In the 26 years or so that I have been shooting traditional bows I have owned every permutation of longbow, from so called Hill style longbows, to mild reflex deflex, extreme reflex deflex, and reflex deflex so radical that you would swear it was a recurve until it was strung. My preference always went to straight limb or mild reflex deflex longbows. I developed a healthy dislike, which bordered on a type of smoldering hatred for radical hybrids. I found them twitchy, too sensitive to any and all release inconsistencies, difficult to shoot accurately, and designed to be as fast as possible at any cost. Fast does not get you what you want if you can't hit where you are looking.

For years I avoided buying anymore hybrid longbows. I had given up on the entire concept as being inherently flawed, but at the same time I realized that there were a lot of hunting archers who loved them. And so goes the world.

Then one fine day my curiosity got the better of me and I wanted to know what Gregg Coffey had been up to since he stopped making selfbows and started making glass bows, which eventually turned into Gregg building the Shrew line of bows. When Gregg's relationship with Shrew came to an end we had a phone conversation and Gregg mentioned that he had a left handed Elkhart in stock which he would send me to try, the Elkhart being one of those damn hybrids, and only 54" at that. Jeez. My first thought was, what if I don't like it? I don't like telling people that I don't like their stuff, especially bows. I said ok. That turned out to be a very intelligent decision on my part.

The Elkhart defies everything I had concluded about hybrids. It in uncannily easy to shoot accurately. It doesn't have the telltale excess preload of all the hybrids I had shot before. The draw is completely smooth from beginning to end. It feels as stable as a true longbow, and maybe a bit more so because the forward handle feels like it locks in your bow arm. And it is a work of art, strung or unstrung. It has no hand shock. Really. It is the epitome of high design and high function.

I had to eat my words about hybrids, at least Gregg's concepts and designs. He has truly dialed in the the short, high function bow, which of course meant that I could not own just one. After being at Kalamazoo this past January I ordered Elkhart #2. Killer birch veneers and all that Java Man goodness in the handle and limb layup. Feast your eyes, lads.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Gregg builds a hell of a bow!

Nice knife!

Greg is a heck of a guy I have one of his built Classic Hunters and love the way it feels in my hand. I'll have to get him to send me that trial bow since I like those shorty's.

The Elkhart is one fine bow and everyone who has shot mine felt like you did. A joy to carry elk hunting and great for the set up when you need to fit in tight areas.  Nice photo layout. Tom

What weight are you shooting? I recently picked up a 41# off of here. Sweet light-weight.  I was wondering how smooth they are in the upper 40's or low 50's.

The grey one is 55#@28". The light birch is 57#@28". They both feel equally smooth to draw.

Those are awesome      

Those are two very nice bows.  So how do you decide which one to take to the field.

I really like that gray one, but they are both really nice.

Gregg's bows speak for themselves and even better of him; I have definitely had a few.  I'd like to know a little more about that sheep horn handled master smith blade too!

This thread needs to stay on top for a while.   Those pictures are excellent!

Great bows!  Gregg's work is exceptional.  I have A McCullough SS and a Coffey SS.  Interesting to see the differences in the form between the two.  Greggs form seems to have a bit more flip in the tip than what Johns had.  Both have an amazingly smooth draw cycle.

Steve O - I agree on the knife it looks like an K. Anderson Forge to me.  Inquiring minds want to know.

The knife in by Master Smith Roger Massey. The blade is 52100. It is an exceptional hunter pattern.

QuoteOriginally posted by Chromebuck:
 I have A McCullough SS and a Coffey SS.  

When did each of these guys build Shrew bows?  I have a SS and would be curious as to who built it.  I think it was built in 2007, but I'll have to recheck the date to be sure.

WOW Mr. Moon..you don't skimp on your gear!!!

Great looking bows....and knife!

Nice guy, AWESOME bows....

QuoteOriginally posted by recurve_shooter:
 

QuoteOriginally posted by Chromebuck:
 I have A McCullough SS and a Coffey SS.  

When did each of these guys build Shrew bows?  I have a SS and would be curious as to who built it.  I think it was built in 2007, but I'll have to recheck the date to be sure. [/b]

recurve shooter, post your serial #. If it starts with a G, It was built by Gregg.

VERY NICE!!

Those are great looking bows.