Louie Armbruster passes...

[Justin Falon]

Some of you may already know that Louie Armbruster passed away due to cancer this past Tuesday.  I received an email from his daughter.  Those of you who have ever shot a Zebra longbow, understand the significance of his contributions to traditional archery.

justin

[njloco]

My condolences to his family, and his friends.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Sorry to hear.

send my condolences

[arrow flynn]

i have one of his bows i hear he used to wake up with his armguard stillon from the day before now that is someone to look up to

I had fun shooting with Louis when I lived in eastern Iowa, the carp were in serious trouble one of those days. I have killed lots of deer with my purple heart Super Grevy. I will have to shoot it again in Louis' memory. I don't ever remember him without an arm guard on.  He was great bow builder, a unique and fun person to visit, and a fantastic game shot.

[LV2HUNT]

Condolences to family and friends.

[Jack Shanks]

A friend of mine ordered a 76# Zebra from Louie back in the eighties after stopping by his booth during an archery event. Louie's wife tried to talk him into a lighter weight bow at the time but he wouldn't listen. He shot it a few times when he first received it but it was much too heavy a draw for him. It was still in like new condition when I sold it for him a couple years ago.

 A while back on one of the archery sites his daughter asked for any stories about her dad from people that had known him or owned one of his bows. She was very appreciative when I shared that little story about her parents in an Email.

My condolences to the family and all the friends.

[Ron LaClair]

I've still got the 83# purple heart bow that Louie made for me in 1980. The first one he made for me he made a mistake and made it right handed..   :D  A friend of mine took that one, an 80 pounder and Louie made the one I have now.

The first time I met Louie was when he drove from Oregon to the Bowhunters Nationals in Illinois in  1980. Nancy and I were camped there in our tepee and when I saw Louie and his wife pull into the camp ground I hailed him down and told him to set up camp beside us. Louie parked his truck and said he was going to walk down to where all the dealers were and look around. He was back in about 30 minutes and announced that there was nothing here for him and that he was leaving..  

The BHN back then was mostly compound stuff and Louie wasn't interested in sticking around. He was a crusty old guy even back then. His Zebra Grevy bows were works of art, he had his own idea how a longbow should be built and he wouldn't deviate from that.

Louie contributed greatly to the resurgence of traditional archery in the 70's and 80's. He was an inspiration who will long be remembered. Prayers for his family..

[todd smith]

My friend John Dodge made a few longbows there at the end of his career but first he ordered in a Zebra Grevy.  He shot that for a while, then he made a form.  His longbows looked an awful lot like the Zebra Grevy!!!  Hats off to Louie, and like Ron said, prayers for his family.  He will be missed...

[PICKNGRIN]

I owned several of Louie's bows in the 1980's.  My biggest buck was taken with one of his bows at about 15 yds on the ground.  I also had the priviledge of visiting him at his home in Beetown, Wisconsin on 2 occasions.  I had my uncle along on one visit.  He and Louie were the same age, both had served in the Navy, and they really hit it off!  Louie even broke out some of his homemade wine to share with my uncle.  He made some fine bows and stood behind them.  I am glad I got to meet him!

[Justin Falon]

A friend of mine made a video of Louie called Making a Laminated Longbow.  This friend has an entire collection of Zebra bows, none of which are in my weight though. I had one one, it was a beautiful bow and a joy to shoot.  I sold it and sure wish I had hung on to it.  I don't think I have ever seen a more beautiful bow in my life.  It was 66" straight profile.  Black, red, and white tips overlays.  Leather grip.  70# @28".
Butternut laminations and clear glass.  

justin

[woodchucker]

Great Spirit...

Our Brother comes to you as swift and straight,as an arrow shot into the sun. Welcome him to his place at the Eternal Campfire.

One day I went down to Louis, he wanted to check out my Schulz Hunter.  When we got there he was shooting an 85 pound bow with iron wood lams.  He told me he would either make or trade me for in bow he had on hand for the Schulz. I said fine I'll take the iron wood.  He said "no way I haven't tested enough yet." While we going back and forth on this I was getting close to getting him to make me a bow with two lams of iron wood and two of maple and he said "you drink tea in the morning?" He brought out some tea, it was not like any tea I have ever had. He said it was hell in the pickin' but it was good for what ails you.  Burning nettle tea.

[Bill Turner]

       

[Earl Jeff]

[mnbwhtr]

Lamont Granger and I traveled to southern Iowa back in, I believe 76 or early 77, and visited Louie for about 5 hrs one day, very good guy. When we left Lamont had a new bow with him and I had one on order. He will be missed.

[Mudd]

Thank you for letting us know.

My prayers and condolences to his family and those who knew and loved him.

God bless,Mudd

[coaster500]

QUOTE Ron LaClair

"I've still got the 83# purple heart bow that Louie made for me in 1980. The first one he made for me he made a mistake and made it right handed..  A friend of mine took that one, an 80 pounder and Louie made the one I have now.

The first time I met Louie was when he drove from Oregon to the Bowhunters Nationals in Illinois in 1980. Nancy and I were camped there in our tepee and when I saw Louie and his wife pull into the camp ground I hailed him down and told him to set up camp beside us. Louie parked his truck and said he was going to walk down to where all the dealers were and look around. He was back in about 30 minutes and announced that there was nothing here for him and that he was leaving..  

The BHN back then was mostly compound stuff and Louie wasn't interested in sticking around. He was a crusty old guy even back then. His Zebra Grevy bows were works of art, he had his own idea how a longbow should be built and he wouldn't deviate from that.

Louie contributed greatly to the resurgence of traditional archery in the 70's and 80's. He was an inspiration who will long be remembered. Prayers for his family.."


 

More of his work...

 

[Missouri Bowman]

Sorry to hear the sad news. Prayers for his family.