Hey guys, I have a Toelke Chinook on the way to test drive. I originally inquired to Jared about the 58" Whip. I have really fell in love with a 58" r/d longbow. It just looks and feels right.
Jared said that @ 28" draw he thought a 58" whip felt too harsh for him. However, I am under the impression that these toelke guys think average grade butter isn't smooth enough. Do you think it would be too harsh for the average guy? Anyone shoot one? I shot a 58" cascade brush hawk that didn't seem harsh at all.
I'll check out this Chinook, but in the meantime I am wondering how that 58" whip would compare. And would it be really beneficial to bump it to 60"? And does a Chinook give up anything to a Whip?
Just kicking this stuff around. I am really liking what I see from Toelke.
The Cascade was a 56" bow. I would always follow what the bowyer recommends as they know what the bow was designed to do.
56 braced or amo? I meant amo.
AMO 53 1/2 strung
Snowplow,
I've been shooting a 58" Chinook for 5 years. Smooth, probably the quietest recurve I've ever owned. I know it is the absolute lightest recurve I've owned (not a takedown). Love the grip. I'm thinking about a Whip, but at 64". Dan said the Whip grip is slightly smaller than the Chinook grip.
Whoh that is way shorter than I remember. No wonder it seemed so little. That was the first bow that got me thinking longbow instead of recurve.
Thanks Terry! Does the bow seem forgiving?
I would go chinhook over the short whip. If you like the whip a 62" whip would serve you better in my opinion.
Anybody know how much length they drop when braced? 3"?
The Chinooks a very nice bow and super quiet.
Both of mine were 60".I dont think he is making the 60" anymore.
I had a 58" 1 PC. Toelke recurve.This one was the curve he made that was replaced with the chinook.It was a nice shooter.
I currantly shoot the Kestral at 52 inches and think its one of the best short bows I have ever owned.
I think the whip would be better in the longer length as well.
I draw about 29.5 and had a 60 inch whip.I preffered the longer ones that I have tried over the 60".
At 28 inches draw the 60 inch whip may be fine for you.
I have 58" take down whip that smokes an arrow and is whisper quiet.
I've never chronoed it, and I really don't care to, but its faster that my another similar longbow with same weight but its 62".
I've owned a bunch and I wouldn't go shorter then 62" with a 28" draw with a whip. 58" chinook will be good to at least 29", owned a couple of those two. The Toelkes seem to like short bows for a given draw length to eek out all the performance. It seems the folks happiest with Toelkes go one size longer then they usually recommend. Great bows all of them and some of the finest folks in the business!
I intended on buying a recurve, but have kind of fallen in love with the r/d as long as it isn't too long.
How do the Chinook and Whip feel different? Why would you pick one over the other?
Basically why would I shoot a Whip over a Chinook?The Whip seems more popular, yet recurves seem more popular in general and the Chinook seeems better on paper (shorter, faster, just as quiet, no handshock, longer draw/length)
I have a 58" R/D Whip but my draw is around 26 inches--for me it is absolutely smooth and a great shooter. I absolutely love this bow and continuously get comments about how quiet and fast it is. The bow is very light and petite and puts the arrows where I am looking when I do my part. I would listen to the Toelke's---they sure know what they are doing! They are great folks and are sincerely interested in doing all they can to fit their customers with the bow best suited to them.
I recently picked up a 62" whip classic and it is fast becoming one of my favorite bows. Definitely the quietest bow I own.
I have shot a 60" Whip with a hair over a 29" draw. Worked fine, but. I prefer 62" and 64". I've owned a couple dozen whips I bet.
For a 28" draw, I'd go 60"...should be around 58" tip to tip when strung
QuoteOriginally posted by Biathlonman:
I've owned a bunch and I wouldn't go shorter then 62" with a 28" draw with a whip. 58" chinook will be good to at least 29", owned a couple of those two. The Toelkes seem to like short bows for a given draw length to eek out all the performance. It seems the folks happiest with Toelkes go one size longer then they usually recommend. Great bows all of them and some of the finest folks in the business!
Hmmm, no offense Brad but I disagree. Dan's recommendations have always been spot on for me. If anything, he's tried to talk me into a longer bow.
Haha, you won't offend me! Of course I've never once regretted going longer when I've had the chance.
I have 2 58" takedown whips and love them. I dont have any experience with any other longbows to compare because that was what I switched too from a recurve. The 58" is sure nice in the woods and groundblinds. Dan is the man so you cant go wrong in my opinion with whatever you get. The man does some incredible work.
58" 65# @ 28
(http://i.imgur.com/A5suoTs.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/N0m5RiD.jpg)
58" 58# @ 28
(http://i.imgur.com/uqH7ij0.jpg)
I've got a 64" Whip HS and a 52" Kestrel from the Toelkes. The Whip is smoother, quieter, and just generally more forgiving than the Kestrel, it's a fantastic bow. I'm not saying that the Kestrel is none of those things, the Whip is just more so. The Kestrel is definitely faster. I'd bet the Chinook falls somewhere in the middle. I love my Kestrel but do kind of wish I had the Chinook instead.
With that being said, if it's a short R/D longbow you want, get on Gregg Coffey's AKA Javaman's waiting list ASAP. I just recently received a 56" Inferno from the classifieds and am blown away.
I think a 60" HS whip would serve you well @28"
it will open up a bit more than the 58". The 62" HS might just be perfect. Lower string angle than the 58" and plenty fast. Don't get hung up about the "on paper" specs with speed etc. Toelke bows are plenty quick AND quiet. A rare combination.
Biathlon', Scott', and TxAg tell it straight. Really man you just need to try that Chinook and maybe a Whip if you don't fall in love with the Chinook right off the bat. Either way I still feel your needs and desires based on all your other posts are best served by a Java', just my 2c. I love me some Toelke bows, my personal favorite model is the 64" SS recurve, but I'm gaga over my 2pc Java Man Elkheart. Love a Helms Deep too. For an X factor and another incredible shooter I also recommend a 58" Centaur if you wanna really taste some fine cookin'. LOL
I had a 58" take down and draw 27". It was silky smooth and my favorite bow I've owned to date.... I had a weak moment last year and sold it :banghead: I will say if I had the money and was ordering another bow itd be a 58" whip. I will say I bought my bow second hand and Dan was always still very helpful when I called him, I'd probably consider his advice if I were you and shoot the longer now for a while.
Best of luck to ya!
I'd really like a 58" centaur. I just don't know if l can handle my current bow for another 12 months!
"Either way I still feel your needs and desires based on all your other posts are best served by a Java', just my 2c"
I think you are driving yourself crazy, its time to decide and start shooting:)
My go to bows are a Javaman Elkheart and a Toelke Chinook. If I ever get rich I'll have Dan build me a custom T/D whip with a chinook grip on it. The Whip truly is an exceptional bow I just don't love the standard grip with no discernible palm swell.
I have a 64 inch Toelke Super Static bought from a fellow lwaller here. All I can say is amazing! The bow is so smooth fast and just performs great. I am wondering if another Toelke will perform as well as it because I really love the Toelke's grip and overal craftmanship. I have a 28 inch draw and the 64 performs super, the short bows sound interesting though.
My wife had a 58" Whip for her first bow; she was drawing a little less than 27". Very sweet bow. After a couple of years, her draw increased to 28", and the bow didn't behave so well. I draw around 27.5", and found it was not very forgiving at that draw.
Well she loved the bow, and accepted she needed to replace it with another Toelke. Talked to Dan and Jared, and she ended up with another Whip, but 62". Definitely shoots better for her (and me, when I try it now and then). I'd go 62" or 64", as other folks are saying.
Never shot a Chinook, but talked with Dan about one, he told me a 58" Chinook would be about like a 64" Whip.
Both the whip & chinook are fine bows. Both are quick & quiet. I shoot the chinook currently simply because it will handle my 29" draw length in a shorter bow. I understand you wanting the whip and I keep a longbow around too but don't try to make a square peg fit a round hole. If short is your primary desire then the chinook is the better choice. There are lots of other options out there for a short "longbow" but I'd listen to the Toelke's when it comes to the whip.
In short, if you can get past the chinook being a recurve, and not a longbow, it is a fine hunting tool and will serve you well.
Snowplow, if you really want to order something I will let you borrow one of my bows to hold you over.
By the way I think there is a trad shoot Oct 4,5th down in Enumclaw at Cedar River Bowmen.
Jedimaster is a wise one who speaks. I have a Chinook that will be here in a couple months thats 58" and around 40@28, I draw 29 as well. Hope I can break it in right before Jan 31
Hey Biathlonman, how are the toelke grips different? I was under the impression that Toelke's leather covered grip was slightly different from the non covered grip, buf that both were offered on the Chinook and Whip. Basically both had the same 2 grip options?
QuoteOriginally posted by cch:
Snowplow, if you really want to order something I will let you borrow one of my bows to hold you over.
That's the most generous offer ever. I could never take you up on it; its asking too much. But hats off again, your a class act Chris!
U have a 58" Whip and a 28" draw. I like shorter bows for shooting from low ground blinds and treestands. I don't own a longer longbow so take my opinion for what it is worth. I love the whip. Faster than my same weight recurve (based on fletching sound). It is more finicky than the heavier takedown riser, but when I shoot it regularly it is a tack driver. I have never found it to pinch my fingers or stack.
Chinooks have just a touch more palm swell then whips across the full spectrum of normal and classic.
QuoteOriginally posted by snowplow:
Hey Biathlonman, how are the toelke grips different? I was under the impression that Toelke's leather covered grip was slightly different from the non covered grip, buf that both were offered on the Chinook and Whip. Basically both had the same 2 grip options?
Correct, the non wrapped grip has the thumb locator feature where as the wrapped version does not. Also, as his recurves are much wider than the whips, the grips on the recurces are a little beefier.
Here's a Kestrel and Whip made with the same hand tracing for comparison.
(http://i.imgur.com/oRXDgMa.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/SZCjNkO.jpg)