Trad Gang

Today I was finally able to test Allen Boice's (Liberty Bows) new Prototype deep cored/narrow limbed American Semi-Longbow based on his current English model.

  First a little background -  While spending some time with Allen at the Rancho Neblina Shoot this year, he told me he was toying with the idea of building a new bow model based on his interpretation of the Hill Style ASL. As luck would have it, the next morning Allen was able to borrow a Howard Hill longbow (a Tembo, I think) from Art Grabowski for part of the course to get some ideas. That opportunity worked out great for Allen, Art and ME. Art ended up shooting Allen's personal "All-Tonkin" English longbow for that stretch of the course and ended up taking it home, Allen recuperated some gas money for his trip back home to Oregon and it was good for me, because I also WANTED that English BAD and my Wife would have nailed my hide to our barn if I had bought it.

  Fast forward a few weeks and I received a call from Allen. He told me he had a new Prototype ASL inspired longbow built up based off of his English model/form. He asked if I would test drive it and give him some feedback. He also wanted me to start a "PASS AROUND" here on TradGang after I was finished shooting it. I hemmed and hawed a bit (I think right about .00000043 seconds) and hesitantly agreed to the very generous offer. A few days later, the Prototype was in my hands. As what normally happens, life kept getting in the way of a good solid day of shooting.... until today!  So, I broke out the new Prototype and shot it side by side with my  Contender and my Northern Mist Shelton, built by Steve Turay.

  All shooting was done at 15yds with factory strings braced at my fistmele (7"). Arrows were  31" Easton 2016's with 145gr up front.   Here are the specs for each bow...

Liberty Prototype - 68" All Tonkin Cane Boo with Myrtle Riser #46@28"
Liberty Contender - 66" All Yew with single Bocote veneer on back and Bocote Riser #50@28"
NM Shelton - 68" All Elm with Stabilized Yew Riser and Gambel Oak overlays #46@30"

The Bows...
       (http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/StumpBuster/IMG_0195_zpsa9157ce0.jpg) (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/StumpBuster/media/IMG_0195_zpsa9157ce0.jpg.html)
       (http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/StumpBuster/IMG_0175_zpsec666316.jpg) (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/StumpBuster/media/IMG_0175_zpsec666316.jpg.html)
       (http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/StumpBuster/IMG_0183_zps7adb1e9e.jpg) (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/StumpBuster/media/IMG_0183_zps7adb1e9e.jpg.html)
       (http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/StumpBuster/IMG_0182_zps123626f6.jpg) (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/StumpBuster/media/IMG_0182_zps123626f6.jpg.html)

Obviously, this IS NOT an "Apples to Apples" comparison, just a feeling and idea of how each of "THESE" bows feel in the hand when shot side by side. Specs, weights and materials may or may not have played a factor in how each of these bows shoot for "ME". What follows is a meat and potatoes review for brevity. Those of you who know how excited I can get about this stuff will appreciate my attempt at keeping it brief (and after proof reading this just now, I may have failed miserably at that goal).


Overall Fit and Finish

  What can I say, Allen and Steve aren't in high demand because they turn out poorly built bows. All three of these bows have excellent glue lines and a VERY NICE utilitarian finish (semi-gloss/mild matte). They all look great, but if I HAD to pick the bow that "bleeds" perfection, I'd have to give it to Allen's new Prototype. I think a large part of this is due to the fact that the clear glass on this bow looks absolutely "clear" over the very light colored Tonkin bamboo and I can't find a single streak or spot on this bow. The other two bows show an occasional subtle streak or a tiny air spot under the clear glass because the dark  color and knots in the veneers. As you can see in the pictures, the design of this prototype is not 100% Hill Style ASL, as it doesn't have the sweeps on the belly side of the riser and the riser is encased by the core woods, but again, this is Allen's take on the longbow featuring deep cores, narrow limbs and thin tips. Aesthetically, I prefer this "centered riser" look, but I also think making another test bow with the riser a little deeper front to back and placing all the core laminations on the back side of the riser might make the bow easier to identify as an ASL and could help make it more appealing to many of the "Hill Style" purists. I don't know what positive/negative impact those modifications would have on its shootability though.

       (http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/StumpBuster/IMG_0184_zpsc9058788.jpg) (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/StumpBuster/media/IMG_0184_zpsc9058788.jpg.html)

Mass Weight

  The lightest to heaviest mass weight for the bows was the Shelton, the Prototype and then the Contender. The Shelton and the prototype are both narrow handled bows and feather light in the hand. The Contender has a wider limb and riser profile and the Bocote riser is heavier and for me, gives the bow a little more stability after the shot.


Grip size, shape & material

  As mentioned above, the Shelton and the Prototype are narrower than the Contender with the contender having a more "round" oval feel as opposed to an "elongated" oval feel of the others. The Contender filled my hand better and its subtle locator grip was to me, the most comfortable while shooting. I have big hands, so the extra length and girth of the Contender handle "felt" better to me because its wider grip distributed the pressure over a larger surface area of my palm.. With that said, I think the narrower straight grip on the prototype maybe allowed my hand to "index" the grip better and was more consistently accurate for me shot to shot. Of the three bows, the Prototype has the thickest material in the overlays over the glass. This increased the front of the bow's handle depth-wise and was shaped in way that provided a more subconscious "point-ability" in the bow hand, since the front of the handle has a semi-narrow ridge under the laces (similar to a well designed knife handle that tells you exactly where the edge runs on the knife while holding it in complete darkness). The leather used on the Contender grip is my favorite of the three bows, it's a little thicker and has a tad more texture than the thin soft leather on the Prototype and the super smooth leather on the Shelton.

       (http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/StumpBuster/IMG_0176_zps9c603b79.jpg) (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/StumpBuster/media/IMG_0176_zps9c603b79.jpg.html)

Feel during the draw sequence

  The Contender to me had the most consistent "feel" during the draw, the Shelton was light early on and got progressively heavier (as all reports about these stringfollow designs have said in past reviews... it was nice to really feel the difference though while shooting these bows side by side) and the Prototype had a smooth draw all the way to the back of my anchor, then I could feel it start to hit a wall around 30 inches. I may be crazy, but I think this helped give me a cleaner release and more consistency with this bow over all the other ASL's I've shot in the past.


Perceived Sound

  All three bows shot quieter "Split Finger" than when shooting "3 Under". The surprise was that the Prototype didn't care if you shot it Split or 3U, the sound was about the same, that is, pretty durned quiet with a barely perceptible high pitched "ping".  As expected, the Shelton was the quietest out of the three bows when shot Split and the Contender was by far the loudest when shot 3U.


Feel at the shot

  The Shelton had the classic Hill Style "Thump" at the shot but was more subtle than straight limbed ASL's I've shot. The Prototype has the same subtle residual "ping" feeling in the handle at the shot as it did with the perceived string noise, but I can't over emphasize how little this was felt and how short it lasted (I was really paying attention to this for comparison sake and I probably wouldn't have picked it up had I not been shooting these bows side by side. The Contender, well the Contender was... DEAD IN THE HAND!!!  I think this had to do with three things, The Reflex built into this design, the heavier draw weight and the heavier "mass" weight of the larger riser. Just wanted to add a thought about Limb tips vs. Wedges... Allen told me he narrowed out the tips quite a bit more on this prototype compared to his current English model, but the overlays are pretty tall. I'm wondering how much effect removing of the overlays and just adding a couple of thin wedges would have on the perceived "Ping" sound and feel (actually, a simple string change could make a bigger change, but it's something I just thought about while typing this up).


Accuracy

  This one is a tough call and purely subjective. I was using the same arrows for all three bows and two of the three had straight narrow handles vs. a wide roundish oval mild locator grip on the Contender. That said, ALL three of these bows shot the 2016's nicely. The Contender was the most consistently accurate for me while shooting 3-Under, the Shelton preferred it when I shot Split and like the string noise observation above, the Prototype liked being shot either Split or 3U pretty evenly (I might have been a little more consistent 3U with the Proto, but I usually shoot that way, so no surprise there.)

Best combined group of the day (3 Arrows from each bow)...
       (http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/StumpBuster/IMG_0188_zps8c416710.jpg) (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/StumpBuster/media/IMG_0188_zps8c416710.jpg.html)

Final thoughts and overall best shooter for "Me"

  Allen's Contender for me, until now, has been the only longbow I can pick up and shoot reasonably and  consistently well. I WANT to shoot the ASL's like I can the Contenders I've shot/owned, but I haven't found one yet I can shoot the same way (most of them shooting good one day and bad another... and sometimes good and bad in the same day). The REALLY COOL thing about this new Prototype is that it shoots as quiet and as consistent for me whether shooting Split or 3U...I REALLY LIKE THAT VERSATILITY in one bow!!!  I have some ideas I'm going to share with Allen about the riser shape and size, but I don't want to post them here yet as Allen wants me to send this bow to another T-Gang member and then make it available for another one of his  "Pass Arounds" so he can get more feedback from other shooters (Like he did when he came up with his prototype for his "CLASSIC").  I think he has another winner here, and although it doesn't currently have the "lines" of a Hill Style ASL, I'd say his first trial with deep cores and narrow limbs is VERY VERY PROMISING!!!  I KNOW  I'll be back on Allen's list sometime next year and I'm hoping I didn't just unintentionally bump my wait to over a year. I may just have to combine the best things from both of these bows and order a 68" narrow limbed/deep cored Contender with a black leather covered straight grip and a centered Ebony riser with thin overlays (or wedges) sandwiched evenly between Yew and Tonkin Cane cores (4 lams- a strip of yew and boo on each side of the riser). Maybe if I REALLY beg, plead and (possibly cry a little), Allen will take pity on me and to try to squeeze a 70" bow out of his form...Talk about SMOOOOOOOTH.

Or

 I can just wait to see what other input you folks have and test drive the final version of this new bow!!!


Now for the "BESTEST" part of this post.... The PASS AROUND Plan...

  If you want to try this bow out, all you have to do is type "I'd like to try this bow too Please." in a post and the person who has the bow will contact you after they have had a chance to try it out to see if you still want to test drive the bow. If you can't test drive it due to family/work obligations, let the person who contacts you know so they can contact the next person on the list. Once you've had a chance to shoot the bow, it's your turn to contact the next person who typed "I'd like to try this bow too Please." and send it off to them (we pay to ship the bow to the next person). Please let Allen know who you shipped the bow to so he know's where it is going and who has it. I know we'd all like to hear more feedback and impressions on this forum, but if you don't feel like typing something up that's okay, I just ask you give Allen a call to thank him for the opportunity and give him your impressions over the phone. He's open to new ideas and wants to know what people think of this new venture, good or bad.

THANK YOU ALLEN for letting me try this new prototype out, I look forward to seeing/trying the final design!!!


Mike
      :archer2:

Add'l -

The next tester has already been selected by Allen and me, but go ahead post your interest in trying the bow out and the next tester will be in touch with you after he has a chance to test it out. (This bow is going on a trip!!!)

I also didn't post information above about the "cast" of the arrow because I didn't have a chronograph and the bow weights/styles were soo different. I can say this, the heavier the poundage, the sooner the arrow got to the target.

I hope to take a couple more pictures tomorrow of the limb tips. If there is anything else you want to see specifically, let me know and I'll try and snap a few pics before I mail the bow out on Monday.

Thanks Again!

Mike

A few more pics showing differences in riser size...
 (http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/StumpBuster/IMG_0179_zpsddfc62d8.jpg) (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/StumpBuster/media/IMG_0179_zpsddfc62d8.jpg.html)
 (http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/StumpBuster/IMG_0168_zpsa3a5dd44.jpg) (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/StumpBuster/media/IMG_0168_zpsa3a5dd44.jpg.html)
 (http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/StumpBuster/IMG_0171_zps20946b33.jpg) (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/StumpBuster/media/IMG_0171_zps20946b33.jpg.html)
 (http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/StumpBuster/IMG_0169_zpsf59ce964.jpg) (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/StumpBuster/media/IMG_0169_zpsf59ce964.jpg.html)

I'd like to try this bow too please!

Please add my name to the list.  

I'd like to try this bow too please!

Being it is based on the English form I take that it is a back set bow?

Great post buddy !

Can I ask what is ASL ?

A friend bought one of Allen's reflex deflex longbows at the Longbow Safari in Oregon.  I usually keep my opinions to myself when it comes to other people buying bows, but when I saw the instant improvement in my friend's shooting after trying Allen's bow, I knew that bow was an instant fit, and told him, "buy that bow!"

BTW, the Hill longbow that Allen borrowed at Rancho Neblina belongs to another of my friends. They actually swapped bows not just for a few practice shots, but for most if not all of one of the days in the tournament.  I wouldn't pick up a bow I hadn't shot before and walk into a tournament with it, but they both seemed to enjoy it.  As soon as my friend got home, he called Allen and ordered one of his D shaped longbows, which he is very happy with, and I think has weaned him away from his Hill, for the moment, anyway.

I bet the bow is a really nice shooter but the riser shape and layout stray to far from my idea of an ASL.. Not to say that my perception is correct, its just my opinion..

Herman - Yes Sir, it is backset. I'll take a pic of the bows unstrung.

LongStick64 - ASL = American Semi-Longbow

McDave - Yeah, your buddy shot with us on course "C" and for the life of me I couldn't remember his name (not sure if he is a member here or not) to include it, but I need to send him a "Thank You" card for keeping me out of hot water with the Missus. Good to hear he's still enjoying that bow.      :thumbsup:      

Pat B. - Yeah, it's a bit of a stray from the true "Hill" shape, but I spoke to Allen last night and he thought he could enlarge the riser depth some and place all the core lams up front without impacting the shootability too much. That might give it a closer "look" to the bows we more easily recognize as ASL's.

TradCat - Thanks, it was Fun! I think I got all the typos that I missed last night fixed this morning.    :eek:    

Pheonixarcher - You get it next after it flies across the country on Monday and after you're done, it's off to Herman.      :D

"I'd like to try this bow too Please

Allen let me shoot his String follow bow at Petaluma a while back and it was great.

Three more pics of the tips and the strung and un-strung profiles...

 (http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/StumpBuster/IMG_0209_zpsec69b8cf.jpg) (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/StumpBuster/media/IMG_0209_zpsec69b8cf.jpg.html)
 (http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/StumpBuster/IMG_0206_zpse7285625.jpg) (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/StumpBuster/media/IMG_0206_zpse7285625.jpg.html)
 (http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/StumpBuster/IMG_0213_zpse0359a22.jpg) (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/StumpBuster/media/IMG_0213_zpse0359a22.jpg.html)

Great! I'm looking forward to it. Thanks.

Outstanding write up!! You did a great job. It looks like Allen has set another good one up.

Is it "Hill" style, I'd say no, does it look like a great variation of an American-semi longbow..... Id say heck ya!  I bet it's a forgiving bow for sure

"I'd like to try this bow too Please."

Great write up!

well if there is room for one more I would love to try it . Thanks Drew

Okay Guys... The bow is en-route to Florida!

I had to shoot it again one more time by itself before packaging it up and I decided to play around with shooting styles.

When you get this bow to try out... SHOOT IT VERTICAL and let me know how that works for you.

It worked AWESOME for me AND I didn't notice the residual noise in the string. Shooting it "English" style with split fingers gave me some Super tight groups. It was crazy switching from 3U to Split and trying for point on. 50 yards was right on the money with 3U when I got a clean loose and I couldn't get back far enough for split. I was still shooting over the target frame at 65 yards so if I had to guess, I'd say my split finger Point On would be around 72-75 yards judging by the arrow drop.

I think Allen has an excellent grasp on limb design and I can't wait to see where he takes this new project!!!


Mike

I am a convinced Liberty shooter.  I urge others to take advantage of this generous offer.
Thanks to Allen and Stump Buster for sponsoring this offer

QuoteOriginally posted by Roadkill:
I am a convinced Liberty shooter.  I urge others to take advantage of this generous offer.
Thanks to Allen and Stump Buster for sponsoring this offer

Hey Roadkill... Thanks, but I can't take any credit for this, It's ALL Allen's doing. I was just lucky enough to be able to try it out first.

I'm sure as the reviews pop this thread back up, more people will add their names to the list. I spoke to Allen this afternoon and the wheels are already turning!   :thumbsup:

I'd like to give it a try please.....

If it is the 46 pound bow.

Thanks

Nalajr

I have a couple quick questions. Who has the bow before me? Should I expect an email with request for my address, or a pm here on Tradgang? Also, how am I to get my feedback to Allen, just post here, or call or email him? If it's the latter, where do I get his contact info? Thanks!

Pheonixarcher,

The member who is getting the bow next will contact you by PM or E-mail when he's finished testing the bow (maybe both). If you wouldn't mind posting your impressions on the bow here, I'm sure a bunch of us would like to hear them, but if you'd rather just contact Allen, you can call him at 541-698-7783. When you're finished trying the bow out, just hop on here and contact the next person who posted that they'd like to try it out after your first post.

Hope that helps clarify the process a bit. If you have any more questions at all, feel free to post them here or contact me and I'll be happy to help.


Nala...Yep it's the #46'er and you're on the list!   :thumbsup:  


Mike

love to try new bows

ttt

Quick Update:

The bow was MIA since it was shipped off to Florida on the 10th. It finally made it today, over a week late but safe and sound, so keep an eye out for another review in the next couple of weeks. Pheonix...you get it next with hopefully a LOT less stress on the shipper.

I don't drink, but this worry about a possible lost bow made me consider cracking open a bottle. Now I can relax this week and give Thanks AGAIN to Allen for the opportunity to try out and share this bow with other members.

All the Best,

Mike

Here's the narrative from Tradcat's review of the English prototype (Cut and pasted from his post with his permission)...

 " Hey everyone....This is a continuation of the thread that my buddy Stump Buster started. I'm the second person to review the Prototype English Longbow by Mr. Allen Boice of Liberty Bows. First of all, I want to say thank you to Allen for his willingness to let his potential customers "test drive" this awesome bow in exchange for some feedback in the "comment box". This bow was 68" and 46 lbs at 28". I have a shorter draw length, and during this demo, was shooting at around 42 lbs. The bow was extremely smooooth, due to the beautiful tonkin cane boo limbs. Absolutely ZERO hand shock ! The riser was a darker piece of myrtle that was gorgeous and complimented the lighter boo limbs. I'm not a big fan of straight grips but this one was without a doubt the best one I've ever experienced. The long fade outs in the riser made this bow extremely stable and a joy to shoot. I would highly recommend this bow to anyone as it performs exceptionally well. I will be sending the bow to another tradgang member for stop #3 this week... Stay tuned for the continued review of this fantastic prototype bow."  

Pheonixarcher, I believe Tradcat has already contacted you and the bow is probably en-route (hopefully it arrives waaaay faster than it made it to him).

Thanks for the review Tradcat and I look forward to hearing your impressions Pheonixarcher!

I'd like to try this bow too Please.  After the first of the year would be best; I'll be shooting leagues.  Thanks for the opportunity.

Im always open to trying a bow out. If there is room on the list I will give it a go.

Allen, is a great guy and makes a very nice longbow. Very nice review.

As I was on my way out the door for work today, the mail man pulled in. I didn't have much time, but I opened it up to have a peek. It arrived safe and sound, and she is pretty. Hopefully I'll get some time with her in the next few days.

I would love to try it out also. If it is ok to handle my 31" draw. Love to try new bows and will give an honest review.
Thank you for the opportunity,
Big Ed

Ed:

You're on the list, but it might be awhile.  This bow will be fine for your draw length, it should come in at around 53-54# at 31".

Allen

I received word that this bow will be headed my way soon.  Look forward to trying it out.  Come on Postman!

Even if it takes a while, I would love to try this bow if there is an availability.  Thank you Allen for your generosity.

Bill-

If you are still adding names to the list.
"I'd like to try this bow too Please."

Thanks

We'll get it to you guys asap. As soon as Hermon gets done with his test drive he'll send it on to the next Trad-Ganger.

Allen

Hey Allen,

  This thing is building steam!!! At this rate, you probably won't see the proto again until 2023.


  ;)

First of all, Merry Christmas to everyone. And secondly, I must apologize for not being a very good participant on this thread.

I shipped the bow to Glenn last week, and it should have been there Monday or Tuesday. I'm a little supprised that he hasn't checked in lately. Hopefully, it's not lost in transit again.

 :help:  

I must admit, that I am not the best person to review this bow, as I have very little experience with Hill style or ASL longbows. Perhaps that's the biggest reason for my procrastination. But, I'll do my best to convey the shooting experience with my limited knowledge and comparison.

The bow is very beautiful, with elegant lines. The subtle curves of the very mild d/r string up nicely to that traditional D shape that we all know and love. The limbs were surprisingly narrow, and drew back smoothly. I didn't feel any tight spots on the way back to my 27" draw. Normally, I draw right about 28", but I found myself instinctively putting a little more heel into the bow, and slightly bending my elbow. I normally shoot hybrid longbows, so this came as a bit of a supprise to me. After only a few shots with this bow, I learned quickly how it wanted to be held.

The bow is very stable, and accurate shooting was easily attainable, even for someone such as myself with little experience shooting these type of bows. The size of the grip, fills the hand nicely.  But I must say, I'm not a fan of a perfectly straight grip, like this bow has. I think if it had a dished or locator grip, that I would have seen even better consistancy.

The bow, as expected, was very quiet, and most definitely had considerably less hand shock than other bows that I've shot in this category. I attribute this to the centrally located riser, sandwiched within the lams, and the slight amount of d/r. After shooting this bow, it has renewed my interest in Hill/ASL style longbows.

In short, I was very pleased with this bow. I found the cast to be better than expected. It was quiet. And smooth, comparitvely speaking. It has a beauty that only this type of bow can exhibit. It easily put the arrows where I wanted, and it was fun to shoot! Thank you Allen for this great opportunity. I relally appreciate all the bowyer's who enable us bow-a-holics. Lol. Thanks again, and have fun to all who get to shoot this great bow.

love to try it.   :archer2:

Don't know that it is lost, but it went to Wichita, Kansas according to the tracking.  Packages that I have tracked before don't normally go there.  Probably due to all the holiday packages I'm hoping.  Will check in when it arrives.

The mailman tried to deliver while we were at a family Christmas gathering yesterday.  Will go pick it up Monday.  Will post more in a couple days.

Picked up the bow at the post office over my lunch hour today.  Even had time to shoot it a dozen times or so.  I like it so far. Will give more feedback in a couple days.

Well, came home grabbed some 1535's and went to the basement to shoot the Liberty English some........

 (http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc452/ghermon/Mobile%20Uploads/20141229_185521.jpg) (http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/ghermon/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141229_185521.jpg.html)

This thing can shoot!

...

I guess you shot it ok!

Great shooting Glenn! I see it's pretty easy to get along with for you too.

Ok, I have had a week to enjoy the Liberty English longbow.  This is the second bow made by Allen that I have had the pleasure of test driving.  Both bows showed great craftsmanship.  There is nothing that I could add to this point that hasn't already been stated by Michael.

This bow is a lot of fun to shoot. It is very smooth on the draw, and stable before and after the shot.  It is very easy to stay on target and follow through with this bow.  It also seems to be very spine tolerant.  I shot 1535's, 1916's, 1918's, 3555's, 2018's, 55-60 and 60-65 spine woodies from it.  The lighter spine arrows flew the best, but all flew acceptably.  And this from a 46# bow.

Speed is not a large concern of mine, but I did run it over the chronograph against a couple of 46-47# bows that I have.  It gave virtually the same readings as those bows with the same arrows.
This bows design (again, to ME) isn't to be the fastest bow out there, but to be stable.  And it does that very well.  I only have had the bow for a week and shot it mostly in the basement due to it being dark by the time I get home during the week, and the lousy weather we had this weekend. But in that short time I did shoot two Robin Hood's.  One of them was even with two different types of arrows (1918 into a 1535).

The limbs on this bow are narrower that the limbs on the Classic if my memory is correct.  I measure these limbs at just under and inch at the fades and just under a half inch at the tips.  I really liked how they shot.

The grip is more oval shaped that the Classic I tried.  To me, this is a better feeling grip, very repeatable for me.  The narrower grip seems to index better for me than the rounder grip.

As to the riser.  While some may not like the mid riser design, I think it is really good. Makes the bow more stable (to me) than a conventional riser bow and looks better (to me) than a forward riser bow.  

I will be sending the bow on to Traxx this week for him to try out.  

I want to thank Allen for the opportunity to shoot this bow.

If there is still room on the list to try out the prototype ASL please count me in. If not that is OK. It is obvious I'm really late seeing this. It is really a cool idea for the pass around and I know first hand what a Liberty Bow is like! It is very exciting to see than Allen is considering making an ASL. That is about all I'm shooting right now.

Stump Buster, you may remember a certain "foxy" bow that is now in my possession and will be in use Sunday as the 3D season returns to central Texas!

Bluegoose:

You're not too late to give it a try, it just might be awhile before it gets to your place.

Allen

Im Excited to try this bow.

Sounds good Allen. Thank you!

If its not too late, I would definitely like to try it out.

Thank you.

Bill

Sounds good SactoBowman, your name is added to the list.

Allen

Well,
I only had time to put about 20 arrows through this bow tonight but man oh man,is this thing easy to shoot and as quiet a bow as ive ever shot.Without a chrono,it seemed to be performing as good or better than my D/R bow,of the same weight.

Oh yeah,

I opened it up,in the parking lot,of the post office,to make sure everything was ok and a guy saw it and had to come over and ask about it.Might have created a new archer.

Atta Boy Traxx!!!

Traxx showed up at the shop with this beauty!  Just so happens Rick and I both own English models from Allen.  So all three bows were inspected against each other. The first thing is the craftsmanship just jumps out--Boice perfection!  The next thing that amazed everyone was how quiet this bow is.  We shot a variety of bows and the bamboo beauty was the hands-down winner. The compounders in there probably never knew we were spinning shafts in the back.  It is lighter than my normal bow so it was just too pleasurable shooting.  I will let traxx run some more info.  My bottom line: keeper

Yeah,it is a keeper.

It is a very forgiving bow and extremely quiet.These are 2 qualities i like in a bow,especially in a real world hunting bow.Its plenty fast enough for me and it is light as a feather.Makes my 3 piece D/R bow feel like a boat anchor.LOL

I was shooting this bow back to 40 yards and it performed beautifully for me.Im not a machine and have less than consistent form.This bow tolerated me as good as any bow ive ever shot.It made me look better than i really am.LOL

If an archer likes any of these qualities in a bow,then you may want to consider this bow.

The bow is off to  Sacred mt in Flag.

It should be here by Saturday..some good reviews.

how big is the list right now if the try out is still happening?

I hope the bow made it there alright.

I just went through all the posts and I think think this list is right, but Allen might have to confirm...

STUMP BUSTER
TRADCAT
PHEONIXARCHER
HERMON
TRAXX  
SACRED MT
DREWSBOW
NALA
FLETCHER
SILENT SNIPER
BIG ED
MUD_SLIDE_SLIM
DRY CREEK
LONGBOW1953
BLUEGOOSE
SACTOBOWMAN
TAJUE17(?)(not sure if you wanted to be added or were just asking for the list)

***Names in Bold have already tried it out***  

If you guys see any mistakes, please let me know and I'll edit this list and make any corrections.

hope this helps a little and I'm really enjoying the replies and reports!


Stump

Looks right to me Mike, if everybody could try to limit their time with the bow to about a week it would be good for those down the list. I don't want to rush anybody though, just want everybody to get an opportunity to try it out before we all get too old to ever pull a bow!
  :banghead:  
Allen

Tracking number says it was delivered on Friday.Hopefully,Sacred Mt will post and confirm.

The bow was delivered Friday afternoon and all was good. I shot it yesterday and its such a nice bow. A week should be plenty of time to really get to know it...>>>>------------->

I've been a fan of Allen's bows for many years. I own seven total, five of those are the English. There isn't a better bow out there. Smooth, quiet and very easy to shoot accurately. And nothing can touch Alan's myrtle veneers for sheer beauty and originality.

oh boy getting close now

It was enjoyable reading this thread over again. Thanks to Mike for all the comparison photos.

How does the Prototype differ from the current English model?

Thanks!

The current model,is most definitely narrower.

Bluegoose:

As Traxx mentioned I've narrowed the overall width of the bow, but I've also shortened the handle riser and the tapers are slightly faster than what I was using. The pass around bow has three lamination's and I've since made another change as suggested by Stumpbuster in his original review.  From now on all of my Hill bows will have four lamination's. The English and Classic will be laid up with two lamination's on either side of the riser and the Sherwood will have three on the back and one on the belly side of the riser. I really haven't noticed any difference in the shooting characteristics, but it does enhance the bows appearance.  

Allen

Allen you "Nailed it" for me with the "Sherwood".

I put my hand to the bow and was taken to my favorite place(feeling) of Sherwood.

My 1st 6 arrows at 12 yards were all where I wanted to send them and touching one another.

  :archer:  

PS: My 1st 6 arrows weren't a "fluke". The bows point-ability seemed built in and the grip was perfection with my hand automatically finding where it needed to be.

I attended the Traditional Archers of Oregon's annual banquet and my exhibition table was next to Allen's....it was hard to not look at all those beautiful bows! Here is his newly designed English. It is a beautiful design and a great "shooter". You just can't find the quality of yew wood veneers that Allen has. One benefit of being an Oregonian and having been able to cut this great bow wood "back in the day".

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/snag23/IMG_11751_zpsozvbgneo.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/snag23/IMG_11741_zpskmikayj9.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/snag23/IMG_11771_zps7hg2s7ar.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/snag23/IMG_11791_zpsyjytbisp.jpg)

is it too late to add yourself to the list?

Snag, that bow is beautiful!  Do you know what the riser wood is?

Thanks, Chase

Not sure Chase. I'm sure Allen will come along soon and tell us. Allen has done a great job on designing this bow.

Chase:

The riser and overlays are myrtle.

I apologize for my ignorance here, but is this new prototype the new "English"? or will it have a different name altogether?
Also, I've heard about a "Sherwood" but haven't been able to find out what the difference is between that and say the English or Classic.  If someone could enlighten me that'd be appreciated.
My current hunting bow is a 66" English and if this is an "improvement" then I'm game because mines a heck of a bow as is!

QuoteOriginally posted by Mudd:

"I put my hand to the bow and was taken to my favorite place..."

Beautifully written. You, Mudd, are a wordsmith.  :notworthy:  

Allen, thank you!  Not surprising, however; your Myrtle is always pretty.  The envy, no doubt, of most girls named Myrtle.

Thanks for the pictures of that English snag. That is such a great looking bow!

Mike:

The bow will continue to be called the English just with some subtle changes which I believe enhances the bows performance.  The Classic is a string follow longbow and the Sherwood is a back-set bow with a Hill style handle riser.  Until I get my website updated and/or can figure out how to post photos here you can see some photos on my Liberty Bow Facebook page.

Allen

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/snag23/My%20Photos/IMG_1180_zpsx0jcupxc_1.jpg)

Here is a pic of the English strung as requested. Sorry for the foot in the pic. Guess it is too early to be taking pictures. The bow looks like it wants to be shot...have to head outside now.    :archer2:

That bow has some Beautiful lines!!!

Thanks for posting those pics for us snag!

QuoteOriginally posted by Stump Buster:
That bow has some Beautiful lines!!!

Thanks for posting those pics for us snag!

I'll say!
So many beautiful bows today but man how I love the simple arc of a straight limbed bow.

I would like to be added to the list.

DanielB89 and KYArcher, we'll add you to the list.  It's going to be awhile though before it will make around to you guys.

Allen

The English Longbow is headed out to New York...Drewsbow.  Should be there in about a week.

Thanks Allen, no hurry.

Sacred mt- what was your impression of the English?

Thanks : I'll keep the snow down so it can be delivered

I really enjoyed shooting the English longbow and the workmanship is outstanding.  It's like a new profound friend getting to know each others' attributes....bow and the shooter.

Attributes: a)  Handle was a bit getting use to. The base of my thumb was getting sore and thinking a more rounded handle would be nice. My adjustment was moving my grip to where the vee of my hand was directly on the high of the handle and along with changing arrows.
          b)  Arrows used were 2016 and 2018.  My draw length is 28 inches and shot split fingers.  The 2016's were flying about 3 inches high from 25 yards...with a very minor thump. The 2018 (bareshaft) flew at target level with the tail about an inch and half to the right...with no thump:)
          c)  Stringing the bow was smooth but unstringing was somewhat a struggle...push pull method.  Using a stringer solve it. The string nocks have a bit of groves to it.  Since there was no stringer with the bow; I believe it should have one. I made a stringer and a string keeper for it; just in case.
          d) The edges of the limbs could be a bit more rounded.  Its just me.
          e)  Its a smooth drawing bow and I would take it hunting any day.  Its a Keeper!!!

Many Thanks to Allen for giving us a chance to try out his new English Longbow.  

Sacred mt

I received the bow late yesterday but didn't have time to shoot it . I got it unpacked and first impression was that fit and finish where good . I shot just a couple arrows tonight and this is one of the most quiet bows I have seen.  I will shoot it more Friday then send it along as I don't want to hold things up for the next guys.

this is one of the most quiet bows I have seen.

That was the first thought that went through my mind,when i shot it for the first time.I took it down to the local shop and several other people said the same thing.

ok its in the mail headed to Nala in texas .
This bow is very mild mannered and smooth even with a long draw. There is no hand shock and shot very well for me . I like the narrow limb and thick stack design . I think this one is a winner

Thanks for the update! I'm enjoying hearing other opinions.   :thumbsup:  

Here's the current line-up...(If you see anything wrong, please let me know and I'll fix it right away)(Names in BOLD have already tested the bow)

STUMP BUSTER  
TRADCAT  
PHEONIXARCHER  
HERMON  
TRAXX  
SACRED MT
DREWSBOW  
NALA
FLETCHER
SILENT SNIPER
BIG ED
MUD_SLIDE_SLIM
DRY CREEK
LONGBOW1953
BLUEGOOSE
SACTOBOWMAN
TAJUE17(?)(Assuming you wanted to be added to the list)
DANIELB89
KYARCHER


Hope this helps,

Mike

Allen , pm sent

TTT

Stump Buster sorry I missed this thread to confirm my name with you, I would like to be added but for now can I be dead last after the folks behind me because of all the snow here in New England around 7 feet and more on the way!!  

I'm hoping its at least the thaw when I got the bow to really spend time outside shooting the bow,,, not sure if there was a deadline on the bow going around.

STUMP BUSTER  
TRADCAT  
PHEONIXARCHER  
HERMON  
TRAXX  
SACRED MT
DREWSBOW
NALA
FLETCHER
SILENT SNIPER
BIG ED
MUD_SLIDE_SLIM
DRY CREEK
LONGBOW1953
BLUEGOOSE
SACTOBOWMAN
DANIELB89
KYARCHER
TAJUE17

BOOM...Done!

Back in January, Allen asked that everyone try and keep their try-out to about a week so the bow can get back to him before he moves into an assisted living facility or something selfish like that.   :D

AND...
 
If you haven't seen it yet, Allen just revamped his website and it looks GREAT!

http://www.libertybows.net


I also put an order in for an English from Allen with the new lay-up and some personal touches in the back overlays, so I'll be sure to post up pics of that here later in the year.


Mike

Hey all,

I have the bow now.  I haven't got to shoot it until today.  Been itching to get it out but the weather was just too darned windy.

Well today I had the chance and this is the first time I have shot a real Hill style bow.  Boy it was a learning experience!

First of all, the bow is beautiful.  Simple, perfect craftmanship, just a sweet bow.  It has a different handle that I've never used, but that's OK.

The first arrow I loosed I was amazed at how literally dead silent this thing is.  I could hardly tell the arrow was shot.  The draw was smooth and everything felt great.  After a few shots I finally realized what people mean when they say hand shock.  It did rattle me a bit, but that is my fault.  That only happened 4 or 5 times out of 20 arrows.  Being that I've never shot one of these kinds of bows, I had to adjust my hold and release and I'm getting the hang of it more and more to eliminate that.  The times that I do my part the right way, this bow is awesome.  There is no vibration in my hand or arms at all.  What an Elegant bow.  Just a real nice bow to shoot.  I suspect that over the next several days I am going to get more and more accustomed to shooting this bow and will grow to want one even more.

I cannot overstate how nice this bow is upon release.  I've never experienced anything like it before.  I can see why the guys that love these bows feel the way they do.  I'm sure by the end of the week, I'll be in their camp too.

Thank you for the opportunity to enjoy such a work of art for a short time.

Larry

Mike thanks for the heads up on Allen's web site revamp. It really looks great. Its nice to see the bows from multiple angles.

thank you for putting me on the end it will be the perfect time to check this bow out.

How is she shooting boys?

Bluegoose,

I talked to Allen a couple of days ago and he said Nala has had some bad weather out where he is, so his testing has been hampered. He also sent him a Sherwood to try out and hopefully Nala will give us a side-by-side report when he's finished and has shipped the English prototype to Fletcher.

Allen also glued a little something up for me on Friday, so maybe I'll have something to share with everyone in a few weeks.  :thumbsup:    

All the Best,

Stump

Add my name as well looks awesome

I know I shouldn't do this but can you add me to that list stumpbuster?    I already own 3 of Allen's chiefs and had to debate whether or not to grab one...

I'd like to shoot one.  If anyone has it  in the SC pa or NC md area apr 1-15 and 20-28 I can meet up with ya, or in MN the 15-20.  

Otherwise put me at the bottom and I'll wait.

Hey Guys,

I just got word from Allen that Mark and Dan are the last two to make up the test team, so we are no longer adding names to the list.  

THANKS ALLEN for the opportunity to try the new model out and thanks to the testers for keeping this test drive rolling!    :thumbsup:    


Stump    :archer2:

Thanks for the updates Stump! And thanks to the reviewers as well!

Hey Fletcher,

Nala will be shipping the bow to you shortly. If you don't hear from him by tomorrow, send him a PM/E-mail as he asked me for your address and I didn't have it. It will soon be in your hands for more testing!!!


Bluegoose,

My pleasure, just stoked I could help and be a part of this opportunity.


Stump

Stump Buster, could you please give my spot to someone else? I would love to try this bow but I have recently been having elbow problems that I suspect are from my low wrist longbow grips. I am finally getting healed up and I don't want my pain to flare up again. Please let someone else enjoy my spot. Thanks.

silent sniper,

No worries, I'll bump up the list so we can get the bow into the other tester's hands sooner and back to Allen. Take it slow and I hope you heal well.


Here's the new order...

STUMP BUSTER
TRADCAT
PHEONIXARCHER
HERMON
TRAXX
SACRED MT
DREWSBOW
NALA  
FLETCHER
BIG ED
MUD_SLIDE_SLIM
DRY CREEK
LONGBOW1953
BLUEGOOSE
SACTOBOWMAN
DANIELB89
KYARCHER
TAJUE17
MARK WILLOUGHBY
AKDAN


All the Best,

Stump

Hard to believe this bow is better than my original model, but it surely is.  My English has been in my hands a lot since I shot the new model, simple elegance in wood....but it has me wondering if the new model might be in my future!

Skip:

I'll be at Western States. If you and Todd are going I'll have a few bows for you try out.

We are scheduled to be there, and bringing a couple of other guys.  See ya there

Hey all,

Fletcher sent me a message and the bow is at his Post Office awaiting his pick up.  I'm excited for him and the rest on the list to experience this fine bow, especially if you, like me, have never had a Hill style bow and this will be your first.


I think I'll go ahead and post my thoughts on my time with the English.

As I just mentioned, I have never shot a "Hill" style longbow. I've always wanted to shoot one, but until now, never had the opportunity.
When I opened the tube up, I was pleasantly surprised.  It was a sleek and attractive bow at 68 inches and 46 pounds it was longer than any bow I had ever shot.  I strung it up and as my luck would have it, the weather was terrible.  For the first week I had it I think I was only able to shoot it 1 or 2 times.  From the first time I put arrows through it, which were all 500 spine carbon and aluminum, I really liked this bow.  What I did find kind of strange at first was the shape of the handle.  Go and look at it on his website and you'll see what I am talking about.  It is not like a "normal" Hill style grip.  I wasn't crazy about it at first, but the more I shot it, the more I grew to like it.
I found it was very smooth to shoot.  Before I shot my first arrow I was telling myself "I wonder what this shock is going to be like" but it never really showed itself.  This bow had no real hand shock.  Sure, there was a bit of a jarring, but not much at all.  Jarring is probably not the right word to use, but it's the only one I can come up with right now.  It wasn't unpleasant at all, not even a discomfort.
The bow is also quiet as a mouse.  That's what really impressed me at first, the total lack of string noise upon release.  This was the case with all my arrows, even the lightest carbon arrows I had in my quiver.
This bow prefers the heavier arrows I had in my quiver which would be the GameGetter II 500 spine.  All the arrows flew really nice and grouped well.  My GGII arrows have a white wrap and yellow feathers 4 fletched.  When I loosed those arrows I just stood there and watched those arrows spin and arc right down into the place I was aiming.  It was a beautiful sight.
My target is a 3'x3' foam block made up of 9 individual 1'x1' foam blocks.  One day I went outside with the bow to do some shooting and I had probably had 5 or 6 sessions with it up till then.  I took a stance at probably 17 or 18 yards and thought I would try and play a little game to see how I would do.  I started thinking of a place to see if I could hit it in an individual block.  The first time I tried it, the arrow landed right where I was wanting it to land.  Beginners luck I thought.  Then I done it the next time and the next and the next.  This went on for 6 or 7 straight arrows.  I was just standing there with my mouth open wondering what in the world was going one here.  I have never been able to do that with any bow I have ever owned or shot.  For a second I thought I might've been channeling Byron Ferguson!!
At each successive shooting session I would find myself getting more and more impressed with this bow.  The "strange" grip I thought it had in the beginning now wasn't an issue at all.

As luck would have it, I had a chance to compare this English bow with one of his other longbows, a Sherwood.  This was his Hill style longbow that has the standard Hill style grip that everyone is familiar with.  This bow was 66 inches and 48 pounds.  I was really eager to compare them.

As expected this bow too shot great.  There was just a slight THUD when I loosed an arrow.  Nothing harsh at all and very easily handled by anyone.  I would find it very hard to believe that anyone would find this bow unpleasant or would say it had hand shock.  I didn't experience one bit of it.  I don't know if he knows something these other Hill style bowyers don't, but this was the 2nd Hill style bow of his that I had a chance to shoot and neither had any Hand Shock.
This bow was 2 inches shorter than the English and I think it made it just a little bit less smooth.  It too liked the GGII arrows over the others I had.  They flew just as pretty in this bow as they did in the English.
This bow, the Sherwood, did deliver the arrows with a bit more authority than did the English, but I wouldn't feel underbowed with either heading into the woods on a hunt.  I would've liked to see what wooden arrows performed like in these 2 bows, but I have never had a wooden arrow.
One thing I did notice with the Sherwood was that on occasion I would get some string slap on my wrist.  I have never had to wear an arm protector with any bow I have ever had.  I would get bit maybe 1 out of 3 arrows and it puzzled me as to why.  The only thing I could figure out was that the standard grip on this one was thinner at the back end and that caused me to rotate my wrist around a bit.  At least that's what I changed and never had it after that.  If I were to own this bow, the Sherwood, I would ask Mr. Boice to round it off just a tad at the back for me.

I wish I didn't have to give up either one of these great bows, but I did.  Even today I don't know which one I would take if I were allowed to keep only one.  I can make an argument for both.  I think if I were to pick a bow to just shoot from now on for enjoyment sake...I'd take the English.  If I were going to have a bow that I was going to hunt hogs with, I think I'd take the Sherwood.  I shoot both equally well and accurate, maybe the English very slightly more so.

I am very glad I signed my name up to try this bow.  I can see now why so many shooters love these Hill style bows.  I find myself now wanting one too.
I want to publicly thank Alan Boice of Liberty Bows for giving me the opportunity to spend time with his beautiful bows.

I am eager to see if the rest on the list enjoyed the English as much as I did!!

Nalajr

It is on its way to PA, next Saturday is our Turkey opener! Might have to see what kind of Mojo she has!!!

Anybody have an update on where the bow is? Do you still have it Ed or has it been forwarded on to the next person in the line up?

Thanks, Allen

Allen,
I was wondering the same thing.  I have not heard anything as of yet, but I knew my turn was getting close.

Bill-

Maybe Big Ed will chime in sometime and give us an update.

Allen

Hope those Turkeys don't have Big Ed pinned down.   :biglaugh:

I've received good news that even though the Tom's were big they weren't big enough to   :nono:   pin down Big Ed and the bow is headed to Mud_Slide_Slim. TDA, (turkey disaster averted)

Good to hear Ed and the English survived the spring attack!!!

Sorry the birds didn't provide a chance to give 'em what for Ed. Hopefully this fall will find them a little less cautious.   :thumbsup:  


Here's the new order...

STUMP BUSTER
TRADCAT
PHEONIXARCHER
HERMON
TRAXX
SACRED MT
DREWSBOW
NALA
FLETCHER
BIG ED
MUD_SLIDE_SLIM
DRY CREEK
LONGBOW1953
BLUEGOOSE
SACTOBOWMAN
DANIELB89
KYARCHER
TAJUE17
MARK WILLOUGHBY
AKDAN


All the Best,

Stump

Man, i completely forgot about this! I can't wait to try it out!

I hope that I get a PM when its headed my way.

The mailman just delivered Allen's bow here at the house.  Perfect timing!  I have a long weekend and will get to have some shooting time in between chores.  With the long weekend I won't keep the bow long and will get it to the next person this upcoming week.  This bow is a beauty...will put some arrows through it this evening.

Bill-

Well, I got to spend a good bit of the long weekend shooting this bow.  At first it was a bit getting used to.  I have always shot a locator style grip, so the straighter grip felt awkward at first.  I can now see why you guys who prefer a more forward style grip (this one is a mid-placed grip)like them so much.  It does help to alleviate torque and I could tell the difference.

The bow is very smooth at my 30" draw and is super quiet.  I had switched a few things with my shooting and was playing around with different releases and finger placements.  When I went to a 2-finger split release this bow really shined.  The sound of the arrows smacking into the hay rounds was what really caught your attention.

I hated to see the bow get wrapped into its shipping container as I would like to spend more time with it, but I am thankful to Allen for his generosity and trust, letting us all take advantage of shooting a really great bow.

On a side note...Drycreek is unable to test the bow and has asked my to send it to the next person.  I have already contacted Longbow1953 and the bow sits in my living room already addressed to him.  Enjoy all!

Bill-

This is my first attempt to upload a photo so I hope it comes thru. The bow arrived yesterday.  I shot it a little bit last night and this morning. I shot tonight and this is one of the groups I got from 18 yards. It's a very good-shooting bow.  I've been shooting longbows for 10 years now. My longbows range from 55-60 lbs. and I was very impressed with the speed of this bow at 46 lbs. The groups I've been shooting are with 55 70 gold-tipped traditional arrows with 200 gr points. These arrows are flying excellent out of this bow.


(http://i.imgur.com/QPmBbuZ.jpg)

That is a good looking group. Better check those nocks :-). Thanks for posting the photo and impressions of the bow.

Took the bow to a trail shoot today. I shot a 450 out of possible 600. Not to bad for only shooting the bow for a week.This bow is going to be hard to give up.Will get it ready to ship first of the week.

I noticed small scratches on belly of upper limb. If I did that I apologize.

I'm going to be on a 3 week bike trip leaving in about a week. I can swap positions on the list if need be?

QuoteOriginally posted by KYArcher:
I'm going to be on a 3 week bike trip leaving in about a week. I can swap positions on the list if need be?

I think I'm coming up the 2nd week of July, how I figure though you will be getting it the week your getting back, if you want we can swap if it helps?

Or PM those three  guys before you and maybe get it sooner..

Scratches, dings, dents.... not a problem, it's to be expected if the bow really is being put to the test.  Anyway, I know somebody who can fix it up like new the journey is over.  

  :archer2:

The English arrived back in Texas today and loosed a few arrows at lunch! After some shooting this evening maybe there will be time for some photos beside a couple of other longbows. Shooting mostly Hill style bows gets a person used to quiet bows. This bow is amazingly quiet and very stable/dead in the hand at the shot.

More review to come, probably on Sunday after the Austin 3D shoot.

Sactobowman is next on the list after me and I'll be trying to mail the English on to him early next week.

Rob

QuoteTajue17  
I think I'm coming up the 2nd week of July, how I figure though you will be getting it the week your getting back, if you want we can swap if it helps?

Or PM those three guys before you and maybe get it sooner..

 Yes I would swap spots with ya. I will be returning home about the second week of July.

KYArcher can you let stump buster know so he can switch our names..
as long as nobody drops out it should work.

*Trying to reach SACTOBOWMAN.*

Ok so I've been dozing and missed Rob's post.

Anyhow looks like he is sending it tomorrow.  Can't wait!

DanielB89 you are next.  Please pm me your info.  I'll let you know as soon as it's sent.

Bill

PM sent Bill.

Daniel thanks for being backup!

You guys enjoy!

This will be short and sweet. The Liberty English is very impressive. It is accurate and took little time to adjust to. The craftsmanship is first rate as Allen's bows are known for and it is a good looking bow. It has nice balance and handling qualities and seems more like a 66" bow in the way it handles and this was compared to 2 fine handling Hill style bows of the same length that were shot at the same time for comparison.

The most striking characteristic was how quiet it is and stable at the shot. It also draws very smoothly. The grip on this particular bow is a little small for me but that is the single thing I'd want to change.

Thanks again for the opportunity to give it a try!

The other bow in some photos for comparison is my favorite bow, a Dave Johnson Red Cedar Longbow of the same length and draw weight.

 (http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy101/rflinnlpc/IMG_19831_zpsblmdwgna.jpg) (http://s782.photobucket.com/user/rflinnlpc/media/IMG_19831_zpsblmdwgna.jpg.html)
 (http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy101/rflinnlpc/IMG_19791_zpst18fvy8o.jpg) (http://s782.photobucket.com/user/rflinnlpc/media/IMG_19791_zpst18fvy8o.jpg.html)
 (http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy101/rflinnlpc/IMG_19781_zpsktzo563s.jpg) (http://s782.photobucket.com/user/rflinnlpc/media/IMG_19781_zpsktzo563s.jpg.html)
 (http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy101/rflinnlpc/IMG_19861_zpspesagbbe.jpg) (http://s782.photobucket.com/user/rflinnlpc/media/IMG_19861_zpspesagbbe.jpg.html)
 (http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy101/rflinnlpc/IMG_19841_zpsechijyiy.jpg) (http://s782.photobucket.com/user/rflinnlpc/media/IMG_19841_zpsechijyiy.jpg.html)

Thanks for the review Bluegoose.  I also prefer a slightly deeper grip on my personal English, but for the pass around bow went slightly smaller for a more of the middle of the road application for a variety of glove sizes.

Trying to reach DanielB89.

Bow is ready to go to the next person on the list.

Bill

QuoteOriginally posted by KYArcher:

QuoteTajue17  
I think I'm coming up the 2nd week of July, how I figure though you will be getting it the week your getting back, if you want we can swap if it helps?

Or PM those three guys before you and maybe get it sooner..

 Yes I would swap spots with ya. I will be returning home about the second week of July. [/b]

didn't see our names switched in the list yet but assuming KYarcher has already left for his trip if nobody hears from KYArcher after DanielB89's week then skip him and contact me because we switched weeks because of his Bike trip in quote above, then I will ship to him.

Bigthank you to Allen for this opportunity.   This is an incredible bow!

I've had several top name longbow and this one is definitely one I would get.

The bow was super smooth and felt shorter than 68 inches.

If I didn't have funds committed to other toys I would be on the phone placing my deposit.

Daniel, bow is on its way to LA.

Thanks.

Bill

so exactly who should i be looking to send the bow to?  

I have been trying to get in contact with KYarcher about one of his bows for a few weeks now and noticed he never read the pm so him being out of town makes perfect sense! lol.

I know there was some shuffling in the order. Let me try and figure it out. I'll try and get an updated list posted tonight. Maybe DRY CREEK can get his chance at it while TAJUE17 and KENTUCKY ARCHER are on their trips. I'll send DRY CREEK a PM and ask if he has time to shoot it. I'll post an update as soon as i hear back from him.

Here's the current list order (I think)...

STUMP BUSTER  
TRADCAT  
PHEONIXARCHER  
HERMON  
TRAXX  
SACRED MT
DREWSBOW
NALA
FLETCHER
SILENT SNIPER
BIG ED
MUD_SLIDE_SLIM
DRY CREEK (Passed)  
LONGBOW1953
BLUEGOOSE
SACTOBOWMAN
DANIELB89  
TAJUE17
KYARCHER
MARK WILLOUGHBY
AKDAN

Okay Guys, I just heard from DRY CREEK, He's going to pass, so here are the options...

DANIELB89, you can hold onto the bow until you hear from TAJUE17 so it stays in the order of the list.

OR

If you're not comfortable with that, you can contact MARK WILLOUGHBY and see if he's ready to give it a try and he can sent it back up the list to TAJUE17.

Just let me know which way you want to proceed and I'll try and keep the list updated.


Thanks for keeping the bow moving and reporting your experiences back guys!!!

I'm here,,, if you want send it to me if Dry Creek is not ready then I can send it to dry creek or KY Archer from here...

KyArcher was going on the trip and I believe he wasn't back until the 2nd week of July so we might need to bump someone in before he gets it so the times will work out otherwise someone will have it two weeks.

PM me if I'm next, I can wait though I know I'l have it in decent weather so that's all I care about.

I received the bow a couple days ago. Sadly with my schedule I haven't had any time to shoot it.  It will be getting shot very soon though, hopefully tomorrow evening between church and an all star game.

I am fine with sending it to whom ever, you just tell me who.

I might have missed it and to make sure, I know we ship priority insired, but what amount of insurance?

Hey Daniel,

Go ahead and send it to Tajue next. As for the insurance, get ahold of Allen and see what he recommends/suggests.

Have a good day and enjoy it when you can.

Stump

Oops, Double Tap.

I'll PM Daniel my address just in case he can't get me in time.

Daniel:

Don't get too rushed, take your time and enjoy the bow. Insure it for $500.00.

I send out a scripture of the week (seed planting) to some family and friends and was pondering about what would be appropriate this week. With everything that has been happening Proverbs 16.25 will be perfect, thanks.

Allen

got a surprise today when I got home,,,,  of course I took it out of the tube and immediately grabbed some arrows and got in a  few quick shots,, the bow is pretty impressive.  I owned more than a few ELB's by Welshman and St Charles but never shot a laminated version.

it was very comfortable and was stable for me,, first 5 arrows where right in 6" circle and I never even shot it before so I was impressed it pointed great for me.

I'm taking it to the 3D tomorrow and will also hit my clubs woods course for some stumping.  the arrow this bow likes for me is a 28" elite 5/16 48/49/50lb spines and 125gr points,, they fly perfect and sizzle right in perfect.

I'll be back by the end of the week with more info on how it went for me..

well first I apologize for now pics, my lumix camera died and I have the work phone but its to risky snapping pics and doing the transfer thing with my job.

but the bow is great I spent some time shooting the bales and stumps then this morning I hit the local 3D and I'm very impressed with this bow,  I never messed with the brace and just shot it like it is and I ended up using heritage 90's with 250gr points and they where fine.  the grip would need to be a little longer for me personally but the length and draw curve, stability all for me was perfect.   no shock just the normal feeling that's there upon release.  the finish was great I would be happy if this was my bow.
I really hope others consider this bow especially if they are looking not only into a ELB but a ASL style too I mean its right there with them all.

I have it all tubed up and ready to go to the next lucky person,, KY archer should be back by now I think but I will PM him anyway and see..  if he's still away maybe one of the next two behind him will want it a week early and they can send it to him when he's back from his 3 week trip.

bow is now on its way to KY Archer in Kentucky.

The bow made it to Kentucky, so here's the current list order...

STUMP BUSTER  
TRADCAT  
PHEONIXARCHER  
HERMON  
TRAXX  
SACRED MT
DREWSBOW
NALA
FLETCHER
SILENT SNIPER
BIG ED
MUD_SLIDE_SLIM
DRY CREEK (Passed)  
LONGBOW1953
BLUEGOOSE
SACTOBOWMAN
DANIELB89  
TAJUE17
KYARCHER
MARK WILLOUGHBY
AKDAN


Thanks for keeping me posted with updates on the bow's location guys and enjoy the bow!

Stump

I am not much of a writer, nor do I word things very well, but I will tell you fellas that this bow exceeded every preconceived expectation I had about it.  

I have always shot "pistol grips" a lot better than a straight grip.  To be honest, I hate them! haha.  I can't stand not having something to "locate" my grip with, I can't stand the arm slap that comes along with it and worst of all, LACK OF PERFORMANCE!  I know some of you guys love them and have bitten by the "Hill bug", but I have managed to avoid it!  :)

Now before someone says, "Well you've never shot a quality hill style bow", I have shot SEVERAL different bows, Howard Hills, tolke's, great northerns, etc. and it just was not my cup of tea.  I know each one of them shoot great to hill shooters, but I could not be real consistent with them, I don't like how they always pop my arm, but I do love how quiet and dead in the hand they are.

Allen's bow was different to me though.  When i first took it out of the box, I immediately thought my experience with it would be less than desirable.  The grip was as flat as ever, smaller than usual and the limbs were straight.  Those 3 to me usually mean "watch out arm"(lol).  I strung her up, got her right in the middle of the recommended BH and took her out for her first shot.  

With the bow being #48@28, I grabbed my arrows tuned for my longbow that is #51@28, but is a r/d longbow that is my absolute baby!  If you see me on a 3d course, I will have that jewel in my hand.  I picked a decent distance, around 15 yards, for my first shot.  Picked a spot, drew back, released, and then thought, WOW!  NO WRIST SLAP!!!  NO HAND SHOCK!!! AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE ARROW WAS IN THE 1" CIRCLE I WAS AIMING AT.  I thought it was a fluke, so i went and grabbed the arrow to repeat, same result.  I was amazed with the bow.  I shot it for a few days, took her to the back water to go shoot some gar, but the water just wasn't right.  
 

I shot the bow a couple hundred times and liked it enough that I added the bow to "want to get" list.  I shoot a lot of competitions and need a good hill style bow to shoot in the traditional longbow style tournaments, and i believe this is the one for me.  I will own one of these before next tournament season.

Thank you for the opportunity to shoot this bow, Allen.  

For what it's worth, I don't throw out the "no hand shock" on many bows.  I honestly have not shot a bow with as little of handshock as a hill style bow.  

I am sure there are other hill styles out there that I would have the same results with, but they have not made their way into my hand.. yet.

Sending Mark Willoughby a PM for his address so I can get this Wonderful Bow on its way to him....KY   :archer:

Well AKDAN looks like you are up, Mark said he would love to give it a try but just too busy right now. AKDAN I will PM you for your address...KY   :archer:

Looks like we made it to the bottom of the list...

STUMP BUSTER  
TRADCAT  
PHEONIXARCHER  
HERMON  
TRAXX  
SACRED MT
DREWSBOW
NALA
FLETCHER
SILENT SNIPER
BIG ED
MUD_SLIDE_SLIM
DRY CREEK (Passed)  
LONGBOW1953
BLUEGOOSE
SACTOBOWMAN
DANIELB89  
TAJUE17
KYARCHER
MARK WILLOUGHBY (Passed)
AKDAN

Look forward to reading the final reviews!   :thumbsup:    

Thanks for making this test drive go so smooth Gentlemen!     :archer2:  

Stump

I shot one of them, there, "English" bows this past weekend.  It's a really good thing I didn't have money in my pocket.  

Sight unseen with a tube full of mismatched arrows and I was shooting WAY better with this bow than my own personal bow.  Excellent work and great shooting bow, Allen.
homebru

I am sure this new bow will be a great shooter and alot of people will like it.  However for me, one of Allen's other designs meets my needs in a one piece longbow very, very well.  Very easy on these 64 year old joints.

It's called the "Chief".  A mild reflex/deflex bow, 64" of subtle beauty in Myrtle. Actually almost all Myrtle.  50# @28".
A very smooth drawing bow.
 (http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq29/gsavaloja/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-05/D89D593E-3ECB-4A96-BA40-484D9E16A1B0_zpslbeapcsm.jpg) (http://s430.photobucket.com/user/gsavaloja/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-05/D89D593E-3ECB-4A96-BA40-484D9E16A1B0_zpslbeapcsm.jpg.html)

I'd like to try this bow too Please.

Thanks for the opportunity!

Call Allen, he might have one you can try.