Tom Parsons is one of those rare bowyers who is a truly masterful craftsman. Tom has been building bows for close to 25 years and has built every conceivable traditional bow and continues to offer a wide range of bow designs.
Here is a Mattawoman straight limb longbow that Tom just made for me. It is 66" long, 58.3# @ 28". The core is five laminations of bamboo with gorgeous elm burl veneers and a AAA Bolivian rosewood riser. Tom's fit and finish is incredible and he still does everything by hand. A truly handmade bow is becoming less and less common.
The bow draws exceptionally smoothly and provides a tremendous amount of energy for the arrow. Pound for pound it out performs every "Hill" style bow I have owned, and looks sooooo good doing it!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/ghostbow/IMG_0632.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/ghostbow/IMG_0628.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/ghostbow/IMG_0629.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/ghostbow/IMG_0630.jpg)
BEAUTIFUL
Absolutely beautiful! Is this the same Tom Parsons featured in the book "Just Another Old Bowhunter"? Also, what is the grip material? What does he get for a bow like this?
Better than NICE!
Bob, that is a sweet one! Nothing like a good straight bow well made by hand. Nice pics a usual too. Thanks for sharing.
The grip wrap is called beaver tail, but honestly I don't know if it is real beaver tail or just textured leather. I will ask Tom.
As far as cost I am not sure if that is something I should post in this forum, on top of which there are a lot of options with Tom's bows so talking with him would be the best way of finding out his pricing.
I don't know if Tom is featured in a book, but the title sure fits him. :)
Very nice.
Ditto on the Very Nice! Love the limbs!
Sweet !
A beautiful bow !
A beauty for sure.
Very Beautiful & Very Graceful lookin "Real L/B" , Good luck with her ...
Now that's a bow!!!
Nice looking bow! I really like the grain of the wood in the limbs!
Tom does do some really nice work and yes, he is the same Tom Parsons featured in Tom Kidwell's book "Just Another Old Bowhunter."
A book well worth reading. One of the best I've read in the last couple of years.
I had the pleasure of dinning with Tom Parsons last year at Denton Hill. We talked quite a bit about bow design among other things. A very interesting man.
Great looking bow Bob. Tom sure does build a nice looking and shooting longbow. Wish you had ordered it about 5 pounds lighter so I could buy it if you should get tired of it for some unknown reason...... :bigsmyl:
Bob, that is one beautiful bow. I talked with Tom quite extensively at the Baltimore shoot a few years back. I have done several bowyer interview articles for TBM and will have to say that TP understands the "mechanics" of bow design as well as any bowyer I have ever talked with. He is indeed a master at his craft.
So simple and beautiful..., and yet gorgeous!!!
On the first pic I can get an idea of what you mean by that Tom's fit and finish is incredible.
Wish you years of pleasure with this bow, Bob!
Nice :thumbsup: Very nice indeed :clapper:
Nice looking bow. I really enjoy talking to Tom. You can have a lot of fun if you ever get to shoot with him. I have two of his bows.
I sure wished you guys would not swell his head any more than it is. Tom is a great guy, have know and shot with him since the late 60's, and one thing you never want to do with Tom is bet against him making a shot. He will clean your pockets out. The only problem is that when you see Tom, you will usually see his running buddie, Johnny Buck. Now that is a whole nother chapter for anyone's book.... :laughing:
Yes I know what you mean. When Johnny Buck is in the group its moves up to another level. found that out in Baltimore.
You will definately hear him before you see him, that I can gaurenteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.......LOL
I also have a couple of Tom's Mattawoman II r/d longbows which are just as remarkable in their respective design.
And yes, Tom is a great guy and in my opinion is at the "guru" level in the traditional archery community.
Even though Tom has to shoot left handed now he can still make some great shots. Could'nt shoot for laughing at Johnny Buck. I get to see Tom at the Appling Bowhunters Festival.
TP is a great guy to talk with and shoot with. Interesting personality. He makes great bows,...but try as I might I can't shoot them worth a darn :banghead: :dunno:
Bob: Great looking bow, specially the beautiful veneers. Enjoy Don
Hey Mac, no chance buddy! Never one of Tom's bows! :)
Nice bow right there. Ole T.P. sure can put them together. No to bad a shot either. Have fun with that nice one.
gorgeous longbow, tom builds real goodies, just ask g. fred. ;)
This Tom Parsons love fest is making me want to get another one of his bows, not that I need any encouragement. :)
That is one beautiful bow..!!.. :thumbsup:
Beautiful bow!
Tom's Mattawoman/Mattawoman II are the best. The Mattawoman II is a pure shooter....just hits so accuratley and naturally. My favorite mild R/D longbow.
Mike
You dont see bolivian rosewood used very much now and the elm burl veneers I've never seen . Just one AWESOME bow :thumbsup: There was a nice interview done on Tom , I believe by G.Fred back when in traditional bowhunter , quite interesting if you can find a back issue .
SWEET!!! NICE BOW!!
Outstanding looking bow.Congrats.
And when your ready to sell remember im a lefty also :laughing:
Now that's NICE!
This is still one of the best looking bows Ive seen.
That's a beauty....... :thumbsup:
I love uncluttered bows. It probably stems from my appreciation of selfbows. The fewer multiple handle and tip overlays the better.