Can anyone give me info on these bows. Are they more like Howard Hill longbows or what would you compare them too. I've heard they were premium bows when Jim Duclos was making them. I have a chance to buy one for my older son, would love to hear what you know about them.
I have heard only great things. I know a guy bought one a few months back down on L.I. that was about 60lbs. If it had been lighter I would have bought it my self. I have never shot one but they are beautiful.
maybe Ron W. will chime in, I know he has one and likes it enough to keep it! I wish Jim was still building them.
I have several friends who have them. I am not a longbow guy so I cannot answer your question about how they might compare to another brand. However, no one that I know that owns one is going to sell theirs. If you have a chance to get one consider it an investment, if nothing else. They are probably one of the best shooting longbows out there, Hill or otherwise.
Buy it.
I have had 2 of them sold one. The one I still have Jim made for me in 96'. Reverse handel, Zebra wood riser,and native black cherry lams. Its mild R/D 62" 55# @ 30". Craftmanship is flawless and its as smooth as they come. If he was still make'n bows he would be my go to guy. As vermonster13 said......buy it and buy it now!!!You won't be sorry!
I have one. The Stingray, which is the forward handle model. Love it! Great shooting bow. Its my only longbow and haven't shot any others, so I can't help you with a comparison.
I should have said mine is a Catamount, the one I sold to my friend was a Stingray.
I have a Green Mountain Classic longbow,it is a mild R/D bow.I ordered it from Jim right before he stopped making bows.It is a sweet shooter,and his work on the nocks,finish and down to the leather work was outstanding in my opinion.It is one of my keepers that I don't plan on selling or trading it.Mine has a cocobola riser with black cherry limbs,it just shoots so well for me,I've shot some of my best 3D scores with it.
I have this one, not sure what model(any help?), can be shot either side. 66" 50#@28". And it is for sale too.
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff14/LoneWolf73_photo/PC100501.jpg)
Does anyone recall the different models he had, I've heard about the Manta (think its the same as the Stingray), the Mountain Hunter (think that is his basic model), the Catamount (reverse handle), Anything else ?
Post more pics...I haven't seen many of these bows.
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r224/REALVTer/westford41208004.jpg
Here's mine. 57#'s @ 28" Stingray.
Jim also offered the: Classic Longbow, Stalker and the Adirondack Flatbow. Along with the models Longstick64 mentioned earlier. This info is from a brochure I received in 1997.
At this time I have 3 LH Green Mtn. Longbows, 2 Classic Longbows and 1 Catamount. Great lookers and shooters.
Just sold my Son's second longbow It was a 48#@ 28" Stingray. Brings back memories! I loved those day!
Jim Was a good man to us. My boy stared at that bow at The GLLI shoot all week=end oh well it was only money!
I have about a dozen of Jim's bows even a horn nock one. Like the rest said the craftsmanship is incredible and they are all sweet shooters. He also used some very fancy wood and unusual combinations. He is listed in the book...Traditional Byers of America by Bertalan.
No, I don't sell any of them :) Doc
One of my first longbows was a Green Mountain 'Traditional' model D-bow. Cherry limbs, Cocobola riser. Nice little bow, sold it because I needed the money. I even had Jim take a picture of him and the bow after he made it, Still have that photo and the letters we exchanged for the order. He was a fine bowyer. Tried finding a used Stingray a few years back because a friend had one and I always liked those bows, but couldn't find one (Dan, I think you had the one I was looking for...those specs are perfect, lol).
If you like the more traditional longbow style and fine craftsmanship you'll like Green Mountains.
Merry Christmas!
Does anyone know if the classic and the Mountain Hunter are built on the same form and basic design? I have a mountain hunter coming, bamboo and yew and red cedar coming also. There are no belly overlays ion the bows I have coming and straight grip. They are not reverse handle.
Longstick,
I've had 6 of Jim's bows, the Mountain Hunter and the Stingray models. My Stingray is 60", 69# @ 27 and is the most quiet, least handshock bow I've shot. Taken a bunch of game with it and like VTer won't ever part with it. I find the Mountain Hunters have a little hand shock but in my opinion the craftmanship on Jims' bows is unsurpassed. Sorry he's not making them any longer. Best, Todd
Jim puts magic in his limbs, wish I had a Lefty! Marco#78
i have a brochure at work. tomorrow i can tell you the difference as describe in the brochure.
i have been looking for a 45# - 50# for years and haven't found one. i don't know how many jim sold but the fact i can't find one tells me people just keep them.
they were made in vermont so you gotta love them. :)
I have mountain hunters coming. Hope they shoot well for me. Birdbow, did the mountain hunter shoot okay for you?
ttt
ok, according to jims brochure the only difference in regards to the profile and layout between the classic and the mt hunter is the riser and grip.
the classic has "multilayered handle underlays allow for a custom fit dished grip while maintianing the integrity of the belly glass".
the mt hunter is a "straight handled version of the classic".
I own a green moutain longbow,it's the classic model 64", 50#@28", left hand,walnut handle and curly maple limbs.if I remember well,in his brochure, it's said that it was the fancier model with a dished grip.It's my very first bow and I even went in vermont to pick it up myself and remember Jim as good and kind guy.I think he was a carpenter... not sure.
ti-guy , doesw he still build bows? mark post pic somebody!
Jim stopped building bows several years ago.
The 2 bows I have coming are mountain longbow model, 66". One is red cedar under clear glass for the limbs with a darker wood handle. The other is bamboo back with yew belly (clear glass)and darker wood handle. Both have straight grips. Both are supposed to be in new condition. I will post pictures when I get the longbows.
Dragonheart,
The Mountain Hunter shot like a dream, just where I looked. Just liked the Stingray even better. When I shot heavy arrows (Forgewoods) out of the Hunter, the little handshock there was disappeared. That can be simple physics though. I think you'll be real pleased. Best regards, Todd
Great bows, you can't go wrong!
Kris
I shoot min 10 grs per pound in longbow, just shoot better for me. Looking forward to getting them.
I think I still have his brochure,, if you want I can make a copy and send it to you if you PM me your address.. but if I remember right he had 4 models ranging from hill style to medium reflex deflex.
I have never heard 1 bad think about those bows.
Here a (http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb324/guygagne/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb324/guygagne/IMG_0491.jpg)IMG_0493.jpg[/IMG]re some p (http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb324/guygagne%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb324/guygagne/IMG_0490.jpg)/IMG_0498.jpg[/IMG]ics of my GML. (http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb324/guygagne/IMG_0492.jpg) (http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb324/guygagne/IMG_0495.jpg)
so (http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb324/guygagne/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb324/guygagne/I%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb324/guygagne/IMG_0491.jpg)MG_0498.jpg[/IMG]IMG_0493.jpg[/I (http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb324/guygagne/IMG_0490.jpg)MG]me more
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb324/guygagne/IMG_0493.jpg)
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb324/guygagne/IMG_0491.jpg)
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb324/guygagne/IMG_0498.jpg)
Why did he stop making them ??? marco
Thanks for the photos!! Mild R/D, just looks smooth on the draw.
It is smooth to draw and shoot.This is my first trad bow and it's whit this one I got my first trad kill(whitetail doe).I remember when I started shooting it(12 or 14 years ago).One night, at the shooting club,I've met another trad shooter who was making his own gears and bows(Hill style)and he said to me that my bow was'nt so trad because it was a r/d ???For a beginner I was all confused!!
At the time I bought the bow Jim Duclos was(I think) going thru a divorce and thinking about re-orienting his career.That might be a reason for stopping his production.(Don't wanna speak for him now!) Good shootin' to all!
I recieved the Green Mountain longbows yesterday. Both are Mountain Hunters. R/D design. I shot a bit last night. One bow is actually 68". It is red cedar laminations. The other is bamboo and yew and is 66". The condition is almost new. There is alot of taper in his laminations. The grip is smaller on both of the bows than my Hills. It is a straight grip, no overlays. The 68" is smoother on the draw than the 66" with only one pound weight differnce in the bows.
They are cut about a 1/4" from center, so they are almost like a self bow as far as centershot. I like the way he did the shelf as the arrow only contacts in 2 points, kinda like the way Acadian Woods rounds the shelf.
The bows have tip overlays. The bow does have some thump to it upon release. I am shooting a high nocking point like over 1/2". I do not have the greatest release and the bow does appear to need much less spine than others of this weight (centershot outside).
The bow like 10 grains per pound. I have some fir shafts I will be building for the bow, and I will have a better picture of the shoot-ablility with the new arrows that are closer to spine. The 66" does shoot an arrow with some authority just looking at the penetration I am getting in the dirt bank I shoot into.
The guy who is a recurve shooter and likes to loose grip a bow, probably would not like these.
For me the bow shoots smoother with arrow on the heavier side.I've had complete pass thru with maple arrow.Have fun.
How much? Are you shooting more than 10 GPP? I bet with maple you are more like 12GPP?
Oh yea,those mapple were in the 700 grains,I was using the 190 grains grizzly bh.I still have one or two left(lost an broke most of them)when I'll get home I can weight the shaft(arrow) for you if you want.
Come on we need more pics please .....
All right,I have weighted the maple arrow:520 grains,Bh 160grains for a total of 680 grains @ 28 and half inches long.