Recieved my Blacktail Elite today. 60" 54@28. Cocobola footed with Shedua riser and Bamboo cored stained Red Elm veneered limbs.
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Bows/P4240178.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Bows/P4240181.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Bows/P4240180.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Bows/P4240177.jpg)
What a beauty!
Norm does it again!
Beautiful bow, I never get tired of
looking at blacktails.
Burnsie
VERY NICE!!! Shawn
Wow...she's a beauty! :thumbsup:
Flat out gorgeous!
Oooohhhhhh!
WOW nice bow.
Norm is like a god. Not THE GOD, but a god. Awesome looks, and great shooters too. Congrates on a fine bow.
Brent
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
She's a beauty TJ! Love the grain on the limbs. Great wood combo. How long did you wait? Now you can say it was worth it! Enjoy!
Very nice!
That's a beauty! ;) :thumbsup:
Stunning!
I'd love to get hold of one of Norm's bows, eventually.
QuoteOriginally posted by snag:
She's a beauty TJ! Love the grain on the limbs. Great wood combo. How long did you wait? Now you can say it was worth it! Enjoy!
Snag, when I ordered Norm told me 12-13 months. It was a little over 9 months. Just a guess but I'd say the economy has brought on many cancellations for custom bow's.
NICE :campfire:
nice bow...Norm is at his best as usual !
TJ, 9 months would put my order being filled near my birthday. Great present! I hadn't considered the effect the economy would have on this too.
So, how does it shoot? When I picked mine up at his shop Norm gave me some 80-85# ACME arrows to go out and try it. Couldn't believe how great those arrows flew out of that bow!
Absolutely beautiful!
Snag, I've shot some 2016's and 3555 Gold tips out of it. I think the 3555's are going to be good after the string settles in and I tune it. I've always heard they like a stiff arrow. But I've got to try what I have on hand first. I know you own a couple Blacktails so If I can't get them to fly absolutely perfect I will P.M. you for some advice.
It sure is smooth to draw and the speed is more than I'm used to.
Thanks T.J.
QuoteOriginally posted by wisconsin wood butcher:
NICE :campfire:
What specs and wood combo's and when will you get your's Wisconsin?
Very pretty-congratulations TJ. Grant
I got mine last monthm 62 inches and 54@28, it likes 5575 gold tips and some cabelas stalker extreme 50/70 I think. A great shooting bow, I put it thru a chrono with some of my other bows, don't let anyone tell you a Blacktail is not a good performer. I have already ordered another.
hogdancer, don't throw a statement like that out there and not give your results. Have you always been a tease? What did you find?
I have along with my Blacktail a Morrison shawnee with recurve limbs, a Brack Quest, a widow SAV and a Dale Dye and a Robertson. The arrows were a little over 11 grains per pound and I found that the Blacktail edged them all out by a little, all bows were right at 54@28. Now that's how it worked out for me, take that for what you paid for it.
A piece of fine artwork! :thumbsup:
Sorry all, I just wanted to share the beauty of this bow and the first set of photos just didn't do it.
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Bows/P4250177.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Bows/P4250178.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Bows/P4250179.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Bows/P4250184.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Bows/P4250189.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Bows/P4250182.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Bows/P4250180.jpg)
thats a bowyers art for sure.i hope to hold one some day.
TJ, you're probably gettin' tired of lookin' at that ol' thing...aren't ya! lol
I'm sure not. The natural lighting really does show it off better. Great grain patterns in the limbs and riser. You got a good one there for sure!
Thanks Snag, you know the reason I bought this bow is you don't you? About 9 or 10 months ago or so you were posting picts of yours and I ordered mine the next day.
It's definitely contagious! I was the same way. Saw one and that was all she wrote...ordered one! Everytime I pull that bow out and shoot it I still can't believe it is mine. I chrono'd my 55#@28" with 600gr hunting arrows, 5" feather fletching, D97 string, tab, shooting into a 15 mph wind, sun in my eyes, before breakfast, ok, ok I'll stop....175fps. Not the fastest bow out there maybe, but it shoots pretty fast and hits where I look. I'm a happy hunter!
Outstanding! Man oh man, that combo turned out real nice! I have two Blacktails also (Snakebit and Elite TD's) and they are top shelf bows. Not only in looks but in shooting qualities also. Norm sure can put a bow together...
JL
Nice bow, Congrats! :thumbsup:
Wish I could see the pics. No doubt it's purty! ;)
I love looking at mine as much as I love shootin' it.
That is a BEAUTY!!
TJ, you want your money back for it??? :p :D
Mike :campfire:
Raw Hide that's a heck of an offer, but after that long anticipated wait I'll hang onto her for a while. Had a buddy come over today and he couldn't believe how it shot. I hope you all don't waste as many years as I have looking for a great shooting bow. You get what you pay for. Lots of good bowyers out there. Just give Norm a call and order you one.
www.blacktailbows.com (http://www.blacktailbows.com)
wowza!!!!!!!!!simply beautiful. Enjoy.
That's one beautiful work of art. Congrats.
hey kentucky tj
to answer i would like the ebony riser and bamboo limbs or somthing like you r combo 50@ 30" ihave a
bocote top to bottom 60#@30" now
Beautiful bow, as we have come to expect from the hands of Norm Johnson. I have a couple of Blacktail Elites and also have a Snakebit on order. The Blacktails shoot very well, but are not the best feeling in my hand. To me they are a little heavy and less nimble feeling than some of my other bows. I know that others think they feel the best in their hands, which is great since everyone's physique and preferences are different. Nevertheless, no one makes a better looking bow, at least in my opinion, and that is why every serious recurve shooter who appreciates good looks in a bow ought to have at least one of Norm's bows. As to which recurve I like to shoot best, I am prejudiced in favor of Brackenbury bows because I have been shooting Bracks since Jim built my first one for me in 1984. Bill Howland's Brack Quests are even better than Jim's original design and are at the top of my list of great shooting bows. I have a Non-Typical on order from Bill too which everyone says is as nice a hybrid longbow as the Quest is a recurve. I have recently become a fan of Bob Morrison's bows as well and have a couple of Cheyennes with a Shawnee longbow on order. The Blacktails are the best looking in my opinion, but the Brackenburys and Morrisons are beautiful bows too and shoot better in my hands (not that I am all that great a shot). A bow that I do not find to be all that incredible in looks is the ACS CX, which is still attractive, but not in the same league looks-wise with the others. Still, it is one of the best shooting bows I have ever held. We are all fortunate to have some excellent bowyers out there who are true artisans. They are producing excellent bows that look and shoot great.
One word..... "Beautiful"
Oughta be a law against making a bow that pretty..
Amar911, funny you mention the Quest and the Morrison, great bows but two of the ones I got rid of when I got the Blacktail, truely we are lucky to have so many great bowyers.
Beautiful bow... Mines not a year old yet. still love it. It's 55@29 and I'm shooting Gold tip 55-75 out of her. Enjoy... Mine took 13 months to get. Well worth it. Here's one of three whitetails I took with it last year. Got the bow five days before the season opened:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/JHarper/DSC012102.jpg)
Jeff
Great photo Jeff and beautiful bow. I have found my blacktail shoots my Gold tip 3555's like darts. So after talking with Snag about arrows for the blacktail sounds like it shoots many different brands and spines equally well.
Amar911, I have never shot a Brack or Morrison. If they shoot better than this Blacktail I look forward to the day.
KentuckyTJ,wow nice bow, makes me want to go string mine & shoot even in the snow. Frank
Thomas (Hogdancer),
I know! I am the one who bought your Quest!!!!! So there is not such a coincidence as you thought -- or maybe even a bigger one, depending how you look at the situation. Your Quest is great bow, but I am still messing with getting those inserts fixed. I may have to send it back to Bill and let him do it. The issue was exactly as you described it. Not a big deal since I don't use a bolt-on quiver, but it might as well be right. Quests are still my favorite recurves.
Allan
Tom (KentuckyTJ),
I am not saying that Bracks or Morrisons necessarily "shoot better" than a Blacktail. The Blacktail is an excellent shooting bow that can stand toe-to-toe with the other recurves. In a beauty contest the Blacktail will probably beat all comers. But beauty and performance are only two of the characteristics that make a bow best for any given individual archer. The fit and feel of the bow are just as important, and maybe more so. This may be the wrong forum to mention guns, but a good shotgun is the same way. If it feel good and fits you right, you will shoot it better. I shoot my Beretta over and under very well because it fits me and feels great in my hands. It points were I want to hit without me even thinking about it and balances perfectly between my hands with the way I mount the gun to my shoulder. It is not a better gun than a Browning O/U, but Brownings don't feel as good to me and I don't shoot them as well. The performance is identical and the Brownings look as good or better than my Beretta. So don't think the Bracks or the Morrisons will be better for you. Shoot what feels good and works well in your hands, because that is what makes instinctive shooting work. I can say that if you get a chance to shoot a Brack or a Morrison, or any other of the premium custom bows out there, you should do so. You might find something that works better for you. Save your money though, because you should not sell the Blacktail just to finance a different bow. Your Blacktail is a great prize that you should keep, shoot and admire as long as you are able to do so. But don't think you are in a monogamous relationship with one bow. Try the others, and if one of them finds a place in your heart, take her home with you.
Congratulations on your beautiful Blacktail! You are the envy of all of us to have such a beautiful , high-performance custom recurve.
Allan
Allan, I'm not disputing your comments in any way and I totally agree with you that personal fit is an important part of anyones re pore with a bow. By "shoot better" I did mean shoot better for me than this Blacktail. For all I know they do shoot better (For Me) never having shot one.
Don't worry my Blacktail has a home here forever. I to enjoy a great looking and shooting recurve. One day (Lord willing) I will own other top notch curves. This is just my fifth recurve I've owned (as an adult) and four of the other's are still in my bow shop and will never leave.
Funny you use Berretta as an analogy. I have a 20 gauge O/U that I really like and use for training my dogs and bird hunting.
T.J.
Yep, if it doesn't fit your hand and your style of shooting it doesn't matter how purdy it is. I have shot other bows, but for me when I slip my hand onto that grip of the Blacktail it just feels like it is a part of my hand. I have a comfortable and reliably consistant connection with the bow. Which results in a certain amount of confidence...and I enjoy looking at it! lol
It fits me as well Snag. I tend to lose control of a lot of bow's after the arrow releases because I like to grip the handle very lightly, virtually a loose grip. This blacktail grip stays put or keeps me in contact with it after the shot promoting a better follow through.
I like the way the front of the grip is kind of square. This fits my index finger joints nicely. So I can wrap it around the front and in the same place everytime. This allows me to have that light hold on the bow, you are talking about, with it still feeling secure in the hand.
Everyone has an idea of what feels best for himself. Tom (KentuckyTJ) and I both like our Beretta O/U shotguns. Mine has the English straight stock because I like only a small grip in my hand, even though I wear large gloves. Most people I know prefer pistol grips on their shotguns. I like my guns to be lighter than most people prefer. The same is true of bows. I like lighter risers with lower, less filling grips than the normal Blacktail. I am sure Norm can make a grip any way I want it, and I am probably going to send him a riser from one of my favorite bows and ask him to get as close to it as he can on the riser of the Snakebit he is building for me. Just reducing the size of the grip will lower the weight of the bow some, which I will like. I use a lot more palm when I shoot - somewhat like what Howard Hill and some of the longbow shooters used to do. The normal Blacktail grip forces the web of my hand into the bow, so I tend to have less palm pressure. That is probably a better way to shoot a bow than I do, but it just doesn't feel as good to me. If you saw the groups I shoot with the Blacktail as opposed to those I shoot with my Bracks, my Morrisons, or my ACS CX, you would not be able to tell which bow I was using. I can shoot the Blacktail about as well, but it just doesn't feel as good. So, if I am in a pinch situation, like out hunting, I want to have the bow in my hands that feels best and I know I can shoot well no matter what. At some point I may get more used to the Blacktail and even decide I like the way it shoots better, but not yet. On the other hand, I'm sure not getting rid of my Blacktails, and am even buying another very expensive new one (check out the current price of a Snakebit!) from Norm, so don't think I am knocking the bows -- I love them!
amar911, you shouldn't fight that Blacktail grip issue anymore. I can help you out by buying them from you. I just can't let you go on not shooting a bow that feels good in your hand! :0)
When did you order your Snakebit? Is it a TD? I ordered one in Feb. I read recently that someone received their order in 9 mos. instead of the 12-13 mos.! There is hope for a shorter wait! Love to see the pics when you get yours.
Snag,
Thanks for offering to relieve me of my Blacktail "issue" -- and my Blacktails too!!! Thanks, but I'll just keep suffering and see what happens. Sometimes these things are just an acquired taste.
Sounds like we are going to get our Snakebits at about the same time. I ordered mine March 5th. Yes, it is a take down. I read about the 9 month wait too with someone speculating that the economy had caused a few people to cancel their orders. That would not surprise me. If true, it would mean I might get a really neat Christmas present from myself! I will definitely send you pics of mine, but you have to do the same with yours, and you will get yours before I get mine. I think the Snakebit is probably the best looking bow around. It is certainly one of the most unique. I would want one just to look at, even if I never shot it, but I definitely will be shooting it. I think I am going to send Norm my favorite riser, like I suggested I might, and let him try to make the grip on my Snakebit more like the ones I favor. That way I can have the best of all worlds: beauty, good feel and a great shooting bow.
Allan
Allan, it's a deal! As soon as I have it in my hand I'll pull out the camera. I live only 60 miles inland from Norm. So, I usually drive over and make a pick up and talk awhile. Something to look forward to!
David,
Great, when you are over there at Norm's picking up your bow, find out if mine is close to being finished. You might get to see it before I do! Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing pics of yours, and I will definitely send you pics of mine.
BTW, my brother lives in Portland -- Milwaukie actually. So he is somewhat in your neck of the woods, at least compared to Oklahoma where I am.
Allan
If yours is out where I can take some pics of it I will send them to you.
I was going to ask when I can come up and shoot your bow...but on second thought I can't afford another bow right now.
If you decide you want to try some other arrows, let me know, I have a variety of carbons sitting around the house here in Lexington, that your more then welcome to try out, CE 150 and 250, and GT 5575 mostly.
Tom,That is a very pretty bow.I ordered mine last august 07.I can't wait to get it.My bow
is 60"inches #52lbs@27 Riser is made of Rosewood
with vineer yew limbs.Good luck with the bow!
Scott
Thanks, David. I would love some pics if you can find my bow in progress when you pick yours up. Allan