JD Berry Vixen, 68" 50@26. Black Walnut limbs, white back and belly. bloodwood riser encasements, with dual riser wedges and white tip wedge. Zebra wood riser

I posted some pics in the HH Bug thread but wanted to share here too.
So.....
where was I.  I pulled up at the house today to see the mail man at my neighbors and I knew today was new bow day. I get the package and to opening I go.

I have been a huge fan of James's bows since I got my first Vixen from him 3 and a half years ago. He had just gotten back into building the ASL's at this point, as R/D had been his bread and butter for a lot of years.  I had owned ALOT of good ASL's at this point and when I orderd the Vixen I was shooting an Old Tom, Wesely special and a John Schultz American Trophy.  After I got the Vixen, from about the 2nd shot I knew I had found the ASL I was looking for and sold my three others that week and ordered a Misty Dawn two weeks later. James's bows have always had the just magical something that made them a dream to shoot.

Well, James really immersed himself into ASL's and has constantly been tweaking and changing things to meet the high demands of the ASL shooters preferences for this classic design.  With the release of the MorningStar he hit a home run and the bows were getting leaner and packing R/D performance and gentleness I have still not found in another ASL.  Then I got a Northstar and this thing was just stunning. I honestly didn't think James could improve any.

well THEN, he goes and loses his eyesight...... and I was due up on the list for another bow but with what happened and somethings here I pushed it off for 4 months and I keep hearing how these OE (one eye) bows are just a new level of amazing.  

Well today I found out what everyone has been talking about.  James has created a bow that pulls you to the past with its classic lines, simple elegance and romance and staying to the classic ideals of the ASL, while still keeping it all JAMES and imparting his level of craftsmanship and artistic abilities with a bow that is touted as simple yet has all the techniques and fine touches rivaled only by art.  the little things he does, to keep the lines, yet add so much character such as the blood wood encasement around the thought out zebra wood riser to accent the white and black walnut contrast with the light wood and dark grain is just amazing.  His riser fades that add so much classy beauty.  The belly trap on this one is just enough to get the benefits of the trap and show some contrast without removing too much glass and end up overpowered with the walnut just makes me smile!!!!

I am a huge fan of High gloss finish and James has not really offered it, then sometime last year he decided to start working on his technique and he has layed down just an amazing high gloss on this bow that it causes every detail to pop.  This bow pulls me into the 40's and 50's, slows me down. And all this and i haven't even got to shoot her a lot yet.  

I grabbed some 50-55 hemlocks I made up for this season and my first 3 were dead on the money!!! Hows that for tuning.  The draw with these amazing Black Walnut limbs is just a dream and there is zero vibration or shock at the shot. Throws them down range very well and mouse silent.  The grip is also dead on perfect as usual for James's bows.


I will try and get a video and some better pics up when things slow down here and I can get some good sunlight, but rest assured no picture or video will ever do this bow justice.  Just absolute perfection.

Oh and for finer details, we ASL enthusiasts like to keep to the old classics, and James has done that here.  This riser is only 11" long, with those steep sweeps up the belly ramps reminiscent of days gone by, no long riser with the gentle swoops here!!! I feel as if I'm holding a bow from the past.  

Oh and one more thing. When I called James today to tell him I got the bow, he informed me that he opened his books for 15 slots, as he is only going to take 15 slots at a time then close until he is caught up then 15 more, this way he can manage his waiting list.  He is taking orders for ASL's only.  This is for those wondering when he may open the books again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congrats on your new stick!

Bisch

Whew..... yep, that be a nice one!

Bout the handsomest Hill I've ever seen.  James continues to outdo himself.  I really need a JD Berry at some point.

Good looken bow....

,,Sam,,

Brian that is a drop dead gorgeous bow. would love to see it in person. Shoot me a PM if you want to get together and go shooting sometime.

wowser!! Mr Berry tried to describe it to me but his words didn't paint the picture(s) I just looked at...magnificent!!




   

Wow !

That's a beautiful bow !!  

     very nice!!!

Nice stick

Very nice...congrats!!

Brian,
 Congrats on the new bow, she's a beauty, love the Black Walnut lams...!
  Not typically a big fan of lighter (color) wood bows but that sir is special..!

Sooooo well written Brian.  The OE direction of James' ASL's is really something that you can see in pictures, but is best appreciated in the hand.

Congrats Brian.....those Walnut limbs are gorgeous!  Heck, in my view that's the finest OE yet!

Classic OE. There are none better.  

Holy Moly, that makes waiting on my next one a little harder. Stunning bow, and a great writeup about a guy who has it pretty well figured out on how to make an ASL.

Masterpiece!!!

Looks Great Brian. JD out did himself on that one.

Outstanding, congrats on that masterpiece.