Tell me what you like about them? and what you dont like about them?Wanting to give one a try.Thanks
they are Simple and tough.Tune it, shoot it, and eat it.Oh and you can pry your truck out of the mud with it.
Now thats funny.
Just a simple , well built bow that shoots where you look. They take a bit of getting use to as they can have more of a "thump " but they are by far and away my favourite hunting bow. I have had bows from lots of makers , from well known to back yarders in all shapes and configuration but for hunting a long Hill bow is my go to .
Probably always will be .
They are not for everyone....I like the ones I have owned and shot. Light in the hand, can be made almost silent and they perform well. Just a classic look and feel to them. Very well made also.
The most enjoyable bow to shoot. Sometimes a challenge but always fun.RC
If you believe in the K.I.S.S principle that's the hill bows.
Everything and nothing in the order of your question.
Made to take a beating, simple and if you get a 68" takedown, you'll never want to let it go. And based on today's prices, you get a lot for your money.
Shooting one is like stepping back to a different era. They need to be shot the way they want, not how you want to shoot them.
ben, you'll never really know about a hill longbow unless ... you spend some time with one.
there are both good and not-so-good things about straight or reflex limbed longbows - only you can sort that out right proper.
Great point Rob. Easy to get distracted with all the killer bows out there. Nothing but straight handled Hills for the past 3 decades for me. I trust them. Add, I don't care for locator grips. Totally reliable & pure fun to shoot. BTW, I like longer Hills 68" & up.
I have owned a few and feel incomplete if there isn't one hanging around.
My experience has been limited to 66" and 68" Hills.
I often see some as short as 60" but can't allow myself to try one that short. I guess I'm old and kind of short sighted/stubborn and closed minded when it comes to what I will consider a "Longbow" but tails don't wag dogs so I live with bows under 66"s being called longbows...lol
I think my age is coming through since I seem to be rambling...lol
Long story even longer, the only down side to HH longbows is in the ability to transport them to and from where I'm going to get out of the truck and hunt.
God bless,Mudd
Ben, I just recently tried one again and Have to say I am more than impressed. Charlie Lamb and I talked about them and especially one that I saw in TBM years ago that was called the "natural"
It's a hill style bamboo backed bamboo with no fiberglass in it at all. This one is 66' 57@28 and is the quietest bow I have ever had in my hand with nothing to make it quiet either.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/b1-1.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/b2-1.jpg)
I can't put the dang thing down, It's plenty fast and smooth unlike one I shot many years ago that rocked my world and my teeth. The worst hand shock I had ever seen, it must have not been tuned very well is all I can think but not this bow it is awesome.
Charlie builds a great bow and I am more than impressed, Give a Hill style a try!!
Tracy
Thanks everyone, i dont know why but lately i cant get them off my mind.
Pros
They look great. They are light, tough, simple, effective.
Cons
Until you learn how to hold them correctly, you will experience some hand shock. They may be considered "too trad" by some. :D
(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/20100220_ac_d04.jpg)
Its a challenge to start shooting a Hill,but once you get that "feel" you never want to shoot anything else.I shoot the 70ins,very light in the hand and the pull is so smooth.I think they are the best bang for your buck out there.
QuoteOriginally posted by longbowben:
Thanks everyone, i dont know why but lately i cant get them off my mind.
obey your mind! go find one to play with! :D
I put an add on the classified.Gingivitiskahn i wish you where a lefty i would love to try one.Rob i think i have the bug.And im not one who looks for bows.
You can review many (x10) treads on this subject on this or other boards. The comments will always be similar, ranging across the whole scale from love to hate. (Did I mention that they are female?)
Putting it simply, they are an itch that, once in your mind, must be personally scratched. You will never arrive at an answer that permanently satisfies you by reading or by listening to others. Once that itch snuggles down in a corner of your mind it can only be dealt with by personal experience... then you'll know, and will probably never change your mind. They just seem to inspire an emotional response, one way or the other. (Did I mention that they're female?)
Amen Captain! That puts it pretty much the way it is. :thumbsup:
I absolutely love they way they bend and shoot!
(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp233/TradNut/2009_0124TW090003.jpg)
Dick thats funny.And wannabe1 thats a nice picture.Thanks now someone sell me a wesley 55@28 64 or 66 inches long. :pray:
Good shooting bows, not the fastest bow on the market, but they do shoot where you look and are well made.
Longbowben,you do realize that one will not be enough?I started with one a few years ago and I'm up to five.Oh,this last one was a Hill Badger,kinda like a r/d but not.You get looks when you tell them its a Hill.No looks might not be for everyone but it shoots just like my Big 5's.They're not on the website but Craig still makes them.
Have to agree with TL54. My bud "Harl" told me the same thing 3 to 4 years ago when I bought my first Hill from him. Now I have 5, two of which are take down models. They just feel good in your hand and shoot where you look. My shortest is 64" and my longest is 68". I would not recommend going shorter than 64" at a 28" draw.
What's to like? They're sleek, deadly, killing machines.
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n217/dave27615/spikehill.jpg)
Here's my wifes Wesley Special. It is 35# @ 26", so, 41# @ 28". She just had to have a pink/white string to match her arrows! :biglaugh:
(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp233/TradNut/101_0232.jpg)
QuoteOriginally posted by longbowben:
I put an add on the classified.Gingivitiskahn i wish you where a lefty i would love to try one.Rob i think i have the bug.And im not one who looks for bows.
This is just God's way of telling you to either buy one or switch to right-handed shooting.
:bigsmyl:
Seriously though, there's a guy in Delaware with a small sporting goods shop and he had one or two lefty D shaped bows (used) for sale. He gets HHs in every now and then but I honestly don't recall what these guys were.
Holler if you want his shop's address.
Yes i would love the address.And wannabe1 your wifes bow is sweet.And your probably right i will buy more if i can shoot them.Thanks everyone.
Honda makes some great road bikes but Harley Davidson is still a "Harley" and a Hill is a "Hill"
I have owned two over time.I LOVED them and hated them.They are very particular on how you hold them.Some days I couldn't miss and the next I WOULD BE ALL OVER THE TARGET.
Not the bows fault,I just have a hard time doing things the same twice.
Wannabe, wife's bow as nice a Wes as I've seen. Wow!
Like folks before; easy to become longtime enamored with Hill & Schulz too for that matter.
QuoteOriginally posted by longbowben:
Yes i would love the address.And wannabe1 your wifes bow is sweet.And your probably right i will buy more if i can shoot them.Thanks everyone.
Delaware Sports Center
4059 State Route 37 E # B
Delaware, OH 43015-9461
(740) 363-0806
The owner is a Marine and a great guy.
Thanks i will call them :thumbsup:
I am turning over a new leaf and I'll be changing all of my bows over to Hills or Hill style bows.
I know there are skeptics but time will prove me out.
I have a good start with my new Bama Hunter longbowbow, a "new-to-me" Howard Hill Big5 and my Mohawk Classic.
God bless,Mudd
Not fair mudd your a righty its easy to find.But us leftys always have a hard time. :banghead:
Ben... and other lefties... keep an eye out for the occasional ambidextrous Hill... no shelf or two shallow shelves. While Craig will make two-shelfers, i don't like 'em and he tells me he doesn't really either. They weaken the bow in terms of lateral strikes or bumps on trees and such. however, a no shelf Hill, which i had him build me a couple of and which I now build one of about every fourth bow or so just for the heck of it, works out real fine. You match 'em up with a softer spined arrow and they shoot as good as any. For some of us older guys who learned to shoot without shelves, it seems real natural to us. You can check out "Road Trip", "Arrowl Flynn" and "Look at Me" in my Gallery if you want to see what it looks like. dickwightman.com then "Archery Activities"
I've had two.....My only one this season is my 64 inch Wesley Special. I love it! Super light and very, very quiet.
Dave do you have any pictures?
I have a LH 70" Big 5 I call Blondie, it pulls 63#@28" smoooooth as butter! I would love to have another with a little darker veneers!!! May be I need to call Craig
Thanks but im looking for 64".For treestand use.
ALL these Hill bow threads are killin' me! :banghead:
I'm wanting another Hill bow BAD! I had a Centennial once and sold it........ never shoulda done that!
highnoon
QuoteOriginally posted by longbowben:
Thanks i will call them :thumbsup:
Yessir - glad to help!
:D
QuoteOriginally posted by highnoonhunter:
ALL these Hill bow threads are killin' me! :banghead:
I'm wanting another Hill bow BAD! I had a Centennial once and sold it........ never shoulda done that!
highnoon
There's a cure for that, you know... http://www.howardhillarchery.com/
QuoteOriginally posted by GingivitisKahn:
There's a cure for that, you know... http://www.howardhillarchery.com/
HA! Yea I know........ and if you could wear the pages off an internet site there would be none left there!
Maybe in a few months!
After all this talk I have to try one.
How long of a bow would you suggest for soneone with a 27" draw length?
Ari...for a 27" I recommend no shorter than 64" preferably 66" or 68 ".You could go as low as 60" but then , in my opinion you miss the true beauty of a Longer Hill...the sweet smooth draw and the stable forgiving shot that the longer bow affords.
I use to be a dealer for Craig and have had many many Hill bows through my hands . I found most guys who shoot Hills tend to favour the longer bow .
whereabouts in Oz are you ?
I might have one i could loan you ...
Either way give Craig a call ... he is great fella to deal with and has the best customer service and turnaround in the business.
Yeah I'm thinking 68 or longer even as all my shooting is done from the ground anyway.
I live in NSW around 5 hours north of sydney, i'd love to try one if its possible.
Also do you know how long it usually takes to have one made?
Cheers Ari
Good points are:
Very Stable Bow
Accurate
Forgiving
Light in Field and Hand
Bad Points:
Kicks like a mule (don't want to argue the point :-), it's just my opinion)
I have owned a number of Hill, Schultz, and other D longbows and unfortunately it is the one bad point that keeps me away from them. I should say that I shoot a lot however.
By golly Ben I like your answer just for the reasons mentioned. 66" ntn is short to me & I have no probs shooting from trees limbs or climbers nor ground blinds. Good deals on used in the classifieds Ari.
QuoteOriginally posted by BobCo 1965:
Good points are:
Very Stable Bow
Accurate
Forgiving
Light in Field and Hand
Bad Points:
Kicks like a mule (don't want to argue the point :-), it's just my opinion)
Yep, If you don't like hand shock, stay away. However, after awhile you don't really notice. You get used to it. I love the feeling of a HH bow.
Oh, keep your teeth clenched!
Matt
C'mon, Matt, it isn't that bad, you'll scare off some of the kiddies. :nono:
Longbowben
Glade you started this thread I haven't shot any of my Hills close to a year now I have 6 of them, I strung some of them up and took them out back, yep I still like them, you need to get you a couple......stabow
QuoteOriginally posted by Raging Water:
QuoteOriginally posted by BobCo 1965:
Good points are:
Very Stable Bow
Accurate
Forgiving
Light in Field and Hand
Bad Points:
Kicks like a mule (don't want to argue the point :-), it's just my opinion)
Yep, If you don't like hand shock, stay away. However, after awhile you don't really notice. You get used to it. I love the feeling of a HH bow.
Oh, keep your teeth clenched!
Matt [/b]
Lol - I hate that myth. It's only true IF you fail to hold the bow correctly. :nono:
Switching from a recurve, I was in that boat for a couple of months and my Hill kicked the nation out of me but once I figured out how to hold the silly thing - nada.
Jim, I'm with you. I have no issues what so ever shooting my Hills once the grip was figured out. Hold it wrong, it will let you know it. :D
Gents,
I agree! Once you hold her right, she won't buck.
When I got my first Howard Hill, I didn't have my grip under control and it was a little handshocky.
Now, smooth as silk and a whole lot more fun than other styles of bows.
Matt
I must be holding mine right because I don't notice any hand shock.
I really like my Wesley Special bow, it's just so simple & I love that about it.
Just for balance, a few years back I was collecting Hills and also got tired of the "knocked my fillings out" stuff I was reading. Properly shot, there is a bit more thump felt than on some other bows, especially if you shoot too light an arrow (the ever present pointless quest for speed and flat trajectory at distances you shouldn't shoot at anyway...). Anyway, I posted an offer that if anyone had a Hill they considered truly awful, hand shock so bad as to make it unshootable, I would like to buy it. I had three takers and bought all three bows. I shot each of them and found them to be just fine. All were heavies and I did not keep them, but there was no problem shooting them, by me or by friends. This does not mean that Hills are right for everyone; I would never say that. But I do believe that when there is a shock problem with a Hill, it isn't with the bow. It's more likely just an unfortunate mismatch of shooter and weapon.
Put the heel of your hand into it, shoot a heavy arrow and run the Brace a bit high....what hand shock!!! I get more hand shock from high wrist recurves!!
Quote - But I do believe that when there is a shock problem with a Hill, it isn't with the bow. It's more likely just an unfortunate mismatch of shooter and weapon.
Aye, Aye, Captain! You said it.
Matt
I really like seeing these Hill threads and just feel the want to jump in.
When I bought my first one, it was love hate, now I have two. In the beginning I loved the bow but struggled figuring out the right spine arrows, the correct way to hold it, etc.... everything that was previously mentioned. Once I learned how to hold them, I found for me it was a more natural way to hold the bow than the way I was previously holding my bows all along. I don't notice any hand shock at all anymore. I worked out my arrow spine issues and for me it "just feels right". I own a few other well known recurves and longbows, and I like all of them for various reasons, my absolute favorite and the one I use more than all of the other combined is my 70" Wesley Special. I really have come to prefer that length over the shorter bows, even for tree stands. I have simply been able to make it work for me. My draw is a tad under 28" and I shoot cedars. I just plain love those Hills!
Well she is on her way home next week Wesley special. 64" 57@28 .Shes comming from the land down under.
Nice........make sure that you throw up some photos when you get her. Hope you get it all worked out.
Yeah ... what Irish said ! We'll want photo's...
Thanks Ben Maher i will take good care of her .And my son is also a lefty and he is 8 years old,and he loves his longbows also.So he will be the next owner.
QuoteOriginally posted by GingivitisKahn:
QuoteOriginally posted by Raging Water:
QuoteOriginally posted by BobCo 1965:
Good points are:
Very Stable Bow
Accurate
Forgiving
Light in Field and Hand
Bad Points:
Kicks like a mule (don't want to argue the point :-), it's just my opinion)
Yep, If you don't like hand shock, stay away. However, after awhile you don't really notice. You get used to it. I love the feeling of a HH bow.
Oh, keep your teeth clenched!
Matt [/b]
Lol - I hate that myth. It's only true IF you fail to hold the bow correctly. :nono:
Switching from a recurve, I was in that boat for a couple of months and my Hill kicked the nation out of me but once I figured out how to hold the silly thing - nada. [/b]
Well, what is myth for one could be reality for another. ;)
One reason I don't alway like to like to state my opinion on the topic and go against the norm.
People are very easy to judge without knowing or asking the other persons extent or experience. Afterall this is cyberspace.
Lol - nothing personal. You are certainly welcome to your opinions and I hope you don't mind if I refute that one.
If that is the extent of the differences between you and me, we are practically twins. :D
A classic action photograph snapped by my mate, Tony:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/WA%20Goat%20Trip%202008/12-1.jpg)
A cropped close-up of the Redman:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/WA%20Goat%20Trip%202008/mid-airarrow2.jpg)
A cropped close-up of the arrow still in mid-air having just exited the billy goat for a clean one-arrow kill:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/WA%20Goat%20Trip%202008/mid-airarrow1.jpg)
The end result:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/WA%20Goat%20Trip%202008/13.jpg)
My first boar with Wesley Special:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/IMG_0400.jpg)
A team effort for the Wesley Special and the Australian-made Barry Johnson:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/IMG_0395.jpg)
The Wesley Special tries a stalk on buffalo, but the wind has other ideas:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/DSCF0110.jpg)
A nice sow by the Wesley Special:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/IMG_0454.jpg)
A slick, muddy boar by the Wesley Special:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/CroppedBoar.jpg)
Ben,
You always post the best pics.
Northern Ben ....
was waiting for you to chime in ...
Great lookin' Wesley Ben - I like the contrast between the handle riser and the limbs!
Excellent shootin'!
Shoot straight, Shinken
Excellent pics Ben! The Hills just look "Right" in all of them. :thumbsup:
Ben... thanks, indeed! Great pictures. Sure wish I could get down there to hunt hogs and goats, but I couldn't stand up to the trip or the hunting. I surely do enjoy watching other folks results, though.
Real nice pictures.Im not allowed to look at it untill X-MASS im going to have problems.
I feel the same as Dick,thanks ever so much Ben for the great pics.
WOW,I would like to buy a Wensley Special just to follow Ben.
Ooh - here's my new favorite Hill (Halfbreed) photo...
(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/black_friday_2010_doe/20101126_ac_09.jpg)
Jim,
Great pic :thumbsup:
Yep, Jim, that is a classic photo!
Uh Oh, I really really should not have looked at Ben's pictures. The Australia bug I caught a few years back in the swamps has fired up again. Now I'm gonna have to start making arrows, saving money, deciding which Hill bow to take, and begin planning all over again. Dang Aussies anyway. Always causing trouble. . .
Not sure if I should take my new Sunset Hill bow back to Oz again or not. It has somehow acquired a large splash of mule deer blood on the handle leather and no longer looks new and shiny.
GingivitisKahn, that's about the best bow picture I have ever seen. Right on!
Yep, you love 'em or you don't, but, for my money, there is nothing like a Hill. They are light, feel comfortable in the hand, smooth to draw, and if tuned well, quiet. Handshock has never been a problem for me, but like some of the other guys have said, grip is important. You don't merely grasp a Hill, you HOLD it. No, not a death-grip choke hold but a firm, solid hold on the heel of the hand. Four of my Hills are 68" and one is 66" in length, which I believe greatly contributes to smoothness of draw. If you are looking for blazing speed, you probably won't find what you are looking for, but they are certainly fast enough to shoot very well. I have other bows, but the Hills are the ones that go hunting with me.
Thanks guys - not bad for a Blackberry with questionable photography components. :-D
Nice photo.
Super pics. :readit:
Have owned 2 a Big5 and a Tembo,both shot well
Below are a couple pics of my hills that I found, I also had a Croc (and a Cheetah) which IMO was the prettiest of all (Croc), but I can't seem to find a pic.
Wesley with Gaboon Ebony and Moose tips:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v166/BobCo/Stuff/100_0373.jpg)
Schulz American (OK, I like my Jeans BLUE :D , notice the perfection of the limb bend ):
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v166/BobCo/Stuff/101_0239.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v166/BobCo/Stuff/101_0240.jpg)
Jim,great photo.after reading all this HH stuff I just ordered a new string for my Chek-Mate golden hawk longbow.
I just got a new-to-me Jerry Hill 68" 50@28.
This one fits in just fine with my Big5, Wesley Special and Bama "Hunter" bow.
Mild thump in the bow hand and arrows sticking out of my picked spot on the target. It would be difficult to ask for much more from a bow.
God bless,Mudd
Uuuuuh Roy, where's the photo? Would like to see your Jerry Hill! :D
Ok Rik,
photos of the blood on the leather....oh yeah and the deer?
Thanks guys. Just ordered a Wesley with ebony and ivory tips 50# @ 27. 66" slight dish handle.
My other 2 were a Wesley and Big 5, but since the poundage was 63 and 65 on those and my comeback I can only handle 55 or less.
Sorry gave one to a friend and sold the other one.
Just swapped a JD Berry for a Cheetah - should be here this week.
Im with Nate ... c'mon Rik , don't be shy ... otherwise people won't believe you . People know better than handshocky , slow inaccurate Hill style Bows being able to take game ...
Stop pulling our legs ...
Hey, Greyghost, with that handle, maybe you would like some gray glass on that Hill. Here's my string follow Big Five with gray glass back and belly and ebony riser. You're going to like the ebony. I have it in two of my Hills.
(http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy241/davidmitchell_6466/Hill%20string%20follow/BigFivestringfollow001.jpg)
Cheetah
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_0901.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/Hillblueboar.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/1stnewHillpig.jpg)
Wesley
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_0820-1.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_0858.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_0816.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/3foraHill.jpg)
Don`t Forget Marty of Apex Predator bows build a fine string follow "Hill" style bow...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_0357.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_0421.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_0415_1.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_0341.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/DSCN3506.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/firstHillpig.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_0872.jpg)
WOW! That is a great photo expose right there RC!
Thanks for sharin' the pics of some of your Hill style bows!
BTW - good shootin' ! It looks like you have been enjoyin' some BBQ.
Shoot straight, Shinken
Yessir RC. Great pix. I wondered where Marty's bow w/yellow wood went? He makes a very nice Hill style bow. That yellow I hadn't seen before & is sure easy to admire.
RC if i was a hog i would stay out of your way.Great pictures!
RC, how many GPP is that shell?
captainkirk
RC, I especially love the looks of that Cheetah. I believe that may be my next Hill bow. Thanks for sharing the great pics. :thumbsup:
The lengths RC will go to when he runs out of arrows! Fair-dinkum! It looks far too stiff and lacking in much FOC balance, but I'm sure it blows the game away!
One of these days I'm going to have to get for a walking stick so I can get up the hills. :biglaugh: Actually, I would like to give one a try.
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_0820-1.jpg)
:eek: WOW! That bow sure takes a heavy arrow!
Craig at Howard Hill Archery has to be a master bowfisherman(of HH lovers)...lol because I'm now on hook for one of the "Robin Hood Specials" 68" 48@28.
Or maybe ole PT Barnum was right if he was the one who said "There's a sucker born every minute!"...lol
Missouri is famous for it's suckers...ie On Sucker Day in Nixa, Missouri, school closes officially and the little town swells to a throng of 15,000 hungry folks. All craving a taste of the much maligned but delicious bottom dweller fish loathed by almost everyone else.
They make a small target but man! are they tasty!
Oh but I digress.. back on track. I can't wait to get my hands on my new "Robin Hood" Hill.
God bless,Mudd
Good for you Mudd. That Robin Hood commemorative bow is pretty sweet. Especially the "string follow" or "deflexed" limbs....bet it'll be a real shooter.
Mudd,
What number did you get? Just wondering how many are left? I'm just not sure about that glossy finish. I like that satin finish much better.
Never have liked a gloss finish on a bow or gun. Satin is just better for hunting, in my mind at least. And from the ground......well, you get where I'm going. Beautiful bow though!
Number 21 I.A.
I am planning on asking if I can has something less than high gloss finish on mine.
I figure Craig doesn't have to say "No!" if I don't ask....lol
God bless,Mudd
My Hill good deed; Talked Jesse from selling his straight handled 75#er. What a beaut! He thanked me. Get used to that straight handle & it's all over. Need some pix pdq Muddster.
The finish on the Robin Hood is supposed to be a bit different, again looking to appear a little "older"... Craig describes it as "between the old satin and the modern gloss finish". Several of us have inquired about changes and there are none... a limited edition means they are all the same in appearance.
This one is sure selling fast. I've been talking with Craig on this and on another project of my own and about a week and a half back he was closing in on half gone. I think the Longbowmen snapped up six in the first two days.
Can't wait for my Robin Hood, LH 68" 45#@28. Hopefully have it by the end of Jan. Reading this thread really makes me anxious.
Dale
They're gonna be sweet for sure fellas. Post us some pics when you get'em.
When did you order yours Mudd?
I.A..."When did you order yours Mudd?"
You have to be kidding...lol
All I can tell you is that I've slept since I placed my order...lol
I should keep better records on stuff like this since I already know I have such a poor memory.
About all I try to keep real records on is, who I owe and how much...lol
God bless,Mudd
Got a Redman coming.Can't wait to go for a walk in the woods with it.
I'm not against limited addition things but, I always like to do something unique to my bow that no one else has. I.E. a unique name on the lower limb. Anyway, I have a new Tembo on order to pass on to my son when he gets older. I think ya'll will like it! :thumbsup:
Fellas please don't think for a minute that just because this is a limited edition that it won't be making it to the woods.
It could be that I don't deserve to have such a collectible but collecting isn't something I do just for the sake of collecting.
Maybe I'll just let someone else have number 21 and I'll get something different.
God bless,Mudd
Mudd, I'm with you--no point in owning a bow you don't want to take in the woods which is where all good bows belong.
I had a talk with Craig about an hour ago and this one will be going to the woods and it won't be shiny.
Wahoo!!!
I am well pleased!
God bless,Mudd
Mudd,this bow will be you !Maybe a new hat to match?LOL.
Good show, Mudd. I'm hoping I'll be one of the early sets of pics up. You can bet they'll be up the day it arrives! I'm #4 and Craig said he started it last week.
Oh Ye of Little Faith,
Alright, Alright, you don't believe my little Sunset Hill got ruined with mule deer blood. I must add before we go any farther that I was totally innocent in this adventure.
Sure, I failed to kill a bull in elk season so my freezer was looking a bit empty, and sure, I hadn't killed anything since my return from Australia in July, but that was no reason for this bow to jump up and shoot a fat doe on the second day of the season.
The only thing I could do after that was take a few photos (the ones with me in them are too ugly to look at), and when I put the bow beside the deer for a good Hill Bow Picture, I failed to notice the leather handle was laying right against the entrance wound (derned Ribteks anyway, they always make such a big hole.)
Well, a picture is worth a thousand words (how much are two pictures worth?)
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt252/Rikhinton/sunset_hill_Blood_Handle_lowres.jpg)
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt252/Rikhinton/2010_mule_deer_with_bow_lowres.jpg)
great pic, Rik. That is some beautiful and rugged country up there...
Nice shots, Ric. What's that white accent line in your bow?
Rik,
That's a great success photo. Congrats!
Waiting on mine Wesley String Follow ,Im Hurting too guys we all got the Hill Bug.....Ron
I also bought a used Big Five 70in.65@ 28 should be here in a few days Aloha Ron
can you choose to have string follow on HH bows?
Rik...
Giddyup !
Nice mate ... very nice !
What is the advantage of the string follow option?
Wow! What a great pic. I dream of hunting terrain like that.
Terrific shot ! Idaho is one beautiful state !
QuoteOriginally posted by ErikT:
What is the advantage of the string follow option?
Increased smoothness of draw and a bit more forgiving, in essence, a "sweet shooter".(IMHO)
I've read Howard Hills' comment about string follow where Mr. Hill said a bow didn't start to become a sweet shooter until it developed at least a half inch of string follow.
Back when Robin roamed Sherwood Forrest they didn't have glass backed bows and any all wood bow will develop some string follow over time and use.
If you go to Craig's website he explains the reason he's building the "Robin Hood" special edition with a bit extra string follow.
God bless,Mudd
Ari,
I'm pretty sure that Craig will build any of the Hills with string follow.
Nice shooting Rik!
That is some BEAUTIFUL country right there!
Thank you for sharin' the photo.
Did you pack her out in out one trip with your Eberlestock X2?
Enjoy the feast!
Shoot straight, Shinken
All this hill talk is killing me, mine has been in shipping for 19 days now from australia .The post man is on my nauty list. :(
Yes, he will. There's some question as to how much. There apparently are, or have been, different string follow forms. I have had a couple that had string follow, but not a lot and one older one that did have quite a bit. I think he must have built a new form for Robin Hood to get it back to the old greater degree of string follow. I'll be interested to see when mine gets here.
I built my first bow with a lot of string follow. It was a sweet shooter but i made some mistakes in material and it had good reason for it's name, "Slowpoke". As I said though, a sweet shooter and I still take it down and give it an outing every now and then. I'm in the process right now of rebuilding that form and hope to pull a new bow off of it in the next week or so.
I'd love to see what comes off your form Dick.
So I'll just say thank you in advance!..lol
Is that being too pushy?...lol
God bless,Mudd
Ben, I feel for you! Nothing more frustrating than waiting for something to arrive and it gets hung up in the mail system somewhere. I'm looking forward to my new Tembo being complete!
You can get any of the Hill models in string follow. Makes a real sweet bow. I have two Hills and a Northern Mist in the string follow design. The NM has a bit more than the Hill. Here are the NM Shelton (on the left) and my Hill Big Five string follow on the right.
(http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy241/davidmitchell_6466/Hill%20string%20follow/BigFivestringfollow005.jpg)
LONGBOWBEN,
Mate, yer gittin' an Aussie-trained Hill Bow. The rest of us snow-country wankers are so jealous, we'll be hopin' you don't see it until at least three weeks before spring bear and turkey season.
Anything less simply wouldn't be fair. The danged thing's been trained in Australia. Bloody 'ell mate, no worries, it's a natural-born killer!
David,
What's that wood in the riser of your Northern Mist? Sweet lookin' bow.
(http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu197/TradBowKid/MeShooting.jpg)
(http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu197/TradBowKid/11.jpg)
Hey Cody...looking good bro! :wavey:
Cody, those are some nice looking Hills. How about some specs on 'em?
The first bow I'm shooting is a Copy that John Lee made for me after one of the bows he made Howard. Its all boo with an Yew riser 45@28..
The other photo is a Howard Hill Red Man.. All boo with a maple riser ( not really sure) 55@28..
>>>>--------->
Cody
I hope she is trained good.I would like to kill a doe before season ends with it.
Irish Archer, it's cocobolo. It's a very easy drawing bow and does not feel the weight it is. I love the string follow bows.
Cody, it's not a Redman if it's all bamboo. the Redman is all yew. :saywhat:
Thank's David, It was not my Hill bow( But John V) I was thinking redman because of the red glass....
Cody
Could I ask what is meant by string follow bow and what is it's advantages?
She is here after a long trip from australia but i cant open her up until Christmas. :bigsmyl:
Sarge.... there is a thread on this board currently on string follow and another going on the Hill Longbowmen. Here's what I put up there this morning...
"... it's really pretty simple. Refexing the limbs, i.e. forward rake, pre-loads the draw a bit... stiffens it some and increases speed to a degree, may also increase any shock present though usually not a big deal. Deflexing, i.e. string follow or backward rake, softens and sweetens the draw a bit, may reduce any shock present, costs you a few fps but is also considered to make the bow more forgiving of minor form errors, a little less "goosey" or sensitive.
Generally it's not a stupendous deal, more something that creeps up on you and you wake up and realize that "Gosh, that bow's faster than I'm used to," or, "Gosh, I seem to be a bit more consistent with this bow, and at the end of the day my arm and shoulder aren't as tired..."
(Incidentally, going to a forward riser produces some of the same effects as string follow. Both features move the limb tips further back from the hand. They'll also both result in a higher brace height.)
Back in the day, as they say, these characteristics got pushed pretty hard. Hill put out some very reflexed bows and I've been told some were pretty shocky. 'course, they ran to heavy weights, too. The string follows were also a bit extreme, but were some very sweet bows, if a hair slow. They were mostly for hunting so it didn't matter that much because we all know that good hunters get within 18 yards and would never take a longer shot than that, right?
Today's Hills can be ordered reflexed or string follow, but usually it's to a very small degree. I get as much string follow just from the cooling difference on my aluminum forms, maybe 1/4". However, if you want more extreme reflex or string follow, Craig will do it. He has the forms. My understanding is that the new Robin Hood will have very noticeable string follow.
The form I've been driving myself crazy with over the past couple of weeks has two surfaces... one is the old reflex, 1 1/2" and the other is the old string follow 1 1/4". That's on the form... what comes off ends up slightly less. The first bow that comes off of it, maybe next week, will be the string follow and I'll be giving you a full report on that. I pulled a wide limbed flatbow off of it (the first bow I made all by myself) a couple of years ago. It's a very sweet shooter but thanks to my selection of oak for a laminate, very slow. We'll see what happens when I lay one up all bamboo and in the narrower Hill shape.
Hope that helps you."
Dick.. I appreciate the effort to explain to me, but I guess I'm a visual person and still not sure if I understand all I know about it. I have a Acadian now, but, plan on scratching the Hill style itch shortly, however I have no access to these style bows for comparison, and trying to figure out what I would like, can get confusing.
Sarge.... Here is a visual to go with the explanation:
These two bows are straight limb Hill styles. One happens to have a Schulz style forward riser, but ignore that, just look at the limbs.
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h186/CaptainDick/cn40.jpg)
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h186/CaptainDick/arakhor413.jpg)
Below you have, on the left, a reflexed limb Hill and on the right a string follow limb Hill style.
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h186/CaptainDick/bp189.jpg)
Hopefully, these pix, referred back to the explanation, will help.
Ok Ben, where's that new to you Hill?! We've waited long enough! :D
Ok (http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj10/longbowben/DSC06776.jpg) (http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj10/longbowben/DSC06777.jpg) (http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj10/longbowben/DSC06772.jpg)
Good looking bow! Looks like you shoot it pretty good too. Congratulations and welcome to the fan club. :thumbsup: :clapper:
I'm making my transition to an all Howard Hill lineup with the exception of my Maddog recurve.
eye candy for the fans..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbCGoqk3S4s&feature=related
Tajue17 How many ways can I say thank you!
That will be saved to my computer files, if I can figure how to do it.
Howard is... well I wish I were anything like... nearly as good.
Watching him shoot makes me want to go outside and start shooting my Big 5 but I'll have to wait for daybreak...lol
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
God bless,Mudd
PS: Now would be the time for anyone who owns a good Hill bow that wants to try a John McCullough Griffin or a GW Flannagan to strike....lol
I'm feeling vulnerable....lol
how about the prune off the head with a broadhead,,, thats wild stuff.
Think I got it now, thanks.
I saw some other bows on here that weren't HH so I figured I put this on one!!! Love this bow!!!
Apex Predator Cumberland, 66" and it's 58 @ 29"...figured Cherry limbs, Macassar ebony/Osage riser. Osage is from our farm.
Here is the build... Cumberland Build (http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=003239)
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h138/oliverstacy/IMG_1493.jpg)
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h138/oliverstacy/IMG_1494.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Apex%20bows/03210-1.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Apex%20bows/03210-9.jpg)
A lot of fun to shoot!
Josh
Very nice wood combos. :thumbsup:
Oliverstacy I love them all, especially Hill or Hill style.
Yours has what I'd call the classic "D" shape as far as I can tell and it sure doesn't hurt that it's pretty..lol
God bless,Mudd
QuoteOriginally posted by Tajue17:
eye candy for the fans..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbCGoqk3S4s&feature=related
lotsa good howard shorts tacked on to the digital remake of flynn's "robin hood" - definitely worth buying!
Damn you all!
I'm gonna get in trouble.
So as I was placing the order, I realized they were in Hamilton, MT. Which rang a bell. Turns out Hamilton is only a bit south of Missoula. Guess I've been there a few times. Best part is, I'm planning to visit my sister in Missoula in 2 weeks. I talked to Jason, who said they welcome visitors. So I hope to be checking on the bow personally in the final stages.
I think the bow's name will be "Owl's Destiny" or something like that.
Canopyboy thats cool take some pictures for us . :D
Right now I'm trying to figure out the odds that lack of self control will lead to coming home with "accessories".
I'll try to take some pictures if they're cool with it. Although I'm not much of a photographer.
I am just beginning to realize that there are some seriously bad influences on this website, and YOU HILL SHOOTERS are chief among them.
Just look what you made poor Canopyboy go and do.
yeah, and he's poorer now....
While you're there may you can check to see what number of "Robin Hood" they are starting or just finished.
I'm hoping they are stating on something greater than #22...lol Anybody want to guess my place in line?...lol
God bless,Mudd
I just called day before yesterday and ordered my first Hill... 55 pound Halfbreed.
He may be poorer in money but, he'll be richer in shooting pleasure! :laughing: :laughing:
I can't wait 'til my Tembo is finished. :rolleyes:
There is a picture tour of Hill Archery posted on the Howard Hill Longbowmen web site:
http://www.howardhilllongbowmen.com/hillarcheryvisit/hillvisit007.html
I was at The Footed Shaft today and found myself wishing I was left handed! He had a 68" Pete George Hill style bow for $175 that was absolutely stunning. HE also had a Big River clone of a 59 Kodiak with orange glass and all for $295!
Thanks for the link Dick.
Growing up in a custom cabinet shop out west, it really is similar. Complete with an old wood stove in the corner. Can't wait.