Just took delivery of my very first custom bow made to my specs.  I've owned several very nice bows but they've all been stock bows or used.  

I've got a very special trip coming up next July to The Dark Continent and I really wanted a bow made specially for the trip.  Well, Brian really delivered in the special part!  I've had the opportunity to talk to Brian Wessel at Kalamazoo a few times and I've always been impressed by the quality and beauty of his Tall Tines recurves.

A few months back I called Brian and kind of gave him some basic guidelines on what I wanted:
 o About 60# @ 28" for a 60" bow
 o Heavy laminate riser, brown
 o Limbs with exotic laminations to match riser.

That was about it.  I'm not too picky and find that I like the looks of most any bow just fine provided it shoots where I'm looking!

Last week I got a text at work from my wife, "Your 'Wessel' package has arrived."  That was about 1PM and I was starting to feel a little "bow fever" and thought I might need to leave early.    

When quitin' time finally arrived.  I had to make a quick stop at home and pickup my son for baseball practice.  Not even time to open the box!

Finally made it home with a few minutes of light left and opened the package to find a beautiful 60" 60# @ 28" Tall Tines recurve.  Riser is Heritage Walnut Diamondwood with myrtle accents.  Limbs are myrtle.

Been a long time coming to finally see "My name in white ink"     :

     

There is a lot of mass weight or "heft" in this riser.  The grip fits my hand perfect.  Two of the most important aspects for shooting a bow well to me.:

     

I'm really glad I went with a nice lamination instead of black glass as I was originally planing.  Of course, the classic, "pics don't do it justice" certainly applies to the grain variation in this myrtle.:

   

Just a beautiful bow and it shoots great!  I have had a layoff of a few months and I was shooting this bow about as well as I did last fall after just a few arrows.  Nice work Brian!:
   

Very nice!!  

She will serve you well on your African quest.

Congrats!!!

She sure is pretty! Congrats.....

That myrtle is great. Nice bow!

It's a looker!

as usual a great looking bow his craftsmanship is outstanding!!

Oh yeah!  I can see that laying next to a big 'ol Kudu...

I imagine the backyard whitetails will need to be on their toes.

Nice bow!

Great looking bow!
 

Beautiful bow Mick (Mouse).  What species is on your list in Africa, or is that not determined yet?

Congrats. Looks great!

A fine bow to accompany you on your African adventure.