:
Jerry's favorite thing to do in the whole world was to go squirrel hunting with his recurve. He would stay out all day sometimes and he was, and still is, one of the few guys that could kill a limit of squirrels with a bow on a fairly regular basis. Something some of us have yet to do... Anyway, one time he squirrel hunted for several hours and after several shots just could not connect. Most of us would chalk it up to a bad shooting day. Jerry drove home, went in the garage, fired up the bandsaw and cut that recurve in half, right through the riser, and threw it in the scrap pile.
Jerry's hunting bow was 72# at his draw. A year or two before his untimely death, he realized he was starting to show signs of aging and that he needed to drop down in weight. Naturally he made a new personal hunting bow that was lighter. How much lighter, I don't know. Anyway, after shooting all summer and just shaking his head at the thought of having to drop down in weight, he just couldn't get used to either the bow, or the fact that he was getting a little weaker. After all that, when deer season rolled around he put the lighter bow up and hunted with his 72 pounder anyway. He was stubborn, but in a good way.
Jerry and his wife Bettie were originally from Mississippi. I think the local native American tribe to that region were the Choctaw, hence the name he put on his bows.
Jerry told me he busted a couple Super D's so started making his own. His design more resembles a Hi-Speed than Super D to my eyes but aside from length the two bows are very similar.
Not sure why Jerry painted his bows but I suspect it was for the same reason I paint mine. Back in the late 60's and early 70's C.R. Learn told us to. :)
The last bow I saw Jerry shoot about a year before he died was a 57# Choctaw. I shot the bow several times and it felt heavy in the hand. Couldn't tell what it was made of 'cause the dang thing was painted from nock to nock. He told me it was all osage. He also told me he couldn't shoot it well because it didn't have enough string tension. Looked like he was shooting it pretty darn good to me. I got video here somewhere of him missing a rabbit with it in Indiana.
How come ya ain't out hunting this AM Kevin? :)
I lasted about an hour and a half. Visibility about zero and cold...cold...cold. About the only thing I could see was tracks in the snow a foot in front of me. Reminded me of the ice fog in Alaska. Only upside to this was if I had seen a deer he would have been close enough for even me to hit.
Hey Tom. Just got home from working the graveyard shift. Got a guy here putting flooring in the bathroom so I can't sleep anyway. Might go this afternoon. Yep, we got the ice fog here as well. Did see a deer on the way home from work though.
I like the reason Jerry liked to give about why he loved squirrel hunting so much: He said "they" hadn't prostituted it yet by putting a trophy value on squirrels like "they" had on deer...
So true.
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa36/Hawkeye_photos_bows/PierceBowPhoto001.jpg)
One of the greatest privileges and few earthly "treasures" of my life
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa36/Hawkeye_photos_bows/PierceBowPhoto002.jpg)
Cocobolo riser, Bloodwood limbs, Cocobolo and Maple points and overlays... dearly missed friend.
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa36/Hawkeye_photos_bows/PierceBowPhoto004.jpg)
Belly view
Howdy, Daryl! Remember when me, you and Jerry drove over to the GORH? There's another memory of Jerry for ya.
Kevin,
I'm guessing I could do a "Charlie Lamb" version of Jerry stories that would take up four or five pages here. Add in all the fun you, Tom, and the other buddies could add, and a fine book could be written about one of the finest men I ever, ever knew.
Still think of him OFTEN, and miss him a lot.
Did you ever get that scuff off your head from the shoe he threw at you that night? :biglaugh:
Daryl
Daryl, I'll give ya a quarter for that bow. Whoa, better not. Jerry would have shot both of us for doing that.
Yeah, he was one of the good guys and we are sorely lacking in folks of his character and integrity within our community these days. Don't know about a book. For one I'm guessing Jerry would not have approved, and second, books put together after the subject is gone tend to take on a life of their own. I'd hate to see that happen with Jerry. Stuff written about Hill come to mind. Probably wouldn't bother Hill as he was a showman but Jerry was more of the sit off to the side and just listen and observe type of guy.
By the way, did either of you guys ever use a squirrel call while in ear shot of Jerry? If so, were you ever able to put the pieces back together? :-)
Was privileged enough to pay my restects to Jerry. Wish I could have hunted with theman. Only time we crossed paths was at the banquets. Jerry spent all his time trying to fade into the wallpaper.
Got caught flat-footed the first time I met Jerry. He shook my hand. Well, he shook my hand, my wrist and about a quarter of my forearm! I'm not a small guy, but Jerry Pierce had the biggest, strongest hands of any gent I have ever met.
Hawkeye;
I remember putting a few arrows through that bow. 'Bout the best backyard shooting I have ever done. The Choctaw is a special bow. Don't see how it could be anything but, coming from such a special guy.
Jeff,
You're right. Probably the biggest hand I ever shook, too. Mighty talented though, and prone to acts of kindness.
Tom,
Couldn't agree more with that thought. I really just meant that although I had a lot of great stories and memories of Jerry, I didn't think I was the only one who did! He was a really special guy to an awful lot of people.
Never had the experience of "squirrel calling" Jerry, but you remind me of his explantation of a photo I was looking at of him with a limit of bushytails. It went like a well-oiled comedy routine....
Me- WOW! You killed a whole LIMIT of squirrels with your BOW??"
JP- "Yep... got these five...(pause)... but it took six shots..."
Me- "FIVE squirrels, with just SIX shots????"
JP- "Yep...(pause)... Had to shoot one of 'em twice!" (Smile!)
I was in South Carolina hunting hogs with Jerry two weeks prior to his death. He was shooting a lighter bow than the 72#. The reason I know is that I couldn't shoot his 72#, but could handle the bow he carried on that trip.
Jerry had a hat with a hog on the front with the name of the Plantation we were hunting, given him by our host for that hunt, at an earlier date. At Gorh, he aggravated me numerous times by asking me in front of folks, "Do you have one of these?" I didn't of course, that was his reason for bringing it up. He had a lot of fun with that old hat.
After his death, I received a call from his son, who knew the story and asked if I wanted that hat. Now I can answer that question in the affirmative.
The first morning of that hunt I had a run in with a large sow and a suitor back in the middle of no where. I killed the sow and had an interesting time with her boy friend, putting one over his shoulder as I jumped out of his way when he finally decided to leave the old gal...now deceased. :)
Jerry and our host came back with me and the three of use took turns pulling that old gal a "long" way to where we could load her. I caught a lot of grief for not finding one closer to the road and more "eatin' size."
On an earlier hunt, Jerry came upon a 7 foot or so gator stretched out on an old road next to a lake taking a nap. He eased up and poked the gator with the tip of his bow, sending it scrambling for the safety of the water. He got a large charge out of tickling that old gator. :)
Good to see a bunch of the old Gorh bunch surface.
Never met the man but met his son a year or two after his dad passed. He still got choked up talking about him. He was shooting his dad's recurve and it might have been a takedown if I remember right. Only talked to his son about half an hour but he sure was a kind fella.
I have seen one the bows, and absolutely fell in love with it. I was told that there is a fellow in Texas?? that collects these bows and has paid a pretty good penny to add to his collection.
Our biggest shoot of the year in our club is the Jerry Pierce Memorial, that we have in MS. Love those bows!!!
I have really enjoyed reading these stories. Mr. pierce sounds like the kinda of guy you would want in your hunting camp.
I never had the chance to meet the man, however I do have one of his arrows. A good friend of mine(now deceased) met Jerry at a shoot. They were staying at the same motel in fact, and struck up a conversation. My friend commented on how pretty Jerry's arrows were. So Jerry autographed one and gave it to him.
After my friends passing, his wife gave me a few of his archery related stuff, the arrow was one of the many cool things she gave me.
Hey Cliff! Hope to see you in Pittsburgh!
Speaking of that SC hunt at the plantation, that reminds me of another funny JP story: Mark Viehweg was with you all if I remember correctly. He had shot a hog and could not find the thing. He ran into Jerry and enlisted his help in tracking it. When they finally go to it, and it was rather on the "young and tender" side, Mark told me he was happy about shooting his first hog until Jerry scratched his head and said: "They sure are cute when they're little." HA! Gotta love that wry sense of humor.
Daryl, I still have a dent in my head from when Jerry whacked me with my own shoe!
I remember the first time I met Jerry. We were standing near a bow rack with different makes of bows.....both looking at them.
I think I moved over to the Choctaw that was going to be auctioned off and I was admiring it and saying how beautiful it was.
Jerry just stood there and never said a word. To make a long story short, I didn't know that the man was the bowyer that created it at that time.
He just said a few nice words to me and went along browsing.
Needless to say, I got knocked out of the bidding for that bow at $1500 and about fell out of the chair when Bill Kissner told me who I was talking to.
The thing I will always admire about Jerry was his humility.
God Bless
Billy
Very sorry to have never met Jerry. Nothing but good things ever heard about him. I have met and visited with his son Lenny who regularly attends the UBM anual gathering in Jeff City, MO. The apple did not fall far from the tree.
I got to handle and admire an all red cedar Choctaw at that gathering. You could feel the MOJO big time.
For those who've never met him, I don't believe he could be described better than this. Requiem for Jerry Pierce (http://bowyersedge.com/jerry.html)
This thread and its opportunity to reminisce has been a wonderful Christmas present.
Kevin- That was a really funny night... AFTERWORDS! Jerry referred to it many times later on.
Cliff- So great to see you! The swamp leaves a lot of great stories in its "wake," doesn't it? Wish I had the chance to meet you there again.
Billy- Jerry's humility is one of many traits that made him a such a notably special guy. He realized what he was was beginning to mean to the traditional archery community, and I guess was even pleased to know he was making a difference, but never tried to "pull rank" on anyone because of his notoriety (the good kind!). This leads to story #1:
I had the opportunity to accompany Jerry to the PBS banquet in Seattle in 1998. It was fun to see the respect he had... the "wake" that seemed to open in front of him... and the number of people who hoped to get a minute of his time and say something profound (most didn't!). All the while, he was just Jerry, and acted more like this farm boy's coffee drinking buddy than a legend.
The Choctaw that was auctioned that night was yet another masterpiece. I sat beside him as the bidding started really slowly. I'm sure he wanted his labor of love to do well for the organization, but didn't show much concern as it stalled at only a couple hundred dollars, briefly. Finally, people began to get serious, and when the price reached $800, Jerry smiled and nodded- satisfied, I guess, that it had done well enough to provide what he had hoped.
Then, FINALLY, the bidding began in earnest. Up until now, the stage had just been getting set!
The bid went past $1,000, and Jerry smiled in quiet amazement. Who would give that for a bow? It went past $1,500, and he shook his head. At $1,800, his smile faded, and I wonder if he was concerned someone had gone daft!
As the bid passed $2,000, I noticed that Jerry was getting shorter and shorter as he began to sink down in his chair. As the price continued to rise, I sat there wondering if he planned to disappear beneath the table!
The winning bid was $2,450, I believe... by far the most any of his donations had brought to date (though not as much as they later would!). Gentleman Jerry, humble and truly unassuming, was shocked and embarrassed that anyone would pay that much "for a silly bow." I know he was pleased that people had cared, and that he had made a difference, but it was fun to watch him blush!
That's the man we loved.
Great stuff guys! Thank you all for sharing.
As with Heydeerman, I never met Jerry, but met his son Lenny at the 2nd and 3rd (I believe) GORH.
I shot Lenny's bow that he said he had made on Jerry's forms the first time I met him. Didnt have a clue who he was at the time (Lenny) but was just admiring his bow. I rarely pass up an offer to shoot a bow and am glad I didnt this time. I was quite impressed with it.
Well, the second time I met up with Lenny, he had Jerry's bow (painted black of course). Could have knocked me over with a feather when he ask if I wanted to shoot it. Once again, I am glad I didnt turn down the opportunity. I only shot one arrow from it, but that was enough. Even though I never met Jerry, I could "feel" his spirit in that one arrow. I have never had a feeling quite like that.
I really liked Lenny and offered to make him some arrows a few years back in trade for some turkey feathers. He was kind enough to gift one of Jerry's arrows to me as well. I even have one of his "famous", homemade small game heads to go on it, but have never put it on for some reason.
Daryl,
After talking with you at Compton this past summer about Jerry, it is nice to see pics of your Choctaw. I enjoyed hearing your stories of the man.
BP
I had the pleasure to meet Jerry at the first GORH, and his son Lenny at the other two GORHs. The thing I remember the most about Jerry was the twinkle in his eyes. You could tell he was full of mischief. In the roles of traditional archery he is one of the sorely missed.
Hey, Brian! Good to "see" you.
Tony, you are SO right about that twinkle. See if you can imagine it in your mind's eye as you read the tale you brought to mind... Story #2:
Jerry loved to have fun, and though he wasn't likely to tell a joke, per se, he was really funny. He LOVED kids, and loved to tease them for effect.
Like his squirrel story, this one played as a short but well-practiced comedy routine. He loved to pull it on little boys, and did it the first time he met my son Ben. I'm sure I witnessed it 20 times, and wouldn't be surprised if the actual number was more like 50! If you knew him, it will probably sound familiar...
Dad at a shoot, bringing up young boy to meet a humble legend- "Say 'Hello' to Mr. Pierce, Son."
Jerry's eyes twinkle, and and as he gently wraps his giant hand around the little guy's, you know the game is on.
Jerry (smiling kindly)- "Hello. What's your name?"
Needlessly (but understandably) intimidated kid-
"Robert."
Jerry- "ROBERT? That's a funny name for a little girl!"
Robert (eyes WIDE with indignation)- "I'M NOT A GIRL!"
Jerry smiles, eyes twinkle again, and the skit is over. He'd spend the next 10 minutes becoming a friend the young man would never forget. He never seemed to tire of it, and it worked the same way each and every time.... :archer:
Ahem, I have been informed that I misspoke previously...Jerry's "go to" bow for deer hunting was 74 pounds, not the measly 72 that I stated earlier. This info was provided by another friend of Jerry's (and mine!) that lurks here sometimes. He and Jerry hunted together quite a bit, and Jerry once told me if this fella kept hanging around Jerry's house he was gonna claim him on his taxes...
Hey Brian.
I shot Doug Campbell's.....killed some gofers with it....two words....sweet & special.
I believe I read once that Jerry said 58" was the ideal length for a recurve. Anyone ever hear Jerry say that?
Jerry Pierce >>>----------> Great man, Dearly missed!
I was going to spend the weekend at Jerry's house but got the phone call with the bad news of his passing a few days before I was to go. I am grateful for the time I spent with him! We shared a lot of the same values. This thread has brought back some good memories! More pictures!!!!!
Monte Dunaway
Thanks fellas! This is an awesome thread. As i was reading it last night , it jogged my memory!! I have a video of Jerry and his friend/partner Pat cebuhar building their bow together! The video was recorded by another friend , ben Bishop,so i found and watched it !
Interesting to watch. I never had the opportunity to meet Jerry, wish i had, sounds like a very nice ,well liked person!
I was at one of the PBS banquets the day before it really started and struck a conversation with a couple guys, I showed them the knife I made and then we went up to Jerry's room and he showed me the first bow I had seen with the "points" in it, I asked him what they sold for, Jerry said, I don't know, I don't sell em! I then asked him HOW he made the points and never expected an answer, BUT he told me how to make them! After his death, the family gave me all the remaining cutoffs from the bowmaking. I made a knife and box for PBS, but I still have a few pieces left which will resurface in a donation some day.
Hi Rick; Have you given any thought to making a knife with Pierce points in his honour?? I think that would be a nice touch.
Sergio,
You actually have a video of Jerry in action, building a bow?
I would love to have a copy if it's possible.
Jerry's craftsmanship has been a big inspiration to me and it would be a great keep sake to have a video of the man in action.
If you'd be interested, please P.M. me.
I would be happy to compensate you for your time, materials, and cost of shipping a copy.
Thank you,
Brandon
I've seen that video .......... it used to be available thru the PBS lending library....... maybe it still is ?????
Sergio, I hoped I could do that with the cutoffs, but a knife handle was to small to make it work. I may try it again and see if I can work something out.
Rick; Did i say knife handle?? I meant KNIFE handle! Jusy kidding, would be nice if it could be done. maybe i'll pay with it after Christmas and see how it works out. let you know. Merry Christmas!
Where the heck is the Spellcheck on a mac???
Rick, you just reminded me: I have that knife and box! I just went and looked at them in the disply cabinet. Still as beautiful as ever. You did a great job on both and the finger joints on the box really would have made Jerry smile if he had seen them. Thank you!
The Choctaw bow that Jerry made for John Rook has been donated to PBS, by John, and will be on display at the upcoming banquet in Pittsburgh. It won't be in the auctions as John wants PBS to keep it for good for all to enjoy, not just who brought the most cash. Thank you, John. I know Jerry would have appreciated what you have done.
John is the most extraordinary person I have ever known. Donating their Jerry Pierce Choctaw is something very few owners would do. We were blessed with a donated Choctaw for auction at the UBI last year. These fellows deserve our alocades and deepest appreciation.
John is the most extraordinary person I have ever known. Donating their Jerry Pierce Choctaw is something very few owners would do. We were blessed with a donated Choctaw for auction at the UBI last year. These fellows deserve our alocades and deepest appreciation.
After this thread started, I was digging around and found a couple of my old magazines that have Jerry's bows on them. I thought I'd post pics of them as an addition to this thread.
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f239/recurvecrafter/PiercePBScoverpic.jpg)
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f239/recurvecrafter/PierceTBMcoverpic.jpg)
Sergio,
Shot you a few pms, curiuos if you're willing to dub the video of Jerry?
When I was accepted as a regular in PBS in 1987, I shortly thereafter recieved a letter in the mail from a fellow named Jerry Pierce. It was a welcome to the club sort of thing, but outside the PBS infrastructure. It was individual to individual; and you can't help noticing such things. I knew the organization was fraternal...but that really proved it. At the time, I didn't know who Jerry Pierce was and I wasn't aware that he had grown up in the same small town that I had in Mississippi. I doubt he knew it either.
At the time I was much younger and I loved to quail hunt (we actually had quail back then) and a particular farmer that knew my grandfather had a place that I visted quite often. To make long story short, we got to talking late one afternoon and I was explaining my addition to bowhunting. He said that you 'ought to meet my nephew Oren, he really loves it as well'. He mentioned that years ago that he moved to Illinois. Just being polite, I asked him what Oren's last name was and he said "Pierce". The light bulb went off in my head and asked did anyone ever call him "Jerry". He explained that was what all the people "up north" called him but he was really "Oren!"
I introduced myself to Jerry who was working the PBS sign up table in 1992 at St Louis. I said, "how are you doing Mr. Oren". He looked up over his glasses and relied "you must be from Mississippi!"
His son and Jerry's wife (Ms Betty) resides just a few miles down the road from me and we vist from time to time. A couple of weeks ago I took one of Jerry's deer to be scored for Compton's new book to be published. Unfortunately it scored just a little under the minimum. Regardless, I couldn't help but think of the history and honor to have been asked to do that task by the family.
I only met Jerry that one time but I'm glad that I had the opportunity to meet him when I did.