This is not a thread about who is the best, just a thread about who are considered the top few. In particular I am looking for a take down bow.
Byron Ferguson@s comanpy seems to be making them again. He's a good shot, are the people he has working for him good bowyers?
Thanks for all the advice so far...
Alex
Some that I have shot,owned, and like a lot are Northern Mist, JD Berry, and Howard Hill, but not sure if Berry makes a takedown.
Byron's son ,(not zach) is making the safari line and the woodsman. If you order takedown he sends the bow to Zach (his other son) to do the takedown system.
HHA, yes and yes :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by Knawbone:
HHA, yes and yes :thumbsup:
X2
That is a HH Cheetah takedown in my avatar. Great bow.
Keep your eyes open for the new Big Foot "Stealth"
coming out this Spring..... This one is going to be hot.... Kirk
I heard the Toelke Super D is a great shooter
Chuck at Two Tracks
Thank you guys... I now have some names to research. I appreciate your help.
Alex
QuoteOriginally posted by Kirkll:
Keep your eyes open for the new Big Foot "Stealth"
coming out this Spring..... This one is going to be hot.... Kirk
You tease us Kirk. :bigsmyl:
Northern Mist. Steve understands the mechanics that go into a good American Semi-longbow. He will custom fit the bow to you. For instance, even though I draw 26 in, I ordered a 68" Shelton. Steve explained that he would custom tiller the bow to a 26in draw allowing for maximum performance.
Tom
Tom,
That is interesting to hear. I am short myself with a 25" draw. I thought it was only the length of the bow that determined the optimum draw length
It's all about limb taper as explained by Steve. Give him a call.
Tom
I've spoken with Steve a couple times at Northern Mist.. This guy has built bows for a "Long Time", and knows his Longbows. Very impressive I don't think you could go wrong checking out Northern Mist at all..
Id say stick with the Original HHA.
Craig will make you a take down and match your draw length....
I'm going to suggest Craig at Howard Hill Archery too. Craig makes a great bow.
www.howardhillarchery.com (http://www.howardhillarchery.com)
My two favorites are Northern Mist and Howard Hill. Of all the longbows I have owned over the years I have been shooting them, I have to say my Hill Wesley Special is my best shooter and go-to longbow. But either one is a can't lose proposition.
QuoteOriginally posted by mike g:
Id say stick with the Original HHA.
Craig will make you a take down and match your draw length....
About 6 weeks ago I recieved my HHA Tembo takedown 70", 50# @28. I told him I had a long draw. I pull 31" and there is no stacking.
Lets not forget Dave Johnson
HHA and Northern Mist
QuoteOriginally posted by tomwatson:
Northern Mist. Steve understands the mechanics that go into a good American Semi-longbow. He will custom fit the bow to you. For instance, even though I draw 26 in, I ordered a 68" Shelton. Steve explained that he would custom tiller the bow to a 26in draw allowing for maximum performance.
Tom
I would be interested in the Classic or the Shelton, but it must be a take-down. Northen Mist do not seem to do a take-down of the Howard Hill style bow. So they are off my list
I am not after a fancy bow with exotic woods. I only want a really well made bow using stadard woods. I don't need anything just for show.
Cheers
Alex
Northern Mist has made 2pc bows for many many years.
Steve at N.M. did the same for me. I draw 26" and ordered a 67" Shelton. I get a good full limb bend and great speed. Steve knows how to tiller a bow for short draw lengths.
Alex you would be making a Giant mistake to take Steve Turay off your list. I have a NM Retro Classic and it is a ass kicker of a Hill bow. I'm not going to name other bowyers but from my experience, Steve's "Hills" perform at a much higher level. The cast is flatter.
QuoteOriginally posted by Two Tracks:
Northern Mist has made 2pc bows for many many years.
Thanks for the clarification.
(This is also the guy that makes the "echo" hill style bow that everyone is raving about :saywhat: !)
I looked at Northern Mist, but could not find a 2 piece take down option. However, its been suggested that there is so I will have another look.
I think I will consider HHA, Northern Mist, Dave Miller and Big foot.
I am looking to start at 35-40Lbs draw length and work up from that eventually. Most people here in Europe stop at 45lb at 28". I have a 45lb longbow, but feel its just a little too much.
However, you guys seem to shoot much stronger bows especially in Howard Hill format. Maybe the design allows it. It seem like you spread the force over a wider area on the hand with these Hill bows.
Thank you all for your suggestions.
Alex
I've been fighting with "what bow/what bowyer" question for years now... literally year.
I finally pulled the trigger (yesterday in fact) on a Howard Hill Archery bow... So, since I just placed my order I can't reflect on the bow... but I can tell you that dealing with HHA was amazingly easy and smooth...
Being new, it's kind of intimidating calling, and speaking to the very people who's work is so well revered here. I spoke with Jason, and he was very helpful, very informative and in no way did he push or direct me/my desires in a direction that was not my own... It was an exceptional experience.
I'll be happy to report on the bow when it arrives.... Jason says 4/6 weeks... Which is a very short wait for a bow.
There are lots of great bowyers out there, but Howard Hill Archery is right up there, and they have been building bows for many years. They will make it work for you, and you will have a heirloom that you can pass down to your kids. Craig and Jason make it easy to order. Give them a call.
Northern Mist. Steve is about as obsessed with Howard Hill and his bows as he is with perfection in making them. Steve will make you a bow you LOVE or he will eat it. And if you know Steve he likely could.(eat it I mean)
Just have a pot of coffee brewed before you call - he likes to talk and is great to work with :)
Alex321, Steve Turay will gladly make you a Hill style in a TD. He normally uses the connection system I believe it is called but agreed to make my friend one using the sleeve type system used by Howard Hill Archery. He is a custom bowyer--tell him what you want and I'll bet he will be glad to accommodate you.
Kmurry....
HHA always say 4-6 weeks, But usually deliver quicker....
I own 4 TD HHA bows made by Craig. They have been making Hill bows for years. My take down bows are:
68", 45@28 "Wesley Special"
68", 50@28 "Half Breed"
66", 56@28 "Cheetah"
64", 53@28 "Red Man"
I like the mass weight added to the HHA TD bows. It seem to help stabilize the bow during and after the shot. Give Craig or his son, Jason, a call. They will be happy to answer any questions you might have about their bows. :thumbsup:
Bill Turner sez, "I like the mass weight added to the HHA TD bows."
I agree. My t/d Cheetah is the most forgiving of all my bows, and I believe it has to do in part with the added weight in the grip.
Of the original HHA bows I like the Cheetah the best...
My Mohawk Sparrowhawk is the classic D shaped bow when strung.
Also like a Noble longbow...narrow limbs, D Shaped and the slightest bit of reflex on a traditional dished grip.
a Robertson Primal Styk or Purist is in my future as well...
I have heard good things about Northern Mist and Wes Wallace as well.
I can only speak of my experience with Steve Turay. Great individual and all 3 of his bows which I have, have been FANTASTIC.
I CAN'T BELIEVE that NO ONE has even mentioned JD Berry in this thread...HHA and NM are PHENOMOINAL bows BUT JD Berry's bows are very close to perfection in a Hill style bow...F.A.Q (Fast,Accurate,Quiet)....IMHO
Tradcat
Tradcat, JD Berry does not make a take down, I have asked him. Alex is looking for td.
Sorry...my bad ! I should READ before I open my big mouth
Yes, its really must be a take down I am afraid...
Does anyone have any experience of the Northern Mist Superior. It says it has a mild R/D and Hill recommends only straight limbs for hunting.
Alex
Alex, I have a NM Superior and it is a great bow. They are a little quicker than the straight limb bows, just as quiet and you can it with a straight grip if you want.
I also have 3 NM straight limb bow with 1 more on the way.
NM is my longbow of choice be it straight limb or mild R/D. Not to concerned with what Mr. Hill recommends for hunting as one will work as well as the other.
Eric
The Great Northern Traditional longbow is an excellant choice in a T.D IMO.The Jacknife T.D design is very very nice.
The Toelke Super D is also an excellant bow and can be made with the bowbolt and phenolic riser.
Both have very narrow slightly backset limbs.
Bamabows new Tribute model may fit the bill. Nate seems to have a great reputation building.
Why does it need to be a takedown? You can put two longbows in a three inch medium weight PVC tube for traveling. I do have one takedown that gets strapped to my Beemer, when it is warm enough to take my motorcycle, it is a Robertson.
QuoteOriginally posted by pavan:
Why does it need to be a takedown? You can put two longbows in a three inch medium weight PVC tube for traveling. I do have one takedown that gets strapped to my Beemer, when it is warm enough to take my motorcycle, it is a Robertson.
To carry with me to work and flying abroad all the time using public transport...Also cycling, which is a long way of saying I don't have a car... :)
I think I should start a thread on the best form of takedown for a Hill bow... Sleeving seems quite common, but I have seen a few hinge mechanisms...
thanks to everyone for their imput. As mentioned before I have the chance of buying a Northern Mist Superior, but I just feel that it is not what Hill himself recommended...It would not be a genuine hill copy...
Cheers
Alex
As stated, you can't go wrong with Howard Hill Archery.. Craig's work is excellent. David Miller and Nate Steen also produce rope quality Hill style bows available with vintage styling. If you can get a used Ametican Longbow by John Shulz, it's another great shooting, nicely made bow.
As a take down, I think I like the mechanism used by Toelke with the bolt. A sleeve does not seem as secure... Is this the case?
ALex
A sleeve style is very secure.Some bowyers use what is called a locket/socket.Widow,Big Jim and Caribow and others use this style.I have had widows and Big jims and they work great and are very strong
The brass and steel sleeve style is also popular.You have a choice thier with the large or small version.I have had these from Ken Rohloff of Whippenstick and also from Fox Archery.Wes Wallace also uses this style on his Royal longbow.I prefer the small as I like a smaller grip
I have been very happy with this style of TD from these 2 bowyers.Very strong.These were both made into a nicely contoured locator style grips using bondo and wrapped with leather.You could not tell they were T.Ds.
The brass/steel sleeve type T.Ds do add a little mass weight right where your hand sits on the grip.Thier unique in that quality
I have had a few bows built with the bow bolt as well.Its a slick system.
Thank you for all your advice. I have ended up going with Steve Turay. However, he will use an alternative to his usual connexion take-down system...
I will let you know what I think of it when it arrives.
Thanks for all the advice.
Alex