A Re-Created Schafer Silvertip

Wolf1007 · March 04, 2017, 02:40:00 PM

Gang,

For the last two years, I have had the privilege of attending Barry Wensel's Whitetail Bootcamp as my "Bowhunter's Spring Break". Aside from the rich experiences of listening to a Wensel-told hunting story or absorbing decades of deer hunting knowledge, one of the highlights for me was getting to spend time checking out Barry stuff! He's got plenty of it too!

One of the coolest pieces he has is one of Paul Schafer's personal hunting bows. I'll spare you the details of the bow, but it has a pretty interesting story behind it. After some tragedy and goodwill, the bow finally made it's way into Barry's hands and serves today as one of his most prized possessions. You can read about the bow in Barry's book, Once Upon a Tine (chapter 19).

I got to thinking after my first trip to Barry's place, that it would be pretty cool to order my first Schafer Silvertip and have it modeled after Paul's bow. After a lot of emails and a visit this past summer with Dave and Beth Windauer, who are fantastic people, we nailed down the design and the wait began!

Well, I got a phone call earlier this week from Beth, and my bow is in the mail! She is 60" 55# at 28" and features the old Trebark camo netting on the limbs. The riser is built with rosewood dymondwood, and the laminations have been modified a bit to match Paul's old bow as closely as possible. Dave did an absolutely perfect job of capturing the classic and simple nature of Paul's bow, while maintaining the integrity of his own design and artistic representation.

Below are a few pics of the original, and my new one. Don't think I'll ever pass thing one along, and I cant wait to shoot it!

Jim

cacciatore · March 04, 2017, 02:55:00 PM

A piece of history.

Keith Zimmerman · March 04, 2017, 04:10:00 PM

Pretty cool idea.

beemann · March 04, 2017, 04:29:00 PM

Very neat idea and thanks for sharing.

Steelhead · March 04, 2017, 04:30:00 PM

Cool story and sweet looking bows.

ISP 5353 · March 04, 2017, 05:04:00 PM

That ROCKS!!!!!!!!! Beautiful bow!

katman · March 04, 2017, 07:58:00 PM

Got to be some serious mojo in that beauty. Nice.

Warden609 · March 04, 2017, 08:11:00 PM

What a cool Silvertip. Congrats!!

Warden609 · March 04, 2017, 08:14:00 PM

The old school camo limbs are just plain cool.

meathead · March 04, 2017, 08:41:00 PM

That's a great idea. I am sure there are a lot of miles on that old bow. Barry had it up at Bear Quest a couple times. We all got to shoot it a few times. Neat piece of history.

Mr.Vic · March 04, 2017, 08:47:00 PM

Super nice...

FITTER · March 04, 2017, 10:15:00 PM

Ive read, re-read, and re-re-read this post several times today unsure of just what to post. I admired Paul Schafer alot in my younger years and was saddened at his passing..... I wondered to myself sometime ago what happened to his personal bow. Now I know..... Did not realize Mr Wensel had it.... thats very fitting. Very neat to see pics of it and your new bow is gorgeous!!!! Congrats to you Sir

FITTER · March 04, 2017, 10:16:00 PM

Ive read, re-read, and re-re-read this post several times today unsure of just what to post. I admired Paul Schafer alot in my younger years and was saddened at his passing..... I wondered to myself sometime ago what happened to his personal bow. Now I know..... Did not realize Mr Wensel had it.... thats very fitting. Very neat to see pics of it and your new bow is gorgeous!!!! Congrats to you Sir

Steve Jr · March 04, 2017, 11:57:00 PM

That is so cool!!!

Steve Jr

Wolf1007 · March 05, 2017, 08:04:00 AM

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm really looking forward to getting the bow set up. It should be here Monday or Tuesday. I honestly hope its not Monday, I have the day off but have a ton of school work to do! I know which will win!!

March 05, 2017, 08:54:00 AM

That's pretty cool!

Congrats on your new stick!

Bisch

Barry Wensel · March 05, 2017, 01:38:00 PM

Jim: School work? What grade are you in now? Ha. I'm so pleased you had the fortitude to have this done. What a great honor to Paul. Next time I see you down the road please bring the bow along. I'd love to see, feel and maybe shoot/sign it some day. May it bring you great luck. Paul would have been proud. Thanks. BW

fireball31 · March 05, 2017, 02:06:00 PM

That thing looks like a hunting machine.

Wolf1007 · March 05, 2017, 02:11:00 PM

Barry,

By my count I'm in 17th or 18th grade, Masters Degrees suck! I really enjoyed spending time at your place handling this piece of history. To some it's just an old bow, to me, it represents the hard work and success of two of my idols! We'll cross paths again, and I'll bring it along!

TradBrewSC · March 05, 2017, 10:10:00 PM

Very cool and special bow!