HH bug got me ... Part One!

[khardrunner]

Makes sense, I'll ask.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Alright I finished up the boo backed hill bow I was building. Need some opinions.

Should I go with horn tips and snake skins or stain the boo and do tips to match the riser?

Leaning towards skins, Got some sweet ones if I do.

Here's some pics

Hill bow

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like the idea of letting the boo shine LOL but I also don't like a light colored backing on a hunting bow

The specs are 66" tip to tip, 56# @ 28" I figure she'll lose a few after shoot in. I glued her up with 1.5" of reflex and she has about 3/4" set and I figure will take a shade more which is what I was after. Not bad for a three day build. Now I just got shoot her some and pretty her up.

[Mudd]

Nice Kris!

No glass?

God bless,Mudd

[Stiks-n-Strings]

No glass Mudd, All natural! Only way to go. It's boo backed with blood wood core and osage belly. I always have loved the good Ol' American longbow and this thread and one on the bench just pushed me ove the edge.

[ron w]

Nice job on the bow....go with the skins.......

[Rik]

I'm not much of a white tail guy, being born and raised in the Northwest, but I have to say, that buck in the lickin' pose is the finest-looking work I have seen.

From time to time, many of us will find ourselves in need of a great taxidermist. Sharing the guy's name who created that work of art would make us all quite happy.

Originally posted by Stiks-n-Strings:
Alright I finished up the boo backed hill bow I was building. Need some opinions.


I like the idea of letting the boo shine LOL but I also don't like a light colored backing on a hunting bow

Awesome Stiks!
I admire you for your talent.  I don't think you need to worry too much about the boo shining through.  It is gorgeous just the way it is now.  
There is something about a "natural" bow that grabs my attention....and holds it.  I'll bet she is deadly quiet and fun to shoot.  
 

[JohnHV]

I like the look of that bow Stiks-n-Strings.

I took my new to me Sunset Hill bow (thanks JCJ!) out for some shooting around the property today.  Was just shooting at weeds and got my first Robin Hood with a Hill bow!  The first arrow was tipped with a judo and the second was a rubber blunt.  The nock of the first arrow stuck in the rubber tip of the second pretty as you please.  I think I like this Hill bow thing!

[Berliner]

Khardrunner-

I second what Darren mentioned: I shoot a Jerry Hill Longbow. Jerry was the nephew of Howard Hill and used the Originals to build his line of bows.

My grip is dished and measures 2" 1/8 depth at the shelf, 1" wide and about 4" in length. If you would cut the bow in half it would look like a racetrack. That what it`s called: a racetrack grip style or hatchet grip (Bob Burton`s creation I recall, Darren?)

This wedged style grip fits my hand very good and seems to hinder the bow from torquing during the shot sequence. Just my feeling.

[30coupe]

Originally posted by tradlongbow:

X2, I would also measure the depth and width. John Lee and John Schulz both said that a Hill bow should be 2 1/8 deep.

I like mine 2 1/8 deep and 1 " wide.

Darren [/b]

They must have had a lot longer fingers than I do then! I think you need to make it fit your hand, not John Lee's, John Schulz's or Howard Hill's. For me, 2 1/8" is too deep. My fingers are short and I just can't get them wrapped around far enough to be comfortable and repeatable with that much depth. I took about 1/8" off the depth of my Shelton and it fits great now. I'm not sure just what it measures now, but it's a lot less than 2 1/8". What mine measures makes no difference though, it has to feel right to you.

[Berliner]

30coupe-

you`re right! Of course it`s the best choice you can have if a bowyer builds a grip to "your" hand. Darren and I just described what used to be the original Hill-style-grip-measurements, not what HAS TO BE your personal grip size. Pls correct me, if I am wrong here.

[Mudd]

Nice job on the bow Kip.

BTW I think your wife's form looks just about perfect....lol

Sorry about that...lol I have lived alone too long..lol

I think with you teaching her she'll do just fine.

Congratulations on the good looking bow and wife.

God bless,Mudd

[tradlongbow]

Darren [/qb][/QUOTE]They must have had a lot longer fingers than I do then! I think you need to make it fit your hand, not John Lee's, John Schulz's or Howard Hill's. For me, 2 1/8" is too deep. My fingers are short and I just can't get them wrapped around far enough to be comfortable and repeatable with that much depth. I took about 1/8" off the depth of my Shelton and it fits great now. I'm not sure just what it measures now, but it's a lot less than 2 1/8". What mine measures makes no difference though, it has to feel right to you. [/QB][/QUOTE]

Your right the bow needs to fit your hand.

I was backing up what Molson was saying by giving an example on how to measure the grip by depth and width instead of circumference.

Since a Hill grip has a boxed shape it can be measured by depth and width. Someone may like a shorter depth and larger width or a larger depth and shorter width.

I like 2 1/8 x 1".

I had a grip that was 2 1/8 x 1 1/2 and it was too thick.

Darren

[Overspined]

For grips: I  just received a bow back from HHA for a grip re-shape.  What I will do from now on is send length and width measurements with pic(s) of the shape I prefer and he will copy it. Craig did a fantastic job.  When a bowyer makes a standard grip, standard is subjective and changes over years.  Better to get what you want the first time and save $50 in shipping costs.

[Overspined]

I like my Hill style grips "egg shaped" and about 2"X1". The small T/D Hill grip fits good too, but I have to pay more attention to the hand placement because the egg shaped grips seem to just naturally align themselves. I have learned to shoot other grips too, but with some additional playing around.

[Hawkeye]

Coaster 500- Beautiful bow, lovely archer!

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Rik, that deer was mounted by a local guy who does very little taxidermy these days. I killed him right after he did his business in a scrape so I had him done up doing his business in a scrape.

Turned out pretty cool but momma said no more half body mounts or full body mounts on account of room. LOL

Guess I'll have to add on the house LOL

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Oh yeah almost forgot, I think I'm gonna stain the boo on the bow and do skinned one with a snakewood riser on my next one, still can't decide.

[Ray_G]

Coaster and Stiks,

Nice work!  Someday I want to learn to build bows.  Ya'll have some nice taxidermy, too.

[Ray_G]

Today was warm for January in Idaho.  It got up to around 50* by afternoon.  I took my Sunset Hill for a bow hike, hoping to find some cottontails to shoot at.  Nate and I had seen a lot of rabbits in this canyon two deer seasons ago.



We haven't had the usual snow this year and finding the little buggers was going to be difficult.  This is a view of Mt. Harrison, which is usually all white to the bottom this time of year.



I didn't find any rabbits but I had a nice hike and several sagebrush were "killed".  That is our version of stumping.      I got in some good practice at up and down hill shooting.  The other photos are of the surrounding area in this part of the canyon.  All in all, it is always good to be outside after a busy work week.