Very classy Billy.  And having multiple Schafers and TallTines, I can see how a person could make the mistake of thinking they are similar looking from a distance, a LONG distance!  To say they are a copy is laughable.  Very similar to guys saying a Habu is a copy of a Black Widow.  When you sit them side by side, you can she how very different they are, and again when you shoot them. Statements like these could not be more wrong.

i have shot both and have a schafer. i have looked closely at both bows and understand people when they say there are many differences between them. however, there are many similarities too and to say that the bows are completely different is really not true in my opinion. not a bad thing at all and certainly not a criticism of brian wessel.

as for throwing rocks at a schafer... well, thats just ridiculous.


also, i think dave shows alot of class and character when he does such great work on bows that he didn't make. i understand he isn't doing it for free but he doesn't have to

Looks great. Let me be nosy and ask you what it cost to have the checkering done?

Very nice and practical too.      

Billy what was turn around time from Dave on the grip checkering? I have a macassar, myrtle coming that might need some of that action.

oh, and i forgot to add..

nice bow billy!  looks great with or without the checked grip    

You know, something is wrong here.

Billy was proud to show off some work by two fine craftsmen.

Dave and Brian are two of the finest men I have ever met.  I have spent time with both of them, not talking with them at their booth at a show, but at their homes.  They are solid upstanding men. They both make top shelf products.  How anyone could say a negative thing about either guy or bow is beyond me.

Does a TallTines look like a Silvertip, yes, from a distance.  Lay one on top of the other.  Very different.  I have done this.  Does a Habu look like a Black Widow, yes, from a distance.  Lay one on top of the other.  Very different.

Do Blacktails, Fox, Wes Wallce bows look similar to a Brackenbury?  Of course they do!

How about ALL the bows that look like the Super Kodiak?  Is a Bighorn a copy?  How about Brandon Stahls beautiful bows...they may look similar, but they all have their own things that make the unique.

Did Paul Schafer copy exactly the Savage Deathmaster?  I don't think so, but Bob Savage taught him how to build bows, right.  There are some similarities.

I think it is disrespectful to say any of these talented bowyers we have today have "copied" someone.  Do you really think someone who has the love of archery so deep he makes a living from it is going to blatantly do it by coping anthers work?  Nope, I refuse to believe that.  And to "throw rocks" at any bow, much less a Silvertip, well that should be taken at face value and ignored.

People, please think before you speak.  Actually before you write.  I think if we were speaking instead of writing, some of these statements would be better understood and worked out.

We are blessed to have such fine bows available, and such a diverse assortment of fine bows.

I agree with SteveO,plus it is pretty difficult to make a bow that is very different than all the others,the geometry and the lines must stay in certain proportions if you want the best performances.

David,

Beth said the turn around time on checkering was normally 2 weeks. My riser was in the mail back to me in 2 1/2 weeks, and the riser was there through the Thanksgiving holiday. If Thanksgiving wasn't in the mix, it probably would have been back in less that 2 weeks.
Dave and Beth are very punctual.
When they give you a time frame, you can pretty well take that to the bank.

Steveo's right!A spaghetti sauce is a spaghetti sauce but everybody has is recepie and even if you take  and follow the exact recepie from your mother or your wife it will taste differnt!And that's make life fully colored,not fade.

Billy, your bow looks great! Brian makes a great looking bow and so does Dave, let's just leave it at that!! Come on people!! Jason

Steve hit it on the head this time.  There are so many fine bows to choose from out there.  But in reality in comes down to your own personal preference of what you like and that may be a couple different bows.  I know I'm guilty of liking to many  bows.  To each his own, but I just love shooting and don't look forward to not being able to pull back any of my bows someday.  Hopefully that is many years down the road.

Beautiful bow AND grip sir!      

The way I see it is that there are many beautiful bows out there just as there are women. I made vows to my wife and that's enough vows for me. I currently have a "crush" on Tall Tines bows, and now that we've gone "all the way" will be tough to separate. If I had a couple whiskies on board I could see myself cheating with a grip like that!!!

Don't tell my TT I said that!!!

Thanks a lot Billy. By the way I'd really appreciate it if you would buy R.W. Mackey's one piece Blacktail, cause it is really working on me.