Tippit,
That is only half the story. I was pretty green when I bought that bow. Never shot a long bow grip I liked...they fought me or vice versa. I tried John's handle and it felt "right." It was the only one in low enough poundage I could handle...at 54#.
I put down 3/4 of the price to hold it for 4 hrs. John just shook his head and laughed. I ran around finding every longbow officianado I could find and made them shoot it. To a person, they all looked at me and went, "SWEEET! How much DIDN'T this cost?
At hour 3.5, I paid the balance and went to shoot a round. I whupped everyone in the group till I stepped on a MD slime covered rock and slid into a pool and broke the fibula on my left leg. I still hobbled about and shot 2 more courses that weekend...Paid a handsome price for being stubborn and a great price for a bow. Saddens me I can't shoot that weight anymore.
John never forgot that in his several return trips... said nobody ever put down that much money for a bow for a few hours "hold."
He was friends with Jim Stepp then and they'd worked up a way to retro fit Jim's dovetail take down apparatus.
John is one class piece of work...and a hoot to boot! Miss seeing him and many other bowyers back East here.