I have noticed more longbows having beavertail grips on them and wondering if there is any advanage over leather or Sure-grip?
I use both leather and Sure-grip on my longbows and I love both. Someone showed me a 1 3/4" bicycle tube he cut up the other day for a grip and it was thinner than Sure-grip which might help if Sure-grip felt too thick!
Beavertail looks thick to me but I have never seen one. Is it laced or gluded down? Any comments? I also notice Jack Harrison uses tennis racket handles! Ken
Alot of it has to do with looks. A beaver tail looks alot better than a old inner tube. The Dwyers use Beaver tails on some of there bows. They are formed to the handle then laced up.
I love mine....
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn125/frassettor/DSC00496.jpg)
Ken, I have two Widder PL's, one hase the sure grip,one has beavertail. Other than looks what I have noticed is that the beavertail seems more solid abd does not slide around in your hand as easily as the sure grip will.--------Bone
I just had Don Ward from Eagles Flight make me a black beaver tail mini bow quiver. The pattern on beaver tail is really cool looking and the leather isn't that thick...Doc
I just put a beaver tail grip on my monarch this past mid winter, it was off one of the beaver we Trapped! This is formed to the grip,glued with bardge and laced up!! I like it better than the leather grip that was on it before, It doesn't really feel any thicker to me than the leather!! Not sure about the rubber grips never tried them!!! I would post up a pic but don't have a good close up!! I'll try anyway!
(http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn339/JDCOWLES69/jan-marchmoretrad200900008.jpg)
Some of the best beavertail workmanship that I have seen has been by Abe Penner of Cari-bow...I wish I had done it on my Peregrine but now I would have to send it back to him to do it and I hate to part with it!!
I bought my Cari-bow Wolverine with beavertail already in place for the grip, rest, and strike-plate. I was a bit nervous about it at first in varying weather conditions but after using it in rain, snow, 90 degrees and -40 degrees, can honestly say it is the most versatile material I've ever used. Doesn't hurt that it looks super cool as well! Mine is quite thin compared to the leathers I've used before....Ryan
Yep-beaver tail wears like iron-great for grips and rests and strike plates too.
Don
If Abe Penner of Cari-bow wasn't THE first to use tanned beavertails on his bows, he definitely was ONE of the first.
He does a great job. In fact, he does a great at anything he works on. I have two of his bows, one with a regular leather grip and the other with a beavertail grip.
I can't decide which grip I like better.
I've got one on my Buffalo Bow by Big Jim, "AWESOME" !!!
Here's a cool picture of the Eagles Flight bow quiver hood...add even a little more class to the grip ;) Doc
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/BeaverEaglesFlightQuiver001-1.jpg)
Nice pic Jeff :thumbsup:
I second everything said about Abe at Cari-bow. I think he started it and he has definatly perfected it!
Beaver tail adds very little thickness to the grip. Infact I beleive it to be less than the shure grip.
Now asking people about which is better is just opening up a can of worms since that is a purley opinion type question. Having said that, I would not keep a bow for myself that didn't have beaver on the handle. Superior to any other material "I.M.H.O." It can be glued or glued and stiched in place. It does require special care and handling to get it to properly form to the more curvy handles but can be done. Tough, attractive and in a pinch you can pack mud into a damn with it.
BigJim
:biglaugh:
Sorry about bringing back this post, but I was searching for information on beaver-tail grips and as always Trag Gang folks have or will discuss. I am looking to replace the grip on my longbow with beaver. Since there is very little time before hunting season (or I would try to get my own), is there a supplier for this leather?
Thanks in advance,
Michael
I just like the look of beaver... Its tough !!!
This is a selfbow i just put beaver tail on. Tail was tanned. I'm going to try fresh tail this winter when I get some tail !
(http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz343/getstonedpimitivebowhunt/GREGDOC3.jpg)
I got my tanned tails at cascadeb@televar.com (Cascade Biological Supply) around $15 per tail side