Well....The Lost Creek longbow came today.
Let me start off by saying I am a die hard, dyed in the wool recurve shooter. I have owned some of the most highly sought after and pricey R/D longbows built, including 3 different Shrew models, and 2 Centaurs. I'm not knocking Shrews or Centaurs in any way. I'm only saying none of them were the longbows for me.
The Lost Creek does have more of a medium recurve grip, and I knew it was a nice fit from the first time I held the bow. The riser is Dymondwood, which gives the bow a bit of overall mass weight. The bow is cut to center, which makes it easier to tune.
I picked up some 2016's, and 55-60 POC arrows and started shooting. Both arrows fly perfectly with 125 gr field tips. The 2016's are dead on with Muzzy Phantom 4 blade heads, the POC arrows are dead on with 125 gr Ribteks, so actually there was zero tuning to be done. Broadheads and field tips shoot great with either arrow.
The bow pulls very smooth to my 28" draw, dead in the hand on release, and as quiet as any bow I have ever shot, and it looks like it will hold it's on in the speed department. I don't have a chrony, but the bow is plenty quick, and it is very well mannered any way you look at it.
The craftsmanship is outstanding, perfect glue lines, and the riser overlays flow and blend perfectly into the limbs...no humps, bumps, high spots anywhere, in fact, some of the nicest feathering in of overlays I have seen.
The bow has Bamboo cores with the wildest, grainest, most burley, multi colored Osage veneers on the planet.
I am a stickler on finishes, and I absolutely and totally dislike the matt, pebbly, orange peel, textured finish many of todays bowyers are useing. I know the matt finish may be better under hunting conditions, but I can deal with that. I explained to Chad the type finish I was looking for and he nailed it dead on.
I ordered the bow on the 17th, and Chad shipped the bow on the 30th....14 days folks....that ain't a bad turn around time.
I am very pleased with the bow in performance, as well as craftsmanship.
Anyone thinking about buying a R/D type longbow, you need to do yourself a favor and talk to Chad before making a final decision.
Chad....you done good Bud !!!!!!
Billy