My son and I are interested in trying out English Longbows. We have noticed the English Longbow that Rudders offer. We were interested in the tri laminated one that they offer at a very good price. Just wondered if any of you own or have tried their bows. Wanted to get some feedback on their performance.
If you need to PM or email me, I am at LHunt37027@hotmail.com
Thanks
I have one of his hickory English Longbows, and I like it. It shoots well, but be advised-it is about 53# at 26.5 (my draw length), but I couldn't get it to shoot where I looked until I tried 40-45 arrows--then it started hitting where I looked and the arrows fly well. I'd buy another.
I am originally from WA, and my wife and I were able to go to his shop while up visiting. He and his wife are very nice people. He showed me around his shop, we talked a lot about building bows, and let me try some of the bows he had in stock (which was pretty lean at the time I visited).
RonP
Jim at Rudder bows is a great guy he lives about 20 miles form me here in the kittitas County, we worked at the same place when he first started making bows.At the time I hunted with wheelies he turned me to the trad bows I have seen and been to his shop a number of times. If you give him a call he is very honest. I have a IPE boo backed deflex reflex bow he tillered and I finished ,shoots great.I learned to make bows from him and have help him in the past.If I can post a pic I will.
Dave (http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu231/Dave063/Newbowreflexdefllex034)
I, well my son; has a hickory, glass backed, u-finish Rudderbow.
I am thoroughly happy with Jim's customer service; and Ethan loves his bow.
Not exactly the bow you are looking at but, I believe Jim will come through for you, as well!
My son and I have used a number of his kits. I have done bamboo backed hickory long bow. his reflex deflex boo bow and I have one of his sytka bows in process now. My son has completed two hickory staves and has a holmgaard blank waiting his return from college.
My son and I wanted the experience of doing the glue ups tillering etc and finishing work ourselves. At one point my son and I had 3 bows going at one time.
It has been an incredible learning experience. Not always pretty to look at but I will say every bow made was tunable and shootable. To date the only bow that failed was the boo backed hickory long bow. Somewhere around the 1500 shot the hickory crisselized and It developed a bad hing. This was after hours and hours of fun , one tournament shoot and more hours of fun. Looking back at my journal I had noted a possible problem but thought I had tillered through it. MY BAD.
Jim and his wife are a great team. During the build process I spent a great deal of time on the phone talking to Jim. If he was not available when I called he would typically get back to me that same evening and walk and talk me through the questions or problem I was having.
I would recommend you getting his how to pamphlets for the bow(s) you plan to work on even if you are getting them as a u finish.
I highly recommend Rudderbows. I should mention these were the first bows I have ever built.