I met my buddy down at at the Carlisle shoot last weekend,we had a great time,and did a little horse trading to boot.


 I have a story to tell you. This is what I came home with.


 

A 21st century label, nice    

Many years ago I had the honor of making a long term friendship with this gentleman. His name is Howard Cook. We ran into each other down at the Bowhunters Festival in Forksville Penna. i believe at that time he was in his 70's,and what a guy.

 From Syracuse NY, he and some of his buddies,who became our buddies,would make the trip down to Forksville just about every year.

 I know some of you guys here on the site knew Howard, he was very involved in the NY state bowhunting and archery programs.

Forksville was our usual yearly reunion and as you can see if you met Howard you really became attached to him. This was part of our mixed group the one year. One of the guys had the orange shirts made up ,they read "HOWARD COOK'S TRADITIONAL BOWMEN"

Lots of shoots and lots of years went by before we knew it and Howards time had  come to an end here a few years ago (I am sure he is giving archery lessons up in heaven).

 He and I had one thing in common, we liked to shoot bows, and he probably had more go thru his hands than I. Every now and then one of us would buy one from him or he would just give it to you.
That was Howard. Love you buddy!

let's get back to that tube. It was shipped in 1996 in a heavy pvc.

My buddy bought this one from Howard years ago .  I had asked him if he still had it,he said yes and would I be interested in it,I said that I was,and we struck a deal.

 The specs were right on....

The fadeouts are flawless.

Many laminations make up the riser,which is 25" at the fadeouts.

Beautiful nock tips.......

What a sleek looking bow. I remembered shooting it once or twice,and it really cast an arrow.

Not trying to hijack your thread, but I watched Jim Ploen give a shooting demonstration in 1994. He would draw the arrow and hang the bowstring behind his right ear with the arrow still on the string. Then somehow release the arrow from his ear without touching the string. Jim and Buddy knew how to build a stable and fast longbow. Some of the colors they used in the risers was ugly as sin, but they sure would shoot.

Hey Ric, the more the merrier,and you are right, what shooters they are.

 Howard would usually have his name put on the bow if he had it built for him,but for some reason this one didn't. My buddy had told him that if he bought it Howard had to sign it,and that he did,sitting in his chair at Forksville.


 

We all use to shoot split back then,and I had no idea what this was set up for as far as shooting style. I strung it up and took it out in the back yard. I shot a quiver full just to get the feel and watch the flight. Everybody seemed to be getting along so on the second quiver I buckled down and I was smiling. 15 yards,second flight of arrows,and not adjusting a thing......