Well for those that know about the NM Classic I ordered last October, you know it has been a traumatic wait. To fill in those that do not, here is the short story. I ordered the bow back in October and planned to have it and hunt with it down at Ray Hammond's place in early February. Well, Steve finished the bow, shipped it, and then the USPS just lost it. It was last scanned in Atlanta on January 27th and just dissappeared.
So last week Steve called me and said he was going to build me a new one and would hand deliver it to me at the Pre-Spring fling down in Alabama this weekend. Since I couldn't make it down until Friday night due to work I must admit I had a hard time sleeping Friday night. Just like a kid waiting for Santa.
So, Saturday morning I was looking for the Northern Mist logo on anything as I was walking through the vendors. I walked up to Steve and as soon as he heard my voice he whirled around and picked up my bow and handed it to me. My first word was WOW! The bow was even better than I had anticipated. 70" NM Classic with bamboo lams, with cherry veneers on the back and belly, Bolivian Roseroon riser and limb tips.
After talking to Steve for a few minutes I asked my wife to snap a photo before heading to the first range.
(http://i.imgur.com/l096i.jpg)
I went back to my truck, grabbed some halo to make a quick nock. stuck a tube of super glue in my pocket and headed to fling a few arrows. From the first arrow she shot right where I was looking. This just may be the perfect bow in my humble opinion. She is quiet, hits very hard, extremely smooth to draw and I noticed no hand shock at all. Off to the first course!
To get the weight I wanted in the arrow for this bow, I started with full length Carbon Express Heritage 350s, 100 Grain Brass insert and 250 grain point. Total weight is 780 grains. Now that I have the bow back at home I will start working on the perfect arrow, but these shot very well, perhaps a bit weak in spine. I am drawing about 28.5" since switching to 3 under so I have a lot of arrow I can remove to dial the spine in to where I need it.
(http://i.imgur.com/7pM2Z.jpg)
First target.
(http://i.imgur.com/J0MXN.jpg)
Course was a lot of fun to shoot and had shots set up that required adjusting shot angle to get through the trees.
(http://i.imgur.com/cAoue.jpg)
One of MANY perfect heart shots. If you look closely you can see the white of my feathers in the target.
(http://i.imgur.com/RBPaw.jpg)
The final target on the blue course was the longest shot of the course. The first time I took the shot I made a perfect double lung hit. Later I shot the course again and somehow shot over. Still not sure how I did that.
(http://i.imgur.com/P8Hpg.jpg)
After driving home, I had to shoot a few in the backyard, just to make sure I wasn't imagining things. Three shots at around 20 yards went right where I wanted them.
(http://i.imgur.com/K1lUm.jpg)
Love the Bolivian Rosewood in the handle!
(http://i.imgur.com/e4q6Y.jpg)
And the cherry is beautiful as well.
I already can't wait to shoot this bow again. For my first custom bow I think this bow is about as close to perfect as I could have imagined. Steve really nailed what I wanted in this bow. He is a class A Bowyer and a super nice guy! I couldn't be happier.
Heck yes ...
That is just a dandy bow all right !!!
Now thats what I call service.Beautifull bow sir.......
Wholly 83# !!!
Love my classic!!
Beautiful bow!!! Congrats
WHOOOOOooooooaaaaaa!
That is simply an *awesome* NM Classic Steve!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Enjoy!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
It's beautiful Steve!! How was the pre-spring fling? I was unable to make it.
Oh yeah! Nice NM. Looks like a soul mate. :thumbsup:
Real nice.
QuoteOriginally posted by WJackson11x:
It's beautiful Steve!! How was the pre-spring fling? I was unable to make it.
It was great!
I am working on a post over on Trad Events and Gatherings. More pics and info will be posted over there later this evening. You should make plans to attend next year!
AWESOME bow congrats, Steve is top notch to work with!
Congrats on your new bow!!!!!
Bisch
I'm so glad to hear you got your bow Steve, that was a heart breaking story to hear.
She looks like a million bucks, and I bet Steve T is glad there is someone else who shoots a 80#+ bow and appreciates the finer points of a beauty like that!
Congrats to the bowyer and the archer on this one!
Thom
Beautiful bow for sure, Congrats.
What a sexy bow ... good on ya!! I have Shelton with Bolivian Rosewood riser, ya it is awesome looking like yours. Steve is a great guy and builds great bows.
Bob.
Congratulations! A great looker and shooter!
Thanks for sharing.
God bless,Mudd
PS: Maybe the USPS will really mess up and the lost bow will find it's way to someone's home who will love it as well.
Steve had some really classy bows there, and the one that surprised me the most was the fwd. locator handle "Whisper" I have to say it is one of the most comfortable grips ive ever put in my hand.
BowHunterGA, I actually was standing fairly close when you picked your bow up from Steve, didnt realize it was a fellow Tradganger!
Dandy Bow!!
QuoteOriginally posted by Lamey:
BowHunterGA, I actually was standing fairly close when you picked your bow up from Steve, didnt realize it was a fellow Tradganger!
Hate I missed the opportunity to meet you and shake your hand. Look for me next time and I will make it right.
Steve, great looking bow. Congratulations.
Looks great, Steve! Nice shooting, too. Those hogs won't have a chance.
Great looking bow!! :thumbsup:
Steve-
I hope to see you shooting that bow next year at the Hill hog hunt.
Darren
anyone who is thinkinking about a Northen Mist make sure you check out the American Elm that Steve use's, so glad he talked me in to it, who needs snake skin when ya got this kind of grain!!!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/adkmountainken/5th%20direction/merlin2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/adkmountainken/5th%20direction/merlin.jpg)
Glad to see you got your bow, Steve. Looks like it turned out to be all you wanted and more. Congrats on a beautiful bow.
Wow beautiful bows!
So great, Steve. It looks awesome, and it seems like it fits you perfectly. Congrats!
Man those are some beautiful bows! I've got two of Steve's longbows and they shoot even better than they look. Great choices on the woods.
Dave
Steve your close enough maybe we can get together and stick a hog sometime soon!
Thanks Ben! I'll let you shoot her next weekend!
Matt sure thing. Shoot me a PM and lets discuss our options!
I saw some of Steve's American Elm bows at kzoo, they are amazing looking...just like snake skin.
Another beauty!
Very nice bow.
Great minds! If it gets any better than this you'll have to prove it! You're handling that longer heavier bow kneeling as well as through trees, slivers of target, etc straight to the heart! I got excited when you ordered it! Excellent!
Steve's a class act and talented bowyer. I haven't been to the MI Traditional Bow Hunters shoot in Grayling, MI for a few years, but always enjoyed seeing Steve there and sharing a campfire with him. He's also been a staunch supporter of the MI bow hunting organizations over the years.
Congratulations on a fine looking bow!
Good Looking bow. Photos game out great to.
Rich K.
Great story, great pictures, great looking bow and great bowyer, hard to top that one ;)
i had the pleasure of meeting Steve at Denton Hill, GREAT guy. hope to see him there this year too.
A beauty indeed...don't think I've ever seen one of Steve's bows that wasn't something to drool over. Congratulations on a fine bow...glad everything worked out for you. Steve provides great customer service, as well as being a top notch bowyer!
:thumbsup: Nice bow!