Hey all,
Just curious to see if anyone here has a Dave Johnson longbow. He makes Hill style bows. According to his site he is back building bows again on a limited basis.
If anyone has one, how about telling how you like it and how it shoots? How do they compare to other Hill style bows including Howard Hill bows?
Pics are always welcome.
Thanks
Nalajr
I have a Dave Johnson bow that I bought from him in the late 80's. It has cedar limbs with black glass on the back and white on the belly and in my opinion was just beautiful. It has been to hell and back with all the small game hunting I have done with it so I don't want to post pictures. It is 75# and I haven't been able to shoot that heavy a weight for quite a few years. I have owned Hills, Northern Mists, Meigs, and Bama bows and wouldn't hesitate to buy another bow from Dave. It will shoot with the best of them.
The bow in my avatar pic is a Dave Johnson. Like Gordon's, it is cedar cored with black and white glass and a myrtle riser. I think she was made in '87, is 65" NTN and is marked 55 @ 27. Unbraced, she is dead straight. She is my favorite Hill style bow and I have a few. No, she's not for sale.
I exchange emails with Dave, and he told me that he won't build a bow heavier than 50#... For reasons the explained to me...
Look like he knows what he's doing!
I have owned one and can hopefully find a way to get one of his that will be built just for me.
The one I had was most definitely a shooter.
The draw weight started early but it was smooth all the way out to my 28" draw.
The bows performance was flawless and hit where I was looking w/authority.
God bless,Mudd
I remember back in the early 80's seeing advertisments for the Dave Johnson Red Cedar Longbow. Read a good review on it in the old "Longbow" magazine, that Bill Bagwell had written. Wanted one but couldn't afford it. If I remember right, Dave was getting $350.00 for them which was top dollar for longbows back then.
Last summer I had gone 2 years not shooting a bow due to shoulder injury. I've got an old hickory backed red cedar longbow that I'd made back in the mid 90's. It shoots great, but I won't shoot it much due to frets and chrysles on the belly. Got it out anyway to see if I could shoot pain free, and it was. Shortly after, I saw where Dave Johnson was back in busniess, so I called him and we talked about him making me a bow. When I got it, it was/is exactly how I orderd it. 66" 45#'s @28" blk. glass on back, wht. on belly. Riser laminated with 1/2" of bubinga and myrtle on top. 12" long riser from fade to fade. Thin narrow peaked grip with a slight dish. Slight amount of backset (3/8")
The thin pigskin leather strike plate & grip wrap set it off. The finish he uses takes several days of work... and it shows.
I understand now why Dave uses red cedar only in his bows.
It is my opinion that it's one of the few bows being built today, that is in the true American Semi-Longbow style.
I have a Good friend who just got one recently from some "Old Feller" who pretends and dress's like "Robinhood" at times on here! He really likes it so far from our talk today... :archer:
Stop it guys! I've been emailing Dave and pondering on getting one of his bows. Y'all ain't helping the pocketbook! :banghead: AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH! :banghead:
QuoteOriginally posted by Bud B.:
Stop it guys! I've been emailing Dave and pondering on getting one of his bows. Y'all ain't helping the pocketbook! :banghead: AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH! :banghead:
I beg to differ cause it actaully makes your wallet a tad bit lighter and keeps your blue jeans from falling down showing your under drawers from carrying that extra weight in yur wallet ...Now go buy one... :biglaugh:
I sent him another email....
doghouse bound :(
Thanks for all the kind words everyone.
Dave
I'd like to see more pics.
Nalajr
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/A%20Dragons%20Heart%20along%20with%20the%20Red%20Dragon/DSC01940.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/A%20Dragons%20Heart%20along%20with%20the%20Red%20Dragon/DSC01920.jpg) (http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/A%20Dragons%20Heart%20along%20with%20the%20Red%20Dragon/DSC01922.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/A%20Dragons%20Heart%20along%20with%20the%20Red%20Dragon/DSC01925.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/A%20Dragons%20Heart%20along%20with%20the%20Red%20Dragon/DSC01928.jpg) (http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/A%20Dragons%20Heart%20along%20with%20the%20Red%20Dragon/DSC01941.jpg) (http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/A%20Dragons%20Heart%20along%20with%20the%20Red%20Dragon/DSC01934.jpg)
I had a long talk with Dave yesterday and decided to have him build me a longbow. I explained my problem with my left hand and how a Hill with its wedge grip will sometimes make it hurt and finally go numb. He asked me many questions and asked if I could give him a drawing of what I wanted in a grip, because he stated that he wanted the bow to "be mine" and if it were uncomfortable to shoot than that could not happen. I found Dave to be courteous,understanding and most important concerned with doing the best for me, his customer.
I spoke with him last night too. Top notch and he asked many questions to make sure we were on the same page. After hanging up with him he called back in about two minutes and asked one more clarifying question.
So the wait begins....
Bumpin in case someone has more photos of Dave's bows.
That would be great, more photos that is!!
From a prior post by Dave on another thread.
(http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy241/davidmitchell_6466/Dave%20Johnson%20longbows/DaveJohnson3.jpg)
(http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy241/davidmitchell_6466/Dave%20Johnson%20longbows/DaveJohnson2.jpg)
Why wont he make them heavier than 50 lbs?
Why wont he make them heavier than 50 lbs?
I didn't know he wouldn't make them heavier than 50. Of course, in my case I never get anything heavier than that any how so wouldn't matter, but it's interesting.
Dave Johnson's longbow is how I became a traditional bowhunter back in 1979! I was deer hunting with my family in Wisconsin...first year bowhunting. Everyone was shooting a compound except a friend of my cousin who had this longbow. I fell in love with the longbow and the next year I contacted a guy just getting going in the business...Ron La Clair. I bought a Meigs longbow...kicked like a mule but I was still possessed with the simplicity.
Getting back to the Johnson bow, some years later I bought a longbow off of that auction site. To my surprise & delight, It was the bow that started me in traditional archery. Still have it plus about six other Dave Johnson ceder limb longbows. I've said it before here that IMHO they are the best straight limb D longbows with real skinny tips...tippit
Dave tests his own bows when tillering and for final tiller and tune. He doesn't want to over exert himself so 50lbs is as far as he will go. He makes it from start to finish so he alone will get it to the final product.
Admirable, in my opnion.
He draws about 26", I think. So, if you get a bow 50@26 and you draw about 28 then you'll have a heavier bow than 50.
Better yet, go to his website and get his # and call him. He's an easy going fellow that has alot of bow building experience.
Bud, I figured it may have something to do with the weight he himself could deal with. Those guys have to wrestle those bows around themselves as they finish them out--could be tough on them as they "mature"--I know I don't handle weight as well as I once did. Thanks for the explanation. Bud, since we both are lefties, why not just have Dave send your bow to me for "testing" first then I can send it on to you. :D That way I could get to try one out. :thumbsup:
Maybe it'll be ready for the NCTAC Championships. I'll bring it if so and you certanly may test it. I need to shadow a good shootin' lefty Hill style shooter anyway :) ('cept I'm a two under shooter :-/ )
I hope you can make it down to the Tarheel State.
Well, when you said "good shootin' lefty Hill style shooter" that cut me out! :D
I like to take this topic back to the top for,in my opinion, a good guy Dave Johnson. I had ordered a bow from him a couple weeks ago and requested he work with me on the grip area. I had my left hand crushed about 10yrs ago, which gives me problems in shooting the longbow if the riser does not "sit" right. I had explained what I needed and this morning he sent several pics of the riser area to see if that is what I wanted and asked for my opinion.This is a first for me and felt I should put it out what kind of person Dave is. :archer:
Good to hear....that's what a "custom" bowyer should be doing. Custom ought to mean more than wood and draw weight choice. I sure hope to see one of Dave's bows sometime this summer at some of the shoots/rendezvous. The chance of it being a lefty that I could actually shoot is slim as usual. :rolleyes:
I want one just because we have the same name :)
bowhunterdave, it would be like you signed your own bow!
Good to hear all the comments from everyone about my bows....Hey Jeffrey, you have more of my bows than I have myself.
Re 50# limit. Well guys, when you get to be my age and experience a bit of arthritis in the left shoulder, you will understand why I choose to avoid working on the heavier bows. In the course of making a bow, I may string, unstring, test shoot it many, many times.
Dave, I have dealt with quite a few bowyers over the last 40 or so years but you are the first to actually understand and not feel threatened by my involvement in the design of the grip of this bow. Thank you. Chuck :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :archer:
You're right Chuck, that's something I forgot to mention.
When Dave was making my bow, throughout the entire process from roughed out stave to finished bow, he would send me pictures.
I also had some things done a little differently, than what he usually does in the riser... Dave made it exactly how I wanted it. Couldn't of been any better, than if I were there with him...it's what custom bow-making should be.
Thanks Dave, for making me the finest Hill style / American Semi-Longbow, I've ever owned.
Bumpin'... since another DJ longbow thread surfaced in the POW Wow recently.
Dave is a fine gentleman bowyer.
Matt, post some pics.
I replaced my used(new-to-me" "Red Dragon" with one made just for me by Dave.
"Trinity" 66" and 48@28.
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Dave%20Johnson%20Cedar%20bow/1109111400.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Dave%20Johnson%20Cedar%20bow/1109111400a.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Dave%20Johnson%20Cedar%20bow/1109111400b.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Dave%20Johnson%20Cedar%20bow/1109111359.jpg)
God bless,Mudd
Raging Water, pics are always welcome, says Nala.
Do you have several shots of Moose?
Beautiful bows!