A Gift I Never Expected

[D.Sheppard]

About a year ago an oldtimer who took a liking to me and tolerated me enough to let me hang around passed away.

 Rusty led one of those lives that you hear about. From logging in Canada when he was young to serving his country and shooting on the marksman team to shooting Olympic Style Archery competitivly to being a Certified Archery Instructor to running an archery pro shop he had some stories.

Recently I stopped by to see his Mrs. and check to see if she needed anything taken care of since the weather was starting to finally warm up. We sat a while talking about nothing and everything when she excused herself and went in the back room.

She came back with a couple bows that had belonged to Rusty and ask me if I would like to have them. Rusty and I shot and hunted together often and she knew they would be cared for.

Never expected the bows and would give it all away to share the woods with that old fart again. A pair of bows I will cherish till my time comes.

Warren Joseph Charles Barth
July 3, 1939 ~ March 29, 2010

Appalachian Archery Savage River TD 62"-54#@32" and a Middle Mountian Longbow 68"-55#@32" custom made for Rusty several years ago. I believe they are Walnut and Locust and heard him talk about having carbon fiber in the limbs.
 

[adkmountainken]

if those bows could talk!!! who knows maybe they will talk to you when its time!

[Mike Vines]

Awesome suprise.

[Terry Lightle]

They will talk to you if you take them to the woods!

[rastaman]

Very nice sir! And you will still be sharing the woods with your friend.

[kennym]

You are blessed.  

[GREASEMAN]

awesome!!

[Gator1]

What a fantastic story, and a couple of real special treasures...

     

[K.S.TRAPPER]

That's some good Mojo right there    

Tracy

[Thumper Dunker]

Awsome stuff.

[bolong]

 That's very special!

[TWarrows]

a true keeper.

[BWD]

It doesn't get any better.

[Jack Guard]

Absolutely awesome.   I too have a set from Appalachian Archery.  Wouldn't trade it for anything.  

What a great gift !

[D.Sheppard]

How long has it been since App. Archery made bows ?

Anyone have any info on the maker ? Is he still around ?

[David Mitchell]

Dave Guthrie was the builder.  He has not made any bows for several years--gave it up to go back to the plant as a welder with more secure pay check and health insurance. He's riding Harleys now I hear.  He was from West Virginia.  I wrote a bowyer interview article on Dave many years ago that was in TBM.  Dave was well known at the time and gave away a lot of bows to various organizations for auctions and fund raisers.  The fluted arrow head tip overlays were a trademark of his bows.

[KyStickbow]

Awesome!!

[EL Mejor]

COOL AND CLASSY,,,

[zigman]

One never knows when and how friendship will be rewarded.

zigman

[DannyBows]

Treasures indeed. Thanks for sharing.