OK Gang...List me your top 5 R/D Longbows...makes & models. If you feel like it, then explain your pics. Can't wait to read the responses .... Tradcat
In three pieces -- A&H ACS and Morrison Shawnee
In one-piece, Robertson, Liberty and Great Northern
1) Toelke Classic Whip - Just bias I guess. Never shot ANY Toelke I didn't like.
2) Thunderstick Mag - The grip fits me and is VERY reasonable priced. Don't like his takedown system
3) Centaur - The ones I've shot were very fast and pretty quiet
4) ???
5) ???
1. Tsunami. Best longbow I've ever shot.
2. Omega. For the money it can't be beat.
3. Stewart. Most of my friends love them.
I have a Fox Royal Crown that I like as well as any bow I have ever held in my hands.
Black Widow PL series
Cari-bow Silver Fox
Toelke Lynx
I hate doing this because there are so many great bowyers/ bow choices out there, but I go for bows that feature impeccable fit/finish and excellent performance in all categories. It's the bowyers who are super guys and the magic makers and who really make or break my 'brand loyalty' LOL. I don't want to rank them so will just list them:
Stewart, Centaur, Java Man, Cari-bow, Toelke.
Five really isnt enough. The Habu Vyperkahn is incredible. I'd like to fit Big Jim in there too! And there are other great picks like Fox (another personal fav), Holm-made, Dryad, Schafer, Zipper, A&H etc etc. We live in a golden age of traditional archery.
But the 5 I listed are my all-time favs so far and are the 'total package'.
Going by nieworlds9's initial words.... add Big Jim's Buffalo R/D long bow (Big Jim's Bow Company) in there.
Super guy! Superior workmanship!!! Seamless connections. Outstanding finish.
:D
QuoteOriginally posted by David Bartholomew:
Going by nieworlds9's initial words.... add Big Jim's Buffalo R/D long bow (Big Jim's Bow Company) in there.
Super guy! Superior workmanship!!! Seamless connections. Outstanding finish.
:D
DOH! You reminded me, haha, LOVE Big Jim's Thunderchildren!!
1) Deathwish
2) Mowhawk Sparrowhawk
3) Mowhawk Original
4) Dwyer Dauntless
5) Dwyer Defiant
1) Stewart Multicam T/D Longbow (Bill Stewart)
2) Crow Creek Black Feather
3) Stewart Slammer
4) Crow Creek Black Feather
5) Crow Creek Black Feather
Bill
Widow PL for rock solid consistency,and bombproof building design. Toby grip is simple,and outstanding. Can be a beautiful bow,just costs a lot more than need be for options.
A&H for flat shooting,speed,zero handshock,and quietness. The Widows I've had all made more noise than my A&H's.
Centaur for good looks,good speed,and craftsmanship. Jims a very talented bowyer,and his work is very pleasing to the eye. I shoot my Centaurs good one day...Not so good the next day. It's just been that way for me.
McCullough Griffin for a great grip,great craftsmanship,and quiet consistency. Just a bit light in hand. But he does make this beauty in a 64" which I wish Centaur,and the Shrew did. Regardless of limb design vs. draw length chart info. Longer is better,more is more.
Morrison Dakota. Wish Bob still made these things. You could get them up to a 64"er,and they were fast,and dead in hand. A little twanky if you shoot foam limbs,but a very good all around,well made bow. rat'
JD Berry Taipan
Sarrels Blueridge
.
.
.
Jon
JD Berry Serpentine
JD Berry Taipan (shot one now waiting for mine)
Thunderhorn 3 piece
Old Brakenbury
that's why I still have them.
Robertson
JK Traditions Kanati.
In no particular order
1)56" Big Jim TC
2)56" Thunder Stick Mag
3)56" Shrew CH
4)56" Java Man Elkheart
5)58" Leon Stewart
All are awesome shooters :archer2:
My go to bow for hunting has been my Thunder Stick Mag , but I'll be trying my Elkheart this year.
1pc R/D Longbow- Liberty Contender
1pc R/D Flatbow - Yellowstone Renegade & NM Huron
3pc R/D Longbow - Firefly
1, Black Widow PLX, 2, Holm-Made Osprey, 3, Holm-Made Goshawk, 4, Mohawk, 5, Big River.....that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!
Big River - currently own 2 and ordered another yesterday.
Thunderhorns are great also.
Rat...that was a great explanation my friend! I would say my new Bloodbrother by Bestfriend Longbows- smooth, quiet, and looks and feels great! Then Thunderstick Mag- quick and accurate, smooth draw. Then Morrison Dakota- also quick and very quiet.
Sarrels Blueridge long riser is my #1 longbow. I would have to say that the Stalker Custom Tracker would be my second place longbow.
Bisch
Though I haven't tried them all YET, I am going with Sarells Sierra. It's been my one keeper for over 5 years now.
Sasquatch, Fox, Eagle-Wing, Habu, and Robertson are the best I have shot.
However, That does not mean that they are the best. There are a bunch of really talented people out there making some real fine bows. Some real under-rated ones.
God bless, Steve
1-Centaur
2-Morrison Shawnee
3-Morrison Dakota
4-Kanati
David
Toelke Lynx
(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy25/longbowfanatic_1234/IMG_0428_zpsd7e75c3c.jpg)[/URL[URL=http://s774.photobucket.com/user/longbowfanatic_1234/media/IMG_0429_zps596a1945.jpg.html] (http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy25/longbowfanatic_1234/IMG_0429_zps596a1945.jpg) (http://s774.photobucket.com/user/longbowfanatic_1234/media/IMG_0428_zpsd7e75c3c.jpg.html) (http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy25/longbowfanatic_1234/Mobile%20Uploads/28A13DDF-2B9C-4D3A-A8C9-DEB78812647D_zpstfbcfvpd.jpg) (http://s774.photobucket.com/user/longbowfanatic_1234/media/Mobile%20Uploads/28A13DDF-2B9C-4D3A-A8C9-DEB78812647D_zpstfbcfvpd.jpg.h%E2%84%A2l)
Stewart 3 PC Slammer longbow
(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy25/longbowfanatic_1234/Mobile%20Uploads/BB6B6F55-FDED-45BD-9DA2-023D63E528F5_zpsdes6uwdu.jpg)[/URL[URL=http://s774.photobucket.com/user/longbowfanatic_1234/media/Mobile%20Uploads/5D538471-CBAC-42C8-A14B-CDB2C5F9F64E_zpskajnsguj.jpg.html] (http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy25/longbowfanatic_1234/Mobile%20Uploads/5D538471-CBAC-42C8-A14B-CDB2C5F9F64E_zpskajnsguj.jpg) (http://s774.photobucket.com/user/longbowfanatic_1234/media/Mobile%20Uploads/BB6B6F55-FDED-45BD-9DA2-023D63E528F5_zpsdes6uwdu.jpg.html)
Stewart LS longbow (http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy25/longbowfanatic_1234/Mobile%20Uploads/FC1F6979-DB07-45B7-A0A9-6D01DE382ABF_zpsfxpgwopi.jpg)[/URL[URL=http://s774.photobucket.com/user/longbowfanatic_1234/media/Mobile%20Uploads/B2268E28-C3CF-411E-BCC2-39BA1480F91D_zpsxwxmv3cf.jpg.html] (http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy25/longbowfanatic_1234/Mobile%20Uploads/B2268E28-C3CF-411E-BCC2-39BA1480F91D_zpsxwxmv3cf.jpg)[/URL[URL=http://s774.photobucket.com/user/longbowfanatic_1234/media/Mobile%20Uploads/021D43F4-C3E9-4F3D-9595-4C4298198DEB_zps9swr7vx4.jpg.html] (http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy25/longbowfanatic_1234/Mobile%20Uploads/021D43F4-C3E9-4F3D-9595-4C4298198DEB_zps9swr7vx4.jpg)[/URL[URL=http://s774.photobucket.com/user/longbowfanatic_1234/media/Mobile%20Uploads/69C51766-5956-4D94-809A-0518EDD27DF7_zpsia4lzhwn.jpg.html] (http://s774.photobucket.com/user/longbowfanatic_1234/media/Mobile%20Uploads/FC1F6979-DB07-45B7-A0A9-6D01DE382ABF_zpsfxpgwopi.jpg.html)
I really, really like my Centaur (triple carbon)
For a glass bow, I like Toelke Whips an awful lot.
I thought about it some more and honestly, if I could only pick one of THREE to live with me on a desert island it would be either a Centaur, Stewart, or Java Man. Blond, brunette, or redhead, LOL. Having to pick 5 just screws it up for me LOL. Then you gotta start thinking Euro? American? Tall? Short? LOL.
Well, I've not tried them all, but have tried a bunch. From the R/D longbows I've shot I'd rank them as.
1. Thunderstick MOAB
2. Stewart Slammer
3. Silvertip 3 pc.
4. ABS QN2
5. Centaur
MOAB
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/MOAB53_zps52eccf4a.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/MOAB53_zps52eccf4a.jpg.html)
Another MOAB
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/MOAB54group_zps50676611.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/MOAB54group_zps50676611.jpg.html)
MOAB on stand after Sika Deer
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Chincoteague%202013%20Bowhunt/LastStand_zpsd6b32d47.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Chincoteague%202013%20Bowhunt/LastStand_zpsd6b32d47.jpg.html)
Another on of my MOAB waiting on a Sika
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Chincoteague%202013%20Bowhunt/MOABonstand_zps6d32621d.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Chincoteague%202013%20Bowhunt/MOABonstand_zps6d32621d.jpg.html)
I should also add Thunderhorn Heartstopper 3PC, though I've never owned one.
I cant rank them from 1-5 as I love them all equally
Javaman Elkhart
Shrew samurai
Big Jim Thunder Child
Centura glass
Blackwidow plx
#1 for " pick it up and hit the spot" first shot, O L Adcock, 3 piece
#2 my Wes Wallace Royal, smooth and forgiving. Has more cast than some of my recurves at same weight.
#3 a 3piece made by Kevin Gurloc, goes by " cupcake" here on Tradgang.
#4 Black Widow, had the opportunity to shoot 4 different ones at their clinic. Smooth, good cast and easy to tune to carbons.
#5 Timberghost 3piece that was a pass around bow. It shot well for me. Well made, nice finish but not my style riser.
I have owned and shot others that are highly acclaimed and have had mixed results. As you can see not all my favs are "super bows"
I hope our bow makers that visit here do not put me on their "blacklist".
In no particular order...
1. Javaman Elkheart
2. Toelke Whip
3. Centaur Glass (I've got no use for carbon, to damn loud)
4. Treadway Black Forest
5. McCullough Griffin
Habu
Eagle wing
Zipper elkmaster
Hill country bobcat
Schafer
No specific order
Dan Toelke Whip
Jim Neaves Centaur
Gregg Coffey Javaman
John McCullough Griffin/Tsunami
Herb Meland Pronghorn
1. Heartland longbow (a sleeper, but one of the best R/D bows I have shot).
2. McCullough Tsunami
3. Big River 21st Century
I haven't shot as many as a lot of you guys. For me:
3-piece Morrison Shawnee
1-piece Morrison Dakota
QuoteOriginally posted by riverrat 2:
......Morrison Dakota. Wish Bob still made these things. You could get them up to a 64"er,and they were fast,and dead in hand. A little twanky if you shoot foam limbs,but a very good all around,well made bow. rat'
Rat, take a look at Bob's ordering page. The Dakota is right there. It's just not obvious until you go to the order form.
homebru
Striker STDL
1 pc would be mike treadway Black Forest
3 pc would be Jim Jones firefly
I prefer the mild D/R and have owned many in that category. My top five in no particular order:
Robertson Mystical/Purist
Great Northern Critter Gitter
Toelke Whip Classic
Liberty Contender
Okaw Osage Royale or Illini
All of these are very quiet to silent and shootable with no bad habits. The Toelke has the most reflex and is probably the quickest. The others all brace to a nice D shape. I've had a couple Contenders and it is a very underrated bow.
No specific order
Timberghost
A&H ACS
Javaman
Centaur
Eaglewing
All are very quiet, FAST, very shootable and accurate bows!!
Robertson
Northern Mist Superior
Super Shrew
Java Man Falcon
Pronghorn
In order:
1. Habu VyperKahn
2. Black Widow PL
3. Alaska Bowhunting Qarbon Nano
4. Morrison Dakota
I ranked them in order of pure forgiveness and shootability with the Habu being by far in front for me; but for sheer availability the Widow PL T/D is the best longbow I've shot otherwise and it's what I hunt with. It's smooth, extremely quiet, quick, forgiving, and accurate. Plus the Toby grip with a beaver tail wrap is money.
Homebru,thanks for the info. I called down to Bob's shop and Barb Morrison told me that Bob isn't making the Dakota right now. He is thinking about starting to build them again,and just is not sure if there is enough demand for the bow vs. shop space and time. Fingers crossed that in the future he decides yes. I would have a 64" 2-piece Copperheaded/Sheephorned beauty as soon as I could. Really,really nice longbow those are. rat' :archer2:
QuoteOriginally posted by riverrat 2:
Homebru,thanks for the info. I called down to Bob's shop and Barb Morrison told me that Bob isn't making the Dakota right now. He is thinking about starting to build them again,and just is not sure if there is enough demand for the bow vs. shop space and time. Fingers crossed that in the future he decides yes. I would have a 64" 2-piece Copperheaded/Sheephorned beauty as soon as I could. Really,really nice longbow those are. rat' :archer2:
I would enjoy another Dakota.
homebru
I've only owned one that I didn't build myself and it is a Legend by Jim Johnson of Missouri. I gave it to my son because my old shoulders can no longer shoot 57# all day for fun. It is fast and quiet for a 66" longbow. It has osage limbs with a carbon core. Pretty unusual to have carbon in a 20 year old bow.
Five no order all great shooters
Voodoo Elk Riser
Caribow Silver Fox
Arner
Habu
Southern Draw
No particular order....
Centaur
Javaman Elkheart
Kanati
Caribow Wolverine
ACS
1. Bigfoot Sasquatch 3pcs longbow
2. Centaur triple carbon
3.Timberghost 3pcs longbow
4.Morrison Shawnee
5. Morrison Dakota
I really love my TimberGhost Smoke. The more I shoot it, the more I love it. There are a few more that I'd like to try, for craps & cackles, but I don't really NEED any other bows now.
PL Widow
Big Jim Buffalo Bow
A&H ACS
Centaur
Morrison Shawnee
Had to leave out a few others which have been memorable, like Thunderstick Mag, WHC Kestrel, Thunderchild, Morrison ILF......
Carribow, Mike Miller "Crooked Stick", Mike Treadway "Black Swamp", and not necessarily in that order, they are all three fine bows.
There are a lot of Good ones out there, but I'm partial to those made in Montana. In no particular order:
Schafer
Tolke
Robertson
Thunderhorn
Cache Creek Sphinx (Built by me)
Mike Treadway longbows, Shrew, and one not mentioned: Dean Hogue Super Cobra Jet (close to a Black Widow PL).
QuoteOriginally posted by riverrat 2:
Homebru,thanks for the info. I called down to Bob's shop and Barb Morrison told me that Bob isn't making the Dakota right now. .....
Looks like Bob got a new offering on his website!!!
homebru
Well, I've had a few...
1-piece/2-piece:
Thunderstick MOAB (my all time favorite LB!)
Big Jim Thunderchild
Centaur Triple Carbon
Morrison Dakota/Cougar
Shrew CH
3-piece:
Morrison Shawnee
Timberghost
A&H'S ACS-CX
Habu VK
Pronghorn
As of now, the only LB I own is a MOAB... Shooting my recurves most of the time...
3-piece is definitely 1/2 of my RER LXR. It's fast quiet and matches my XR limbs.
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm312/bladepeek/Archery/RER%20LXR/Heelcap.jpg) (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/bladepeek/media/Archery/RER%20LXR/Heelcap.jpg.html)
1-piece left hand is my Treadway Black Swamp. Most beautiful finish I've ever seen on a bow and probably just as fast and even quieter than my RER.
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm312/bladepeek/Archery/Treadway%20Black%20Swamp/DSC_0007.jpg) (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/bladepeek/media/Archery/Treadway%20Black%20Swamp/DSC_0007.jpg.html)
1-piece right hand - my Lost Creek Judge. The only bow I kept when I switched to lefty.
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm312/bladepeek/Archery/Lost%20Creek%20Judge/newLostCreekfulllngthlft.jpg) (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/bladepeek/media/Archery/Lost%20Creek%20Judge/newLostCreekfulllngthlft.jpg.html)
1. Black Widow PLx
2. Tomahawk Diamond series SS
3. Tomahawk Legacy Series
I'll cast another vote for the Habu Viperkahn.
I just got a Hoots and it's definitely in the top 5 too.
I have a Dryad that started out as a blank that I paid 150 bucks for used and I would put it up against any d/r longbow out there...fast and quiet is all ya need
DDave
One piece R/D LB made by G.W. Flanagan of Marietta, OK.
One piece R/D LB (Longhorn) by Jeff Massey. Jeff is no longer making bows.
3 Piece TD R/D LB made by G. W. Flanagan of
Marietta, OK
2 piece TD R/D LB(Longhorn) by Jeff Massey. See above.
1. Northern Mist Superior
2. BW PLX
3. Toelke Whip
Fred Anderson Skookum
Fred Anderson Hyak
Big River 21st Century style
Lone Wolf Autumn Storm
Massey Longhorn
I've only owned two so I guess they're my faves lol:
Northern mist superior
Martin savannah
On the list for the future is thunderstick mag
I saw this post and had to look, I guess all the Maddog longbow shooters are all too busy out hunting or winning tournaments to take the time to post anything. (that's the only logical explanation I can think of.)
Dave Ricke Bows
Any of the Dwyers
RER
Maddog
Only have two, but have test drove many. MOAB and Big River 21st Century style. Morrison and Massie came close. Looking hard at David Oakes Hill Country.