Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Nala on February 27, 2008, 02:57:00 AM

Title: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Nala on February 27, 2008, 02:57:00 AM
Hey all,

I really like seeing pics of nice bows.  Lately I have been reading up on Hill bows and thinking of maybe trying to get one later this year.  With that in mind, if anyone has any pics of Howard Hill bows how about posting them.  The official Hill website isn't very good if you want to see the bows and all the different types.  They really need a new site.

Don't forget the Badger longbow....I would like to see pics of that one too.
If ya got Hill bow pics I sure would like to see them.

Thanks for your time and hopefully your pictures.

Nala
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on February 27, 2008, 05:01:00 AM
Here she is, a 66", 70lb @ 29" Redman, together with laminated birch arrows (from Paul Jalon) wearing 190 grain Ribteks:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/Archery%20Gear/HillBowEliteArrows010.jpg)

Practice, practice, practice:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/splitcedar004.jpg)

An action shot from the Gascoyne River in Western Australia (the arrow is still in the air having just exited the goat):
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/WA%20Goat%20Trip%202008/12-1.jpg)

And the end result, a really nice feral billy goat:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/WA%20Goat%20Trip%202008/13.jpg)

I like mine.

Cheers,

Ben
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on February 27, 2008, 05:56:00 AM
And here's a few more pictures.

Practice:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/Archery%20Gear/PracticeArcheryNewCamera012.jpg)

Wearing a Thunderhorn bow-quiver (the red-crested arrows are cedar made by Jason Ekins of Howard Hill Archery):
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/Archery%20Gear/HHRedmanandfrog009.jpg)

Another with the quiver attached:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/Archery%20Gear/HHRedmanandfrog013.jpg)

And the end of a successful practice session with my brother and his Martin Hunter:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/Archery%20Gear/HillandMartinTargetPractice002.jpg)

Cheers,

Ben
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: NorthShoreLB on February 28, 2008, 02:29:00 PM
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/print005.jpg)
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: NorthShoreLB on February 28, 2008, 02:30:00 PM
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/print.jpg)
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: SCATTERSHOT on February 28, 2008, 05:56:00 PM
Here are a few of mine... 48# Big 5   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/scattershot/IMGP2642.jpg) ebony riser, laced grip, black glass, gloss finish. 50# Wesley Special, ebony riser, black glass, gloss finish   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/scattershot/IMGP2648.jpg) 55# Big 5, Myrtle (?) riser, black glass, satin finish.  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/scattershot/IMGP2540.jpg)

The clear glass is beautiful, too, but these are what I shoot now.
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: WindWalker-AK on February 28, 2008, 09:52:00 PM
Mr. Nala,
Try looking at  www.howardhilllongbowmen.com (http://www.howardhilllongbowmen.com)
Best Wishes
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Ron LaClair on February 28, 2008, 11:00:00 PM
Hunting in a mile long corn field with an 85# Big Five  

(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Cornfield_Buck.jpg)
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Bowspirit on February 28, 2008, 11:26:00 PM
The stories you could tell, Ron...something else!
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Dick in Seattle on February 29, 2008, 02:18:00 AM
check out the Howard Hill Longbowmen site:

www.howardhilllongbowmen.com (http://www.howardhilllongbowmen.com)


particularly the Howard Hill Bows Showcase

Many pictures of Hill bows

Dick in Seattle
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Stone Knife on February 29, 2008, 04:53:00 AM
Here's my 48# @28 Big Five at Shawn's bunny hunt.

  (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/420W/IM000989.jpg)
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Trad Man 25 on February 29, 2008, 05:06:00 AM
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i164/The-Last-Wild-Man/CSC_0624.jpg)


(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i164/The-Last-Wild-Man/CSC_0626.jpg)

(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i164/The-Last-Wild-Man/DSC_0276.jpg)

(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i164/The-Last-Wild-Man/DSC_0575.jpg)

(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i164/The-Last-Wild-Man/DSC_0612.jpg)
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Trad Man 25 on February 29, 2008, 05:07:00 AM
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i164/The-Last-Wild-Man/CSC_0627.jpg)

(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i164/The-Last-Wild-Man/CSC_0625.jpg)
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Trad Man 25 on February 29, 2008, 05:16:00 AM
Hum,,, this is me with my 70" Cheeta,,, Its 65lds at 28",,that was 2 months ago when i fist got it,, ( new to me, ) and i was strugeling to get it back to my draw,, of 29" i was just oout of practice and a little unactive in the winter,, but i got back to my exercises and loosen up and now its no problem,, actually thinking at ill try and get a 70lder in the fall,, and so on,,  ;)
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Trad Man 25 on February 29, 2008, 05:17:00 AM
this is my draw now,, been doing some serious work on from and consistancy ready for Namibia this summer  :)  :)  :)
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i164/The-Last-Wild-Man/DSCN1584.jpg)
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Trad Man 25 on February 29, 2008, 05:23:00 AM
Actually i got a question,,, and any once can give any advice,, the brace height on the bow is at 6" now,, but think its a little low,, any recomendations,, is shooting fine now,, but just have a felling it should be more,, what you guys have your bows set at,, and what works best for you,,

Thanks

James
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on February 29, 2008, 05:33:00 AM
Fistmele plus about an inch and a half.
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on February 29, 2008, 05:35:00 AM
That's about 7 3/4".
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Flints on February 29, 2008, 05:36:00 AM
Reading from the Longbow Guarantee that Craig sends with each bow, says, The conventional model
70" longbow should be braced at 6 1/2 fistmele
(+/- 1 1/8").For shorter bows, the brace height should be reduced by 1/8 for every 2" of bow length( i.e., a 66" bow should have a brace height of 6 1/4")
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: NorthShoreLB on February 29, 2008, 06:54:00 AM
Yeah, 7 3/4" for a strait limbed bow is way to high.

those numbers are for curves or heavy R/D models

My 68" Redman is braced at 6 1/4", my 64" Cheetah at 6 1/8"
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Trad Man 25 on February 29, 2008, 07:01:00 AM
Hum,, OK,, So ill try puting it up another 1/2 inche and see how we do,,

Just one more question,, might seem stupid,, but iv never come accross the word Fistmele,,

Many Thanks

James
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: B.O.D. on February 29, 2008, 08:07:00 AM
I'm surprised you never heard of Fistmele??? it is an old English term..lol  :)
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: BobCo 1965 on February 29, 2008, 09:30:00 AM
My Wesley Special in the snow:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v166/BobCo/Stuff/100_0373.jpg)

My Schulz, and my very blue bluejeans:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v166/BobCo/Stuff/101_0240.jpg)
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: SCATTERSHOT on February 29, 2008, 11:14:00 AM
TradMan, fistmele is an old English term which means "fist measure". It is the distance from the bottom of your fist to the top of your extended thumb, and was used to set brace height by archers of old. If you make a fist and place it on the handle of your bow, your extended thumb should touch the string.
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Kingstaken on February 29, 2008, 02:45:00 PM
The average lenght from the bottom of your fist to the tip of the extended thumb is approx. 6 1/2"
  :thumbsup:   <-----------<<<-
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: tradtusker on February 29, 2008, 02:50:00 PM
Forms Looking good James  :thumbsup:  
im gonna try get us crammed into some 3d shoots for extra practice before we hit Africa!

Great Pics Ben  :rolleyes:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Orion on February 29, 2008, 02:51:00 PM
I set my 66-inch Big 5s at 6 1/2 to 6 3/4.  Shoot well in that range.
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: JRY309 on February 29, 2008, 02:58:00 PM
I brace my HH bows from 6&5/8" to 6&3/4" works out great for me.
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Trad Man 25 on February 29, 2008, 03:43:00 PM
Incredable,,, exactly 6&1/2  
Thanks Guys,,

James
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Ron LaClair on February 29, 2008, 04:04:00 PM
I'm on the right holding an 80# Howard Hill replica made for me by John Lee. It's copied from a bow in Johns collection. My friend on the left is using my 85# Big Five

  (http://tradgang.com/ron/ron51.jpg)
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on February 29, 2008, 06:05:00 PM
Yep, it seems I've wrongly transferred the brace height from a Widow longbow over to the Hill. Jeff Challacombe, one of Australia's finest longbowmen and a builder of straight-end bows himself, noticed the brace height in my picture, and sent me a message telling me the right way to go.

Thanks fellows! I'm glad to have learnt something! I'll go fix it and try it now!

Cheers,

Ben
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: 42WLA on February 29, 2008, 10:17:00 PM
I'm shooting my 1985 Ted Kramer made HH Big Five 70" 56@28". I'm the second owner and have had it since 1989. I brace at 6 5/8th".

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/faabala/Archery/5d3b.jpg)
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on February 29, 2008, 10:50:00 PM
Well, I fixed the brace height, improved my stance, and had a wonderful time shooting! The knowledge a fellow can get here is excellent! Thank you all again! Here are some pictures:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/Archery%20Gear/correctingHHbraceheight005.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/Archery%20Gear/correctingHHbraceheight008.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/Archery%20Gear/correctingHHbraceheight012.jpg)
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Trad Man 25 on March 01, 2008, 05:07:00 AM
Glad to here that you got your brace height ajusted,,, did you notice any difference in the shooting of the bow,, ????

I Just have one more question for my fellow Hill Men out there,,,

When i shoot my Cheeta with split fingers,, as i get close to full draw,, my fingers allways pull/nock the arrow off the shelf,, so the only way i can shoot it is with 3 under and leaveing a few mm so i dont touch the arrow,, i am canting the bow,, all i can think is that my shelf is a little to small,, or im doing some thing wrong,, and just wondering if any one else has that problem,, and if so what they do about it,,

iv been shooting 3 under now ,, and its no problem for me,, but just want to now what was wrong with my split finger,,

Thanks James
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: NorthShoreLB on March 01, 2008, 05:33:00 AM
The size of the shelf doesn't matter, hook the string a bit deeper than as you draw roll the fingers so that the string pushes the arrow towards the bow, this way you can shoot canting the opposite way and the shaft still stays on the shelf,...killed a pig once shooting that way, good to have that option if you find yourself in a less than perfect situation
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: tradtusker on March 01, 2008, 06:34:00 AM
check how tight your nock is on the string James.
also check if your pinching or squeezing the arrow with your fingers, causing it to jump of the shelf.
are you using a brass nock on the string? and do you nock above it or below it?
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on March 01, 2008, 09:17:00 AM
James, what the others said...

With the proper brace height, the bow pushes that arrow out with more authority. I also think it's quieter, but that could be pyschological! It is still smooth and gentle.

Ben
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Trad Man 25 on March 01, 2008, 02:40:00 PM
Thanks Guys,, ill give it a try tommorw and see how i get on,,

James
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: B.O.D. on March 01, 2008, 05:02:00 PM
Ben, I've noticed that your Hill has the straight grip.

I have a straight grip on the way on a big 5 I'm trying out, how do like that grip???

I have a slightly dished right now on my HH badger, but the straight grip looks nice.

BD
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on March 01, 2008, 07:38:00 PM
I love the straight grip. I find it quite easy to hold it consistantly in the same place.
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: Trad Man 25 on March 02, 2008, 06:11:00 AM
I got a Straight Grip on mine as well,, beacuse thats all you can get if you want a take down,, but i love that grip,, and also the leather is turning black from where i put my dirty hand,, so if i ever want to check if i got ym hand in the same place its no prob,, i got my hand out line on the grip  :)  :)  :)
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: nyamazan on March 02, 2008, 12:21:00 PM
I'm new to this so gotta ask, are these Hill bows a certain make of bow or a style of bow?
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: 42WLA on March 02, 2008, 12:36:00 PM
It is basically the American Straight end long bow as popularized by Howard Hill. Howard Hill Archery has never stopped making them and many others make excellent versions.
Title: Re: How About Some Pics of Hill Bows....Anyone??
Post by: nyamazan on March 02, 2008, 12:51:00 PM
Thanks for that. I really like the plain look of the riser (hope I ain't offending anyone). My longbow is  a pretty straightforward looking D type and was getting pretty envious of all them fancy looking bows out there. Allthough mine can't claim to be a Hill type I feel better now!