Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: azhunter on October 22, 2008, 09:48:00 PM
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Is there any difference in the Griffin and Shrew handle? Thanks
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Nope, that's because the Shrew design of today is actually John McCullough's design before he went to work for Ron. Ron still uses John's design and they are very much the same bows even though John has gone back to making his own bows and no longer works for Ron LaClair! I've shot both the Super Shrew and my Griffin and they are identical as far as I can tell! Hope this helps!
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No. I've owned several of both, same grip.
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Nope, that's because the Shrew design of today is actually John McCullough's design before he went to work for Ron. Ron still uses John's design and they are very much the same bows even though John has gone back to making his own bows and no longer works for Ron LaClair! I've shot both the Super Shrew and my Griffin and they are identical as far as I can tell! Hope this helps!
Mike, read "The Shrew story" http://www.shrewbows.com/super_story.htm#shrewstory
John was making self bows when I got him to make the Super Shrew that "I" designed. John is still making his Griffens using my original design. It may be hard to tell from a picture but the Griffen limb is slightly different than the "current" Super Shrews and also the handle/grip of the Shrew is a slightly more "defined" than Johns Griffen.
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I have a McCullough Shrew, and it's a fine bow. I have several current Shrew bows, and they are much nicer.
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I own one of each. Both are Great Bows! The grips are almost the same.
... mike ...
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I own both and there are some differences in the bows. The Griffin I have has a bigger throat to the handle and not as defined of a thumb shelf. The limbs are also much thicker on my Griffin as well so the bow it self is much heavier. I enjoy both bows but the Shrew has the edge when it comes down to it.
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I'll take John's fit and finish any day. You cannot beat a Griffin.
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I disagree. The current Shrews are much better.
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The current Shrew Classic Hunter is one of best and smoothest drawing bows I have ever shot. Gets my vote for #1 bow.
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Roger, you must have stock in Shrew bows. Good luck at Shrew Haven. I find it hard to believe you could improve upon John's Griffin, it is perfect.
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Ausable, If you have not had the pleasure to shoot a new style Shrew you owe it to yourself. I am not nocking Griffins or John's bows in any way as I have one and like it a lot. But like I said before the Shrews and just fantastic bows and my favorites for sure!!
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I have both.
2004 shrew
2008 griffin.
Also had a 2004 griffin.
If the current shrews are much nicer i may have to order one.
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Have not tried a newer Shrew, but do have a 02 Super Shrew "SP" 58" 55@28 and a 60" Griffin [newer]59@28 this one has Boo lams,curley maple veneer on back, overlays front and back. It puts a 460 grn. 5575GT thru chrono at [3 hots with fingers] 197,198, and 200 fps.
The questin here, is about grips and since I think John made both of these I really do see no differance. Griffin is perhaps a tiny bit thicker in width at throat of grip, [not even sure about that]. I love and shoot both alot and hunt with the Shrew real hard most of the time as it's been camo dipped recently and I love that durable finish
Could not bring myself to cover up the Griffin as it's a real beauty. I think the overall fit and finish along with being a little faster [ but again it's 4# heaver] would go to the Griffin.
Bottom line at my age I'm finding "Life Really Is Short !" buy one of each... They are both great. I love the feel and weight of the Shrew, it's like carrying a piece straw weight wise.
Gene
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Roger.....what makes the shrew "much" nicer or better than the mccullough? they both are extremely similar well built bows (excellent bowyers) with one carrying a heavier price tag.. i was just curious what makes one nicer than the other as far as design or craftsmanship?...thanks...steve
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Ausable - NO, I don't have stock in Shrew bows. And don't assume I'm speaking well of them because Ron and I are friends. I also bought a Northern Mist bow this year. I think highly of Black Widow bows, Brack's, and many others. When I was managing the vendors for the Compton Rendevoux I was fortunate to meet just about every bowyer out there....and I can only think of two that I wouldn't buy a bow from.
As far as the McColough built Shrews vs the current ones, It is my opinion that these are better. And it's not a slap at John. I like the grip better, I like the limb design better, I like the finish better. I also like the new models they have come up with....the Li'l Favorite especially.
For those of you who like current Griffin bows, I am absolutely certain that it is an excellent bow, and I would love it as well. My John-built Shrew is an awesome bow, and I hunt with it every year.
This is starting to sound like a LW thread, so I'm dropping out.
Roger Norris
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i second the Li'l favorite...thats a sweety
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I have to admit I don't think I've owned both the Shrew and the Griffen at the very same time, so I haven't made a side by side comparison, but the grips seemed identical to me. Nor have I owned the newest model Shrew.
I've bought two bows from Ron as well as several other items. Bought one from John. I've also bought two or three other Shrews or Griffens on the used market.
Both Ron & John are class "A" to deal with and build some of the nicest bows I've owned. :thumbsup: :notworthy:
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Have owned 5 Shrews, 1 Griffin. The Griffin grip was narrower than all the Shrews...which may have just been a coincidence. I didn't notice much difference in how they felt and shot, except for the grip size. For me, I prefer a slightly thicker grip so stayed with the Shrews, still own two.
Griffins and Shrews are both excellent bows and after owning both I wouldn't hesitate to buy one or the other.
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What Doug said.I have had 5 griffins and 3 shrews and my brother has a few as well.We like em both and I would be happy with either bow no doubt.Johns newest griffin has a few design changes that he tweaked into the bow that differs from some of the older and semi older ones that I have had.
Pick your poisen.Cant go wrong any way you slice it.
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Well, since my last post here I have sold my last Super Shrew [one that John made] so that I could pick up a Griffin 59'r to and to my 1 piece and 2 piece bows. I just can't seem to get enough of them. Carried my 1 piece 21 days elk hunting and had no desire to pick up any of the many customs I have.
:wavey:
Gene
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funny one.
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They are so close you can close your eyes and shoot...usually you'll even hit with eyes closed :) Both John & Greg are superb bowyers so you can't go wrong...that is if you can get one! Doc
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I'm in line for a bow bolt Griffin some time in 2010. But, I am thinking about switching it to more of a recurve style, something that might be close to the Li'l Favorite.
In line with previous conversations on this thread; can anyone comment on whether or no John is making anything close to the Li'l Favorite by Shrew??
I find that I just seem to shoot my recurves better,for the most part. Thanks for your thoughts and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
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Ron designed them, John made them and now makes the same bow with minor differences under his own name. Seems to me like trying to judge between the two types of bows would be tough. As usual it seems to come down to personal preference.
I have a solution to finding the answer which is the better bow. Send me all your shrews and McCullough's and I will perform a non biased test run of each against the other for accuracy, finish, speed, etc... It should take about a year. I will make sure to post kill picks with the various bows as well. I will make sure to post a scientific report here at the end of the year and the issue will be settled.
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Buckster, if you want a Li'l Favorite, call Ron. That model is my absolute favorite bow, ever.
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Both are excellent bows with great bowyers building them. Ron has sponsored here since the beginning which helps make it possible for you to ask that question here, that kind of thing always pushes me in a bowyers favor. :)
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I bet the Shrew vs John McCullough comparison will cease soon. John hasn't made a Shrew bow for years. Ron's bowyer, Trad Gang favorite Gregg Coffey has helped make the Shrew a better (not better quality wise...Johns bows are great, but better to MY hand)in my opinion.
Getting John to make a Li'l Favorite would be like calling some other random bowyer and asking them to build one. Doesn't make sense to me.
My McCullough made Shrew (we need to all keep in mind even those bows are Ron's design) was my first bow from Ron. It is and always will be one of my favorites. Quality is second to none.
But my Li'l Favorite (3rd season, I think) has changed my mindset from "which bow should I buy next" to "Lord I hope this bow never breaks". Not to sound corny, but it is the ONLY bow I ever thought about naming. :bigsmyl:
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Thanks gentlemen. Since I'm already on John's list for a Griffin, I think that I may change it to a 59'r @60".
I also want to have Ron LaClair and his team make me a 54" 2-piece Li'l Fav, perhaps the Bumblebee version. This should cover my bases. :clapper:
BTW, Roger I don't think naming your Li'l Favorite is "corny", I actually think that is kinda cool, since it denotes a special connection that you have with that particular bow, that you don't feel with any of your other one's. You may have to get yourself another Li'l Favorite as a back-up huh?
I am fixing to give Mr. Laclair a call this morning to explore this a bit further.
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After owning a lot of bows, my Griffin is my favorite bow of all time. I suspect if and when I purchase a Shrew it will be tied for my all time favorite bow.
I really enjoy Ron's post, especially of the good ol days.
Thanks Ron for a great design.
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I don'tknow how you could get any better than a SHREW...my $.02
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Is there a web site for Griffin bows? I cannot find one
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I knew John long before he started making Shrews bows for me. It was because of our friendship that he agreed to make them. John was making Nels Grumley replica bows at the time and his work was outstanding. When I showed him my design for the Super Shrew he was excited and up for the challenge of making a glass laminated bow.
After a few years of making Shrews, he wanted to make a line of bows for himself. When I saw the first Griffen I said to him, "it looks like a Super Shrew, why don't you design another bow that doesn't look like a Shrew?" To which John said, "because THIS is the best design."
John's 59'er recurve is his version of a bow he made for me for awhile that I called the "Grayling Spirit" We used my own 1959 Bear Kodiak to copy and make the form. It is a good shooting recurve but I dropped it from my line after a few years.
When Gregg Coffey came on board and started working on the Shrews, John gave him a lot of help and advice. I was a hard Task Master and I'm sure Gregg got tired of hearing my criticism but he being the craftsman that he is was turning out excellent bows in a very short time.
When John wanted to stop making the Shrews I was sorry to see him leave but we have remained good friends and John is now working at his own pace without me pestering him to keep busy... :D
Because our handles are formed by hand and not machined they may vary slightly from bow to bow. Although I designed the ergonomic grip on the Shrew bows, there is a slight difference between the Shrew's and the Griffens. Is one better than the other? No!...it's like comparing a Rembrandt to a Picasso... :readit:
Since Gregg has become the #1 Shrew Bowyer we have added more Models to our line, The Shrew Scout recurve in 58 and 60" and the Lil' Favorite RC in 54 and 56". The Shrew Classic Hunter in 52,54, and 56" lengths has been a big success and we are now working on the new Shrew Model-T which will be available in 62,64, and 66" lengths.
I hope I've helped answer the questions that some may have about the differences between the Griffens and the Shrews.
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:thumbsup: :campfire:
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Thats what you call "straight from the horses mouth"!!