Just received my new Bigfoot Stealth from Kirk at Bigfoot bows and would like to share it with all on pow wow. She is a one piece D/R longbow that braces to D. While she looks like a mild mannered longbow underneath she is power waiting to be unleashed, hence the stealth name, due to the bowyers skills extracting performance out of the design. She shoots a heavy arrow with authority and really zings a lighter arrow.
I contacted Kirk several months back with questions on a hill style bow, one thing led to another and after exchanging multiple emails the Stealth was born. She is 66" 53@29.5 and is as stable and buttery smooth as any bow I have drawn. She is every bit as smooth as my ACS ilf longbow limbs but with more verticle stability, no noodling here. Bocote riser, black glass back and bocote belly lams finished with a dull hunting friendly tone. No shiny bows for me in the woods. Deep locator grip, now has a leather grip.
Another special item built into the bow is an internal harmonic dampening system which also adds mass to the riser which works very well.
She is steady on loose and won't jar your teeth. Very quiet and vibration free. Accuracy is uncanny.
Here are some pics of the build as promised earlier this year, hope you enjoy. Kirk will be around to handle any techy questions.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0793.jpg) (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/kirkll/media/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0793.jpg.html) (http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0799.jpg) (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/kirkll/media/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0799.jpg.html) (http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0818.jpg) (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/kirkll/media/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0818.jpg.html) (http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0817.jpg) (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/kirkll/media/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0817.jpg.html) (http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0819.jpg) (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/kirkll/media/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0819.jpg.html)
WOW! Kirk did awesome on that one...as he always does. Congratulations on a very beautiful, first of its kind, custom.
Nice one Kirk!!
Beautiful bow!
Very nice! Tell us more about this "internal harmonic dampening system". Very interested to hear this.
"D" when strung? It may just be the angle, but it looks like the tips flip just a bit.
Hermon, good pickup, those pics are from Kirk while he was tuning the bow and it is at 7.25" brace, I have found I like the brace a little higher, 7.5-7.75 for tune depending on arrow being used and that flattens out the tips some by increasing preload. While they are not a 'hill' continues D they are now pretty much flat and no string contact on the belly. But owe so smooth to draw to anchor. Have not done a dfc yet but I would bet the gains per inch are not high near anchor.
Paul, I will let Kirk discuss the harmonic dampeners, but they are a great addition for adding mass and removing shock. Mass feels more like a 3 piece but has the good looks of a one piece. I think that adds to the accuracy I am seeing with her after only 2 shooting sessions. I am already needing to shoot different spots with a set of arrows to avoid damage, and that's a good thing.
Beautiful bow. Harmonic dampeners are another Great Idea from the master bowyer. This is especially true for that kind of bow although I bet that one is sweet with out. It looks like a great design for an awesome hunter.
God bless, Steve
Again a very nice bow.....
:thumbsup:
OK, Kirk! Tell us all about it! :goldtooth:
That bow sure looks great. I am also interested in the harmonic dampeners.
Hmmm sounds like a good indoor /3D bow for me. Keep up us updated on how you like it.
Purdy!
Wow! Kirk you did good brother! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Gery you got yourself a beauty. I bet it shoots as good, or better, than it looks. And it looks great! Congrats on the # OO1, first one off the form. After lots of testing and tweaking I'm sure knowing how meticulus Kirk is.
Charlie
Darn nice looking bow. Knowing Kirk it's a work of art. Congrats
I don't see any G10 in the riser. Is it built without it or is it hidden in the middle?
...that one perks my interest....
:help:
wow wow wow!
Beautiful bow.
Have you or will you use that out in the woods? Do tell us more about the performance.
Dang...just when ya think you have found "the one"...something like this comes along! Very interested to see how these develop as more come out. I am guessing this may well be Kirk's most popular model in time. Congrats on a gorgeous bow!!
Look forward to hearing more about this beauty of a bow ;)
Beautiful bow!
In the process of interviewing for two different very well paying jobs....... I hope one of them comes true so I can order Stealth #13 ..... My lucky number :)
Nice looking stick, Gery!
Bisch
very nice bow Gery :clapper:
Pete, no G-10 I beam, plenty of mass with the bocote and the harmonic dampeners.
Chops, all my bows are designed to hunt and plans are to use it this fall on whitetail. The pics posted are from Kirk before the final finish and she is MUCH less shiny now. Performance is very good, with both 10.3gpp and 11.1gpp. I will not post chrono numbers, been there done that, no good comes of it. Lets say it does not take a back seat to my ACS ILF longbow rig.
Thanks for the nice comments, I agree Kirk did good here.
QuoteOriginally posted by Hermon:
"D" when strung? It may just be the angle, but it looks like the tips flip just a bit.
You've got a good eye Hermon. The tips are flipped just a tad on this one....
BUT.... The "Stealth" as well as my "Flatliner" one piece design i also build to NFAA long bow specifications which ARE a true "D" shape with a shallow V cut shelf not to exceed center cut.
I do this by leaving out the tip wedge at lay up and putting it on the belly side of the limb after straightening it. Kind of a "Perry Reflex" design in the tip area.
I'll have one of those to look at closely in the near future. I have 5 more in various states of completion right now i'm getting ready for the NALS event on the 4th of July.
Good lookin stick!
Awesome :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by rbcorbitt:
:thumbsup:
OK, Kirk! Tell us all about it! :goldtooth:
Ok Bob......I take it you are referring to the "Harmonic Damping system"
This is something i've been working of for the last 6-8 months off and on for my take down bows. Most of my TD models are pretty dead in the hand as it is, but i've had some that were 100% Phenolic risers and others with G-10 I-beams that still had a slight harmonic buzz to them.... I've had several customers of mine that are very sensitive to any minute vibration at all, and so i came up with a solution.
I thought i would incorporate this system into the Stealth design to help offset the hand shock commonly associated with long bows with small risers.... There are tons of guys out there that really love the looks of the riser on the Hill style bows, but still want a bit higher performance and less hand shock...
Without going into great detail, I've used a combination of weights suspended in silicone & G-10 garolite in the grip. You can just see the G-10 inlay in belly of the grip in this photo....
It's nothing short of incredible the difference this system makes....
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Bows%202014/Gery%20Katilitch%20Stealth%2066/Leathercolors.jpg) (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/kirkll/media/Bows%202014/Gery%20Katilitch%20Stealth%2066/Leathercolors.jpg.html)
Cool stuff! :thumbsup:
absolute beauty. always fun to listen to a bowyer who is an innovator and is dedicated to tweaking the stick and string...
Kirk, that is one beautiful, graceful longbow.Are you coming to ETAR this year? I'd love to shoot one.
No i'm not going to make it out east this year. But I am going to have a display at the North American Long Bow Safari in Oregon on the 4th of July weekend.
Update on the Stealth, the accuracy I have with this bow is unmatched with anything else I have shot. What is happening at forty yards amazes me, groups like 20 yds used to be. I think the mass in riser and limb stability combine for an extremely forgiving bow. I may have finally found 'the one', of course I am waiting on Kirk to build my SS. I was really loving my new Taipan but this bow is really something, might be listing the Taipan soon.
More eye candy of some pretty bocote.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0815.jpg) (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/kirkll/media/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0815.jpg.html) (http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0814.jpg) (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/kirkll/media/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0814.jpg.html) (http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0820.jpg) (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/kirkll/media/Bows%202014/Big%20Foot%20Stealth/IMAG0820.jpg.html)
Gery,
If you don't quit posting this kinda stuff, you're gonna make folks go in debt! Lol......
You got yourself a winner all the way around brother. Congrats!
Charlie :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thanks Charlie, hope your liking the bigfoot hybrid, she is a great bow also with some very nice bocote.
That ole boy, Kirk, does find some pretty intense bocote, doesn't he?
then he must whip it a lot to make it well mannered.
Even with some neck challenges and stuff of late, not shooting for many months...it did a nice job this weekend even in MY hands! I love that danged thing!
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm292/DavidLandis/Big%20foot/SANY0049.jpg) (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/DavidLandis/media/Big%20foot/SANY0049.jpg.html)
Doc,
That is a beauty you have too brother! Katman, I am loving the hybrid. That thing shoots like a rocket! I like it so much I just bought another one. Little lighter weight, but with carbon backing, and bamboo cores. I'm anxious to see how she behaves. I think she's gonna be hot!
Charlie
I don't think I ever heard any Bigfoot owner saying their bow had to take a back seat to anyone shooting... his bows harness all the energy stored... and put it where it belongs...into the arrow! I had to go up in spine although I dropped in draw weight on mine! :knothead: :eek:
And, yeah, Charlie, I at least think that is a very handsome bow he made me with the Waterfall Bubinga I-beam combined with the Bocote...
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm292/DavidLandis/Snakefight.jpg) (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/DavidLandis/media/Snakefight.jpg.html)
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm292/DavidLandis/Big%20foot/SANY0014.jpg) (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/DavidLandis/media/Big%20foot/SANY0014.jpg.html)
But looks don't mean squat if it doesn't perform!
I paid for performance, and got that and a fine looking bow to boot!
Sorry i neglected getting some photos posted for you Katman..
Here's a couple with the leather grip...I took a leather cleaning brush and roughed this one up for more texture....
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Bows%202014/Gery%20Katilitch%20Stealth%2066/SANY0036.jpg) (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/kirkll/media/Bows%202014/Gery%20Katilitch%20Stealth%2066/SANY0036.jpg.html)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Bows%202014/Gery%20Katilitch%20Stealth%2066/SANY0035.jpg) (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/kirkll/media/Bows%202014/Gery%20Katilitch%20Stealth%2066/SANY0035.jpg.html)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Bows%202014/Gery%20Katilitch%20Stealth%2066/SANY0034.jpg) (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/kirkll/media/Bows%202014/Gery%20Katilitch%20Stealth%2066/SANY0034.jpg.html)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Bows%202014/Gery%20Katilitch%20Stealth%2066/SANY0033.jpg) (http://s171.photobucket.com/user/kirkll/media/Bows%202014/Gery%20Katilitch%20Stealth%2066/SANY0033.jpg.html)
Thanks Kirk, the textured leather is very nice, soft on the hand but allows a non slip grip. Never cared for checkering, hurts my hand, but this yields a solid hold that's comfortable.
I was fortunate to get to shoot Gery's new Stealth and all I can say is if you have the means you need to order yours. WOW! Very smooth and feels really good in hand. I love the roughed grip too.
It looks even better in person. I may have to order one soon :bigsmyl: :clapper: :clapper: