HH bug got me ... Part One!

joebuck · March 23, 2012, 09:29:00 PM

redbone! How in world u doing? U like 12 better than a 15"?
I might copy RC? Hiss looks like a three with lam on the belly riser.

Rik · March 23, 2012, 11:40:00 PM

I kinda like Joebuck's saying. Seems to have a ring of truth to it.

"Aim down your arrow, because thats where it's going."

BowHunterGA · March 24, 2012, 12:19:00 AM

Nice bow RC, Congrats!

3Under · March 24, 2012, 06:45:00 AM

RC,
Great looking bow! Wish I could put my black(belly/back) Tembo thru an
"extreme make-over"(LOL)!
How do you like the locator grip?

Kentucky Jeff · March 24, 2012, 09:47:00 AM

Drove up to Lebanon IN yesterday to meet Dave Miller and collect my Longbow. Had to drive through hail, tornadoes and heavy rain but I made it.

First, I will say that Dave is one of those few people I've met over the years that is passionate about building longbows and perfecting the form of this distinctive style of bow. As many of you know, Dave learned how to build longbows firsthand from John Schulz. And as many of you also know John Schulz's bows were a a bit different from Howard Hill's bows.

Second, I have seen the grail and it will be mine...hopefully by Christmas. A Miller Expedition 70" 70#@30".... But more on that later.

So I met Dave in his shop and we talked a good deal about bows then Dave pulled out my Bow and we started shooting. I brought a quiver of Arrow Dynamics Hammer Heads with 225 grain points. These arrows are cut 31" and are tapered. Dave was a little skeptical that I was a 30" shooter until he saw me shoot. His comment was "you use all 31" on that shaft and then some!" Shooting the bow inside the shop (it was still raining outside) and trying some other arrows that I brought with softer spines we quickly figured out my Hammer Head AD shafts were flying true. They might be just a tad stiff but as Dave told me--Howard and John Schulz both liked an arrow a little stiff as they though it would recover quicker from a bad shot than a soft arrow. In any case it looked like the arrows were flying good and the bow was quiet but just a little vibration from the string (there were no silencers on it).

The good lord smiled on us, the clouds parted and
we took the bow outside to Dave's range. Shot maybe 40 arrows at 10 and 20 yards. The bow was putting them where I was looking and Dave said my form looked good I just needed to follow through a little more with my bow hand. I told him I was probably dropping it to watch the arrow. Also, at 70# this bow is about 10# more weight than I normally shoot so it will take some practice to get into
my best form. I made a concious decision to step up a notch in weight and it will take some work to get there. But I managed fine. I'll probably be able to manage about 40 arrows a session with it before I get fatiqued and it impairs my form. In 3 months I'll be shooting 100 arrows at a pop with it fine.

Dave's comment to me about my arrows was: Damn if you hit a deer with that arrow it will knock him over! The Old Tom zips them out there for sure!

Will continue with pics later. My little girl is bugging me about cooker her some breakfast...

Steve Clandinin · March 24, 2012, 10:05:00 AM

Jeff,the bow sounds fantastic ,but man we need pics !Get that little girl her breky !LOL

tradlongbow · March 24, 2012, 10:35:00 AM

RC-

The bow looks awesome! What's the specs and is the limbs all carmelized boo?

Congrats,
Darren

Kentucky Jeff · March 24, 2012, 12:33:00 PM

OK, I know I kept you waiting too long. First thing...went out in the backyard this AM and found these sheds...should be a monster next year for sure.

These pics look big. I re-sized to 640X480 Are they OK?

Then I decided to fling some sticks—no warm up. About 17 yards and shot pretty quickly in the Hill style

The leather handle is a little too slick. Hopefully the finish will wear with a little use and become more grippy.

The quiver is a Steve Catt's "Medium" Hill Style.

The riser is Myrtle

Shinken · March 24, 2012, 12:41:00 PM

That's an *awesome* set-up you have there Jeff!

Enjoy that Miller OLD TOM longbow - they are SWEEEEET!

Shoot straight, Shinken

Rossco7002 · March 24, 2012, 02:03:00 PM

Man, guys are posting some nice looking. Bows this week!

Enjoy!

tradlongbow · March 24, 2012, 03:39:00 PM

Jeff
The bow looks awesome, is it stringfollow?

Congrats,
Darren

swampthing · March 24, 2012, 04:26:00 PM

Jeff you might want to consider a better backstop then that soft-wood fence!!, one bad shot and you'll be talking with the neighbors through the hole!!

Sarge11 · March 24, 2012, 05:12:00 PM

KyJeff,
Does it shoot as smooth as it is easy on the eye?
Very nice.
Sarge

Peter O. Stecher · March 24, 2012, 06:12:00 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHDa4Dufhqw

Heinz Hoffmann, an Austrian military camera man, for usually filming rifle bullets and esploxives, did me the favor and made that movie for me. A Howard Hill Archery longbow and Hill style archery equipment was used.Enjoy!

Great bow, Kentucky Jeff!!

Mudd · March 24, 2012, 06:21:00 PM

How stinking cool is that? ...Way!... I'm saying..

You and your cameraman did an awesome piece of film work.

Thank you Peter!!

God bless,Mudd

Peter O. Stecher · March 24, 2012, 06:24:00 PM

Many Thanks, Mudd!! It was fun to make that cool takes...vintage style archery...

))

March 24, 2012, 06:48:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Peter O. Stecher:
Many Thanks, Mudd!! It was fun to make that cool takes...vintage style archery... ))

Magic in slo-motion! Thanks Peter.

RC · March 24, 2012, 08:40:00 PM

Thanks for the Tembo comments guys. As far as specs it 66" long and 48@27. I do like the locator grip and it is much softer at the shot than the straight longbows I`ve shot in the past.As far as speed goes I can`t tell if its slower than a straight or not so it must not be.RC

Kentucky Jeff · March 24, 2012, 11:27:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Sarge11:
KyJeff,
Does it shoot as smooth as it is easy on the eye?
Very nice.
Sarge

Sarge,

I honestly can't call it smooth--yet. I'm still working up to the draw weight and how smoothly it draws is a little overwhelmed by how much effort I currently must muster to get it back. No worries--in a few months my back muscles will be used to it.

But the bow shoots very nicely and its quiet as a church mouse with those otter fur silencers.

Lambow · March 25, 2012, 12:41:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by joebuck:
redbone! How in world u doing? U like 12 better than a 15"?
I might copy RC? Hiss looks like a three with lam on the belly riser.

Doin good Joey!

I like to have more limb action from a shorter riser... also more circluar than ellipticle tiller.

Yes, RC's bow does look good, but my preference is for all the lams on the back of riser. If you want to run one up the belly, it'll probably work. lol

I also prefer white glass on the belly,(old school) where most folks don't.

Good luck with the build, and let us know how it turns out.