As I have made if plainly obvious over the years, I am a huge fan of the bows that James at JD Berry puts out.
I started with a Vixen with plans of ordering an Argos after that. Well that led to a Misty Dawn, then a Morningstar, and then a Northstar.
Well I picked up a Taipan used a few months back (97' era) and it just totally blew me away. I mean all the descriptives you have heard to describe a perfect bow and it fits the bill. Smooth, quiet, quick, gentle in the hand, beautiful. Just absolutely amazing. The Taipan is a Reverse handle duo-flex and just flat out gorgeous. it is 45 pounds at my draw and slings an arrow like 50-54lb straightened bows that I've shot. And not at all finicky or sensitive to boot.
Then low and behold I find a Yahweh for sale that by its specs should be about 51 pounds at my draw so I jump at the chance. Once I got it I noticed the string would not do for my tastes and I could tell this bow has been used hard for a lot of years. So i called james and sent it in to him to have it refinished. After James got the bow he looked it over and there were some cosmetic fractures in the upper limb tip (nothing to worry about_) He also informed me that it was not a Yahweh but rather a Viper (which was the top of the line bow then) and aged it at being born in 1988-89. WOW.
This Vipers limbs are only 1" wide at the fades and has itty bitty tips with the most impressive trap I have seen to date.
Both bows have what James calls his "Dam" core which is a mixed core and I love them, not only in looks but feel also. These Duo-flex bows give up absolulty nothing in stability and forgiveness and gain even softer thumps than the already well behaved Berry straightened bows.
Viper top, Taipan bottom
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/brianlocal3/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zpseb57aa11.jpg) (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/brianlocal3/media/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zpseb57aa11.jpg.html)
Bad pic but it shows the mixed cores
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/brianlocal3/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zps6ffc297b.jpg) (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/brianlocal3/media/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zps6ffc297b.jpg.html)
Taipan left, Viper Right
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/brianlocal3/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zps0a035bc4.jpg) (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/brianlocal3/media/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zps0a035bc4.jpg.html)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/brianlocal3/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zps67618336.jpg) (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/brianlocal3/media/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zps67618336.jpg.html)
To show braced profile Taipan left, viper right
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/brianlocal3/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zps46152849.jpg) (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/brianlocal3/media/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zps46152849.jpg.html)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/brianlocal3/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zps53cc5c38.jpg) (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/brianlocal3/media/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zps53cc5c38.jpg.html)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/brianlocal3/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zps1c5a08bd.jpg) (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/brianlocal3/media/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zps1c5a08bd.jpg.html)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/brianlocal3/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zpsdddcfa43.jpg) (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/brianlocal3/media/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zpsdddcfa43.jpg.html)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/brianlocal3/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zps0b10f95d.jpg) (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/brianlocal3/media/James%20Duo-Flex/file_zps0b10f95d.jpg.html)
Weather permitting I'm gonna try to get a little video of each of them.
Very nice Brian, do they have dished or locator handles? Looking forward to the video.
Thanks Steve
They are what I call an Angled straight grip. or 1911 grip. its just a straight taper from the heel to the throat, no dips.
I like my "locators" that way
Gotcha thanks, I have quite await for my Taipan and getting to see pics of James bows makes it a little easier.
When shooting my Morningstar, I never think of how it looks. 7th street is exactly 24 yards from my target, I had my foot on the curb. "You idiot, you got it loaded backwards." Came from a passing pickup. Seeing who it was, I proudly showed him the backside of one of the fingers of my American Leathers glove. He backed up into my neighbors drive and said, "really, you're all backwards. Can you just do that?" He wanted to see, but I warned him, no drawing. You would think a compound shooter would not notice fade outs that vanish to infinite precision, but he was mesmerized by them. He said "you're ready for the turkey's I see.", pointing at the cantaloupe sized glob of 18 1918s in my target. I ordered mine to be plain and simple with brown glass, it is not plain and simple, James just cannot help himself.
had a viper in the late 80s killed a big hog wth it it was 61 at 27.5 I would love to find another but lighter.
Most folks can't wrap their heads around the forward handle on JD's bows. That's a shame because they are the most shooter friendly longbows available. They get "on target" quickly are very comfortable in the hand and are absolutely as smooth as fresh churned butter.
'Course some folks are gonna ask "What's fresh churned butter?" That's too bad. Because if they don't know what fresh churned butter is, they don't know how smooth James' bows shoot. :D
Danny im gonna send you my cleaners bill after I just spit my coffe all over lol
:laughing:
Brian, you got my address...... :laughing:
BTW - Nice score on that Viper!!!
Brian great looking bows. Which bows do you plan on bringing the 25th?
Alex, I plan on bringing the Viper the type in and my morning star flight you shoot. Also I will be giving you a call I got tied up with work sorry for the delay
No worries Brian I can't wait to see the Viper. My wife's new bow should be here today so we plan on shooting all weekend.
Alex, I plan on bringing the Viper the type in and my morning star flight you shoot. Also I will be giving you a call I got tied up with work sorry for the delay
SO Brian, I know its almost impossible to do, but which Berry do you like the best? My Tiapan should be done in a few months - can hardly wait!
I think Brian's favorite Berry is his Taipan. That said, he should just donate the Argos he has on order to one of his Texas friends!
QuoteOriginally posted by Green:
I think Brian's favorite Berry is his Taipan. That said, he should just donate the Argos he has on order to one of his Texas friends!
Oh by all means!! Hello Brian? You still have my address don't you???? :saywhat:
Yes Berry Bows seem to have a rather large following in our Lone Star State. I need to find some shoots here and get to meeting some other trad archers.
Touche Danny Touche
Texas Boys, not that hard to get Brain to GIVE the Argos to you guys, just put a little Bamboo in it! ....jSAME
James, friends don't let friends shoot bamboo
James....you're the only one that can do that. And I know you've forgotten Danny's address. Just send it to me and I'll see that he gets it. Eventually! :laughing:
DaveT - where do you live?
I dont even want the bamboo dustto touch my bow so James im gonna need to to clean up shop before you start mine
James texted me a pic of what he wrote on your bow Balentine. Something to the effect of "Bamboo Special". What I thought was cool was the 'boo veneers and handle overlays! :thumbsup:
Green, I got this new Epoxy in its called "BOO-GLUE"....MEAJS
Lol. .. I love bamboo
Green I live in Burkburnett. ..... near wichita falls
YOURE RIGHT BRAIN!! That bamboo(glue) you feel a buzz!....saemj
Your not suppose to sniff it James lok
So it's the bamboo glue that puts that nice solid THUMP in a bow that we're all looking for? That's what BRAIN really wants James. :biglaugh:
Brian...why don't you like bamboo ?
Its justa feel thing for me. Bamboo cored bows leave a buzz that elm, maple, walnut just dont leave (to me, others experience is different im sure) also I do t like the twangy or buzzy pitch I hear.Ilove how it feels drawing
I got shorted Brain, James sniffed all of the buzz out of my bow.
James has more of that special "buzzin" bamboo dust than ever BRAIN. Since you wanted him to sweep out his shop, he's put it all in a nice pile sitting under the spot on his shop wall where he puts the order slips for "special" people. :D
You'll see when you get the Argos cuz about 9 of us have been in contact with James since yesterday and even though it's YOUR bow order, well....
Where am I??, Think I name Brains bow BUZZard...MeAjA
Pavan,remmber I told you about that cotton tail I shot at and missed and he kicked the crap out of me, Well I think he is going to be waiting for me this coming Sunday morning, in the back yard as he is laying eggs, to do it agin. ..jsmea
Beautiful!
Wait till it lays its eggs first. Fried Easter eggs and bunny for dinner, good stuff. But how does a rabbit named Peter lay eggs?
http://youtu.be/nKH_SxODIjg
Is the Apollo the same bow as the Taipan with just more fancy wood?
Apollo riser 18", taipan 16" but I believe they come off the same form and yes fancier wood with apollo.
James - He ain't kicking. That bunny's just trying to give you some of those chocolate rabbits he's made up for everybody along with those bunny pellet jelly beans. Didn't ya' listen to the song pavan posted for ya'???
'Cept he done made up some special bamboo woofel dust laced chocolate bunnies for Brian. That way he can get that bamboo buzzin' outta his brian.....I mean brain.
:knothead:
Brian, afraid to let you try my 66" taipan, might not get it back, even tho it is boo core. James reworked my grip, absolutely happy!
Okay James, I might need the "DAM" core on my Taipan, which comes due when?
Brian, you have a beautiful collection of James's bows!
Rob
Thanks Rob. I am hooked on the Berrys for sure
Mike, you can mail it to me, the boo cores means it wont stay. The other name for bamboo is Brian repellant
Haha