I took my youngest son Luke out for some rabbit hunting this past winter. All was going just fine until we got back to the truck. Luke was hunting with his first bow ( a forward handle long bow) made by a good friend of mine JD Berry. We loaded up the truck with all the gear to go get some lunch when I heard a loud gut renching crunch. Luke had closed the door on his bow limb. I had to keep my mouth shut because the look on Lukes face said it all. A quick inspection and I knew all was lost with this bow. It was a very quiet ride home. Weeks went by and Luke went with Tim and I to Kennys (4Runners) home for a bow build. Luke took his older brothers American style custom bow, to shoot with a stern warning from his brother, "Dont break my bow or else". Luke shot it a couple times and hated it.
Driving Luke home from school one day he asked if I had spoken to the guy that builds the bows. He suggested that I should call him. :saywhat: . I called JD and handed the phone to Luke. Jd chewed on Luke for a bit for being careless and the conversation ended with Luke describing a bow he would like to have. I then heard Luke say he had $12.00. A evil smile filled my face and Luke just kept looking at me with the phone to his ear. JD told Luke to send the $12.00 now and $20.00 a month until the bow was paid off. If he didnt pay up JD told Luke he was going to call the cops. Luke now does the dishes every night and extra chores trying to work off the money to pay for the bow.
(http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w266/MGERARDI_2007/lukesboepics001.jpg)
(http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w266/MGERARDI_2007/lukesboepics002.jpg)
(http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w266/MGERARDI_2007/lukesboepics003.jpg) Elk antler tips. (http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w266/MGERARDI_2007/lukesboepics006.jpg)
Great story Mike. Thanks for sharing it!
Great Story! That just made my day! I have admired JD"s bows for years now. After reading this story maybe I should give him a call. Your son has learned a valuable lesson in life ten times over. He will keep his beautiful new bow with him forever and look back on it for years to come.
A good friend, a good lesson, and a beautiful bow.Well done on everyone's part.
James sure did him right! That's a great little bow. Now we'll never get out of the house without him! :thumbsup:
What a great lesson learned.
Wish more kids would learn that way.
BTW, that is one sweet looking bow too!
Now,, That Is GOOD !!
Beautiful bow and cool story!
Good story its nice to know there are still a lot of good people out there and it sure seems like a lot of them end up here.
Cool story. My hat is off to Mr.Berry.
More kids in this world could use lessons like that! Thanks for sharing your story. Great looking bow too.
Hi, Mike! So glad to see your post on several levels. I still think very fondly of the day I spent with you guys last year, but in shifting stuff from my Ohio friend's computer back to my lap top back to my home computer, I lost your email. I'll be PM'ing you.
Beautiful bow, and a great story. You've got a lucky bow. That's James all over.
Last July I was at the Medical Lake shoot and I had my Berry Yahweh on my sale table. Guy walks up and asks what's the matter, didn't I like the bow? I explained that I loved the bow, it was one of two I had had, but due to medical problems I couldn't draw it any more. Guy says, "What can you draw?" I said, "about 35#", and he says, "Well, then that's what I'll build you."
Of course, it was James. I bought both of my Berry's used and had never contacted him. I knew he lived in WA but didn't know it was in Medical Lake. He built me a gorgeous 33# Viper. It's typically Berry beautiful and it's one of the fastest bows I've ever shot, hitting consistant high 180's shot through a chrono from my machine, and 150's hand released from my 25" draw.
While the bow was being built, I spent a lot of time on the phone with JD, and told him my tale of woe about trying to get a laminated version of the old York and Pearson wide limbed flat bows built. I'd had several built but they just weren't exactly what I was looking for. I mentioned that I had had the thought that maybe I'd have to learn to build them myself, but it was a pretty daunting prospect. His response, "If you've got some time, bring the bow you want copied out here. I'll build you a form and teach you how to lay up a bow and you can take it from there." I was at his place a couple of weeks later and came home with a double form for my style of bow and a Hill style, and a new wide limbed flatbow that had exactly the look I was after. We had to guess at several features and the layup formula, because he'd never done one quite like this before, but it all worked out.
I came home, equipped my shop, and have built two more flatbows and five Hill styles. I'm about to start work on grinding the lams for the next one. I'll never build bows like he does, but thanks to his generosity, I'm working in my shop again after an 8 year lapse and having more fun than I've had in years.
I'm looking forward to seeing James and shooting with him again at Medical Lake this year. He's one great guy.
It is great to hear from you Dick. Glad to hear your building bows. James told me you guys spent some time together making bows. My eyes were green is all I can say. James has a big heart but dont let him know that it will go straight to his head. :biglaugh:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
my son did the exact same thing. first time he took his Great Northern out to shoot he shut the truck door on the upper limb, crunch! no fixing it. he is still saving for a new one. tough lesson but a good one.
Very cool Mike. Beautiful bow.
Kudos to you for sticking to making the boy pay his own way. Too many kids now days don't have to pay for their mistakes.
The greatest value is not in the material item but, in the lesson learned. I would imagine every time he looks or handles that bow, he will feel a sense of pride in the fact that he paid for it himself in one way or another, and will be more careful with his property as well as others property. This is a great step towards his manhood.
Outstanding parenting on your part and JD's! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
Just turned on the computer and seen this. Yes James is good with the kids, he has giving bows away at times to customers children that could not afford another bow because of hard times. James and I have helped at the range with the girl and boy scouts, teaching the wonderful sport of archery. My daughter who is 15 now received a bow from James just this past Christmas. With all that said I just have one more thing to say. I JUST KICKED JAMES'S BUTT AT THE WASHINGTON STATE SHOOT :knothead: :knothead: :knothead: :knothead: :knothead: :biglaugh:
Great story!! Thanks for sharing!! :thumbsup:
Congrats Dan !!!State Champ!!! Not to shabby. I told James to slam your fingers in the car door this morning....I guess he thought better of it.. :notworthy: :notworthy:
Now that's a cool story right there. Sounds like something off a Andry Griffith show!
What a great lesson! Traditional archery is in that kids bones. I have a nephew that would never shoot again if it meant he had to get off of his but to earn it.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
You will not find a finer gentleman archer and bowyer than James!