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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: ron w on October 05, 2011, 03:09:00 PM
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I have been thinning the bow rack down to just some bows I really like and or shoot well. One thing I have never had is a 2 pc.longbow.[And I want one....lol!] Of the current offering out there, which connection system do folks like the best. I'm talking tuff, easy to use, silent at the shot and all around just a good system. I'm going to think on getting one in the near future so any input will be welcomed. I also like your basic "D" shaped bows with little or slight reflex. I just not into Shrews or Kanati style bows....nice but just not for me! So what do you folks like??? thanks!
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I like the Lock it sock-it system, there is a lot of bowyers using them now including Big Jim, and Black Widow just to name a couple
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Ron
I have 3 different style 2 piece longbows and I find the Black Widow/ Big Jim lockit/sockit style has to be the easiset one and so far has not given me any problems. Next up would be the bow bolt but I would only recomend it if the riser is phenolic. The Sleeve style is also easy but I had Hill bow that the grip leather slip right off. Not a big deal to repair but could be an issue if you hunt in the wet. As far as your preference of D bows. My Toelke D is a two piece with the bow bolt. I love them D bows too.
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Ron,
I Like them all :readit:
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I have a few bow bolt bows and love them, risers are either the laminated dymonwood types or have a strip of phenolic through it. Have had no problems with them.
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IMHO the locket socket is by far the least noticible and the strongest and most fool proof.
God bless you all, steve
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I think you might want to look at Great Northerns jack-knife hinge. Very easy, reliable, D shaped bows.
I'm shooting Black Widows locket it socket, but I think the hinge is easier to use by just a little. The only possible negative is some people don't like the looks of the "bump" on the riser.
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Originally posted by Sixby:
IMHO the locket socket is by far the least noticible and the strongest and most fool proof.
God bless you all, steve
X2. jack knife is ok if you like the hinge between your fingers. Bow bolt is ok, but I would want phenolic in the riser and not over 55#. I don't trust it long term over that weight.
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I really like the Talon takedown system that Mike treadway came up with . Tomahawk bows uses this system and BW used it for several years . I like it the best because it put some mass weight in the grip which made it feel very shock free and solid on the shot . It also worked great as Ive never had a problem with it .
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Hello Ron! :readit:
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I had a Toelke Whip with the bow bolt. It was great.
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The bow-bolt seems good but I not a big fan of the phenolic that's needed in the riser....adds a bit of weight. One of the reasons I like longbows is the light feel in the hand.
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I think I have had all the 2 piece TD style bows available over the years except the Talon TD type.
I like the locket/socket and also am very happy with the steel sleeve design!These are very strong,reliable,built to last.Easy to assemble and require no tools.They need to be built right ofcourse for best results.
My last 2 have been steel sleeves built by Ken Rohloff of Whippenstick.The fit is excellant.The tolerances are tight and limbs perfectly alligned.The grip is also built up by Ken to make it a very nicely contoured locator style grip.The steel sleeve does add some mass weight which I like for a more solid feel in the hand.I think it reduces handshock as well and makes the bow a tad quieter.He used the small sleeve.
The locket socket is superb.I have had a few Big Jims and Widows with it.
The Great Northern Jacknife is excellant!Its paticualarly nice on thier longbows as it folds together into a small unit.On the recurve folded together its a tad larger.It does have the litte bump as mentioned above in the center of the grip on the back of the bow.it does not bother me and fits right between the fingers and its like a locator for consistant grip postioning every time.Its been proven over the years to be very reliable.
The Thunderhorn 2 PC TD is amazing and beautiful when assemmbled.Its pricey though and does require 2 small allen bolts to secure.
The bow bolt is very good and I have one currantly.The riser is solid phenolic on that one.I like the all phenolic riser for the bow bolt.I think its as strong as you can get with that design.
The connexion hinge works well.The bow does flop around when unstrung.The newer ones being built using the appropriate screw material and size are better than some that were built years back using the wrong screws that failed.Liberty longbows,Mohawk and Centaur install this system perfectly.
I am not sure i would be fully confident in a TD system using screws drilled into a riser with heavier bows.They usually are not recommended for bows over a certain poundage.
Lots of good choices.I like the steel sleeve and locket/socket best personally.
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I like the older Jack Harrison metal sleeve takedown sytem, his new carbon takedown system and the Black Widow Lockit Socket. I see now that A&H is also making a two piece with the takedown system like Jack Harrison's carbon system and the Black Widow Lockit Socket.
I hunt with a 62" Jack Harrison takedown. I was able to pack it in on a back country elk hunt in my Arrowmaster Quiver. That was a big help when packing in and packing out. It leaves both hands free.
The green camo fleece in my quiver is my 62" takedown. If you do any kind of remote hunting it is a nice feature to have, along with the Arrowmaster Quiver.
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/DSCN0071.jpg)
Gil
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I have been very happy with these three systems
1. Sleeve take down as on my Howard Hill bows .
2. Connexion hinge as on my numerous Liberty Bows . Allens fit and finish on these is the best I have seen .
3. Carbon sleeve as I have on my Widows and Sky Longbows . Easy maintenence .
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As for the metal sleeve....big or small?
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Wife told me I could buy a new longbow next year after I told her how absolutly dangerous it was negotiating cliffs while trying to hike with a longbow in one hand and a single treking pole in the other during my sheep hunt.
I love D style longbow and am leaning toward either a Bama or a Wes Wallace. I like a slight dish/ mild locator grip and really cannot bring myself to shoot a hinge bow or any takedown system requiring tools to assemble. I like the innovation of the carbon sleeve but feel a little apprehensive about its longterm durability. Hard to argue with the ruggedness of the brass/stainless takedown system which has seen decades of testing under all conditions.
All that said however, Ben may have just thrown a wrench into it all. I had no idea Sky made a takedown longbow. May have to do some more research!
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I have been looking at the Bama's also!
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My BamaBows carbon sleeve is great.
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z208/DannyBoats/DSC00725.jpg)
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I guessing ,but with that slip type system there would be almost no weight gain in the bow....right?
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I like my tomahawk takedowns I'll sell ya one if ya want. lol
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All good reviews so far....any negative thoughts on any given system?????
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Ron here is the Jack Harrison El Lobo I mentioned with the metal sleeve. It is stainless and brass. It feels perfect in my hand and you would never know it was a two piece. This is the one I had in my quiver. It is not only nice if you are packing in and out but also dragging out a deer.
The locket socket and Jack Harrison carbon sleeves are also nice and you would never know they were takedowns either.
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Croc2.jpg)
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Croc1.jpg)
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Croc3.jpg)
Here is the carbon sleeve of a Jack Harrison HSS. You can also contact Jack and he can retrofit a bow you have from a one piece to a two piece takedown with a carbon sleeve.
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Harrison003.jpg)
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Harrison001-1.jpg)
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Harrison008.jpg)
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I have had good success with the connexion hinge on several bows. I got one of the first - if not the first- one that Allen Boice used on an Elite he built for me a number of years ago. I have also installed a couple of them myself on HH bow blanks, the most recent a Redman that I did a couple of months ago that turned out to be just an outstanding bow. I like the looks of the lockit socket system, but the connexion hinge is a little better if you want to "do-it-yourself".
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"AS for the metal sleeve big or small?"
Ron I like the small sleeve personally.I like a smaller grip though.
Also with the small sleeve you can build it up with bondo or whatever for a more contoured shape and still not have a bulky grip after adding the material to shape the grip with.If you like a big grip the large may be preffered
The Big Jim locket socket does not weigh much more than the one piece bow.Possibly a bit more as it is built up with fiberglass and resins for strength and reinforcement to except the male end of the bow.
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Gil ,thanks for the photos,,,,,,really nice. Steelhead I also have small hands and was think small size. Never thought about building it up....good idea!
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I have both sleeve sizes on Hills and prefer the larger size but either is a top notch strong system
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Ron Wes wallace and Fox both can build the grips up on thier 2 piece steel sleeve into a locator style grip.Wallace has the Royal Longbow and Fox has the Breed recurve as well as the longbow.
I had the 62" breed recurve with sleeve and locator grip.Very nice.
My Whippenstick Inferno recurve is a steel sleeve and the grip is customized by Mr. Rohloff into a very shapely grip thats sweet.He also built me a Whippenstick longbow the same way.He does excellant work with the steel sleeve and custom grip.
I really love the steel sleeve with a shapely grip.Seems bombproof.
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I like the Black Widow locket-socket. No hassle, comes completely apart, easy to take-apart and assemble, in seconds. If it feels a bit loose, I put wax on it and it is tight as if it were brand new. It's so nice overall that I find myself preferring it a lot over my 3-piece takedown bow, even though I really like 3-pieces, too.
Archie
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Good info thanks to all who have replied so far!
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I like the bow bolt and bigJim's sleeve both work great and are rock solid. Drew
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BigJim's here on my bow
X2 rock solid
F-Manny
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Im with DannyBows, my Bama Hunter's carbon sleeve is solid, quiet, and invisible when together.
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When choosing a two piece system (two piece is what i prefer over any option) I could have chosen any type. I decided to use the toughest and most descrete system available. All my personal bows are 80+ lbs and they all get the carbon fiber sleave system. I have not had a problem with one yet and have built over 250 of them. They must be popular too since of the last 40 bows that I have built, at least 35 have been 2 piece.
thanks, bigjim
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I am sure Big Jim's system is a great one, but I have not had the opportunity to try it yet. I do have 6 or 7 bows with the BowBolts and have had zero problems with that system. The additional mass of the phenolic is not a lot, and the feel of the BowBolt connection has remained rock solid. One thing about the BowBolt is the ability to create a variety of grip shapes easily -- something that does not seem to be as simple with other systems. I do expect that Big Jim's sleeve system is very strong and may be the best for those who can draw heavier bows than I can. Around 75 pounds is the maximum for me before my shoulder starts screaming, and the BowBolt is great at that weight. Patrick Kelly has a Shrew Safari with a BowBolt that tops out near 80 pounds. Two piece bows are wonderful. They pack well for travel and feel like one piece bows when assembled. No wonder Big Jim and the Shrew guys sell such a high percentage of them! I don't know the percentage of Lee Hoots bows that are two piece, but I expect it is significant.
Allan
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My Big Jim Thunderchild 2pc .... Locket/Socket
Now you see it .....
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/aug_23_2010_017.jpg)
Now you don't....
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/aug_23_2010_016.jpg)
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/aug_23_2010_015.jpg (image too wide!)
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Really impressed with my Big jim T-Child,solid as all get out,you don't even know the bows a 2 piece.
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they all work, but each slightly differently and that's where only your subjective opinion will matter. if you don't get to try them all, it'll be a gamble of sorts as to what will work best for you, not me or anyone else.
i've tried most all t/d systems and hands down i vastly prefer the connexion hinge - it's a positive lock system under all conditions, and it evenly divides the bow in half (this can be an important feature for travel packing, particularly with longer bows).
(http://mohawkbows.com/bows/m2.jpg)
(http://mohawkbows.com/bows/dc1.jpg)
(http://mohawkbows.com/bows/dc3.jpg)
i've had troubles with metal sleeve type t/d's sticking due to dirt or vacuum bond, but not so with the glass sleeve t/d's. however, the bow is not divided in half and one section is longer by far than the other. all sleeve systems need to be careful about dirt/dust. if i hadda get a sleeve, it would be glass and never metal.
the bow bolt works well, but i've had instances of it sticking and requiring some fiddling to get to both lock and unlock. it's susceptible to dirt in the threads. it also won't divide a bow into equal halves.
the few latch systems i tried were just unwieldy and cumbersome, but they did work, with almost equal bow halves.
if at all, try before you buy.
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I think I'm leaning towards a Mohawk or Northern Mist with the above mentioned connection hinge. Just a simple "D" shaped bow but 2 piece! Something around 66"........