I might be getting a bug to try a longbow.
I come from full metal or all phenolic takedown recurves that I counter-weight with barebow weights to balance and get to the mass weight I like.
I'd like to know what heavy longbows are out there.
One bow I've been fascinated with for a long time is the Tomahawk Diamond series longbows.
My perception is that they are in the heavier side on the two piece longbow world. Is that correct?
Thanks so much,
Matt
I should mention, I am looking for a straight longbow style like the tomahawks.
I am very familiar with longbows like the fax triple crowns / etc.
You definitely don't want a Toelke Super D
Most good custom bowyers that build a longbow can build you one with a solid phenolic riser and some added mass. The String follow Frontier 66 I build with a solid phenolic or with a phenolic I beam and heavier woods like macassar ebony, ironwood, bubinga, ect are relatively heavy. I also am building a backset longbow now. The stringfollow and longbow are both straight limb bows with perfect D shape,
The Ironwood Flatliner that Bigfoot builds is relatively heavy too and has a g10 phenolic I beam.
God bless, Steve
If you opt for a 2pc try one with the Bow-bolt system, it is stainless steel and adds some additional centralized mass to the riser. Since you do not want a "longbow with recurve grip" like the Fox Triple Crown (excellent bow indeed), I would suggest something like a 2pc Bow-bolt configured:
Toelke Whip HS (with standard or perhaps classic grip), Java Man Falcon XL, Holm-made Goshawk or Kingfisher etc.
You also might consider a phenolic riser Whippenstick, or as an alternative to the TC one of Ron's Fox Traditional longbows with a phenolic riser and the brass/stainless sleeve system.
Bows like the Tomahawk or Black Widow that use the carbon/glass sleeve system are perfectly fine as a 2pc, but you have to rely on the riser material alone for mass as that sleeve system is feather light.
Steve at Northern Mist could also build you a phenolic riser Superior or Baraga, that would be really neat.
Call some bowyers and see what can be built for you.
The nature of a Hill style bow is to not have a whole lot of material in the riser...you are certainly not going to even approach the weight you like in those recurves
DDave
Don't forget Centaur.... Jim Neeves builds a nice shooting bow that has good mas weight with his "Dark Matter" (Phenolic)
I've got something i've been doing to some of my risers as an option that adds mass weight and eliminates harmonic vibration. I build in a "Harmonic damping system" into the riser..... There are a few guys on the forum here that can vouch for them too....
QuoteOriginally posted by damascusdave:
The nature of a Hill style bow is to not have a whole lot of material in the riser...you are certainly not going to even approach the weight you like in those recurves
DDave
I'm with Dave on this one. The nature of the design does not yield a heavy weight. Even going with Chucks solution of a bow bolt and phenolic. I just don't think your going to get what you want.
If you need to rely on a heavy mass bow for accuracy you will probably not favor a Hill style longbow anyway as likely need to change some aspect of your form (grip, locked bow arm, ect. to shoot it well).
I am a bit confused by your comment about wanting a straight longbow style like the Tomahawks. The Tomahawks are a R/D design.
I have a 64" Toelke Whip with phenolic riser and the Bow Bolt system. It is heavier than my other one piece longbows which aids in it's stability.
You didn't speak of it but the other option would be a 3pc longbow. They definitely can be made heavier in mass.
I've got a ACS with aluminum riser, it's got good mass and I love the extra weight.
I will vouch for the harmonic dampening system Kirk tells about. He built me a Stealth longbow, very similar to his flatliner model, bocote riser with the harmonic stabilizer inside and does have very nice mass for a one piece. And you won't notice much speed loss with his model from Kirk compared to your recurve.
What about those 20th century longbow? I've only seen them in pictures but they seem to have a rather large long riser.
I shot a matlock that was heavy it had hot lead poured into a hole in the riser, done by the bowyer to meet a certain mass weight for the customer I guess , it worked.
I think what hes saying is he wants an r/d longbow but not really a full hybrid like an Elkheart. I didnt mention a Dark Matter Centaur because Jim only goes to 62" on them...incredible shooters to be sure, but this fella is coming from a barebow style setup so I figured he'd want a bow 64" or longer.
A 21st Century with phenolic riser is one I forgot to mention, or a Falco from Estonia.
Centaur with dark matter.
riser size alone would make the Bigfoot with phenolic riser the heaviest.
God bless, Steve
Hi Guys, thanks for putting my bows out there for having good mass in the riser. Just to clarify, Dark Matter is not phenolic.
Thanks everyone for all the input. I decided on an all phenolic black widow PL.
I have the ironwood test drive demo bow right now, and with the added mass of the extra phenolic I think it's gonna be great.
Although I found that the softkote selway 6 arrow slide on fully
Loaded gets me into my mass weight comfort zone ;)
If you want a mild R&D with alot of mass weight some to consider are the Fox Tripple Crown,Stotler Gamegetter,Hummingbird and 21 St Century Edge.You would probably not need Phenolic with those and thier gonna be heavier than most any slim/small risered longbows with phenolic/bowbolt etc.
I think the Toelke original longbow or newer Toelke HS longbow with phenolic and or phenolic with bowbolt would give you moderatly good mass weight.The riser is pretty long adding some weight.It is slim though.The more aggressively designed HS is a superb bow.Very fast,quiet,stable and virtually shock free.You Might like it alot possibly