Info on a Savora Longbow

[DLC]

On a trip back home several years ago, I purchased a Savora Longbow.  I was in my hometown of Missoula, MT.  I am looking for some info on this bow.  I am getting back into shooting traditional and am using this bow until I decide to move on to something else.  

Is this company still around and can I get data on this longbow?

Thanks,
Don

[Blackhawk]

When most folks hear of Duke Savora, they think of broadheads. However, there were a few models of recurves AND longbows that are out there with his name on them. It is my understanding that these bows were built by Bill Stewart and some by Jay St. Charles (Glenn's son).

I have a couple of the Savora recurves and they are excellent shooters with very nice lines. I have only shot one of the longbows.  Here in the Northwest, there are a number of archers collecting and shooting them.

I have seen this topic in years past and there are those who are a lot more knowlegeable about Savoras than I. Maybe they will chime in and add to or correct some of my information.  

I know the Bowdoc is very familiar with Savora and can add more info.  You there, Don?

The Savor recurves are a nice streamlined-looking, smooth shooting bow with a classic style.

[Blackhawk]

Here is additional info I found on another site which I have copied and posted:
 
"I used to work for Duke in Woodinville, Washington. We sold 4 Savora bows: A top-of-the-line takedown recurve (the Premier).

An economical takedown recurve (the Express).

A one-piece version of the Premier.

A one-piece longbow.

The Premier had curved limb butts that fit into curved limb pockets on the riser (similar to a Cascade or Chek-mate takedown). The Express limbs bolted flat onto the riser back (similar to a Morrison, Robertson, and many others). Both featured brown glass. The riser on the Premier was a rosewood-colored dymondwood. The Express was a less-dense, lighter-colored, laminated material. The Premier was one heck of a bow. I didn't really care for the Express by comparison.

I hope others will correct me if I am wrong, but I think most of Duke's bow-making equipment was sold to Northwest Archery when he died. I think the longbow became the basis for laminated "Pacific Yew" longbows.

I've seen quite a lot of minor variations on the Premier and Express. Duke and his bowyers were forever tinkering and made all sorts of things in limited numbers... too many to describe them all."

As a side note, I have read that Bill Stewart of Yakima (now deceased) made some of the bows."

[d. ward]

Darn BH,you beat me to it.Thats about the same amount of knowledge I have on Duke too.I do know for sure all the bow presses were at NWA when they closed the door as we helped Jay load them.As for the bows,they are great shooters and seem to have lasted a long time at this point.I also know that those Diamond wood risers,of which I beleave the one's from Bill Stewarts place got cooked a little to hot in Bill's storage building over east....160 degrees inside the metal building on a hot day,in Moses Lake.It caused some of the risers to crack in the sight window arrow rest area as they just got to hot and would kinda delaminate...But as far as I know almost all of those risers have long since been replaced over the years.I do still have two of the originals myself but rarely ever shoot them....Here's another little foot note I saved over the years...The original Duke Savora one piece recurve and take down recurve form???was a bingham kit (pretty cool huh)...I beleave you are correct also about the Pac-Yew being the original Savora long bow.bowdoc

[DLC]

Thanks for the information.  I would like to start some tunning and get back into shooting.  Would anyone have a guess as to what the brace height might be?  I want to make sure I have the correct bow string on it.  Once I know I have the right string length, I can get my draw weight and lenght to start working on my arrows.

The info printed on the bow is as follows:

LB SX-252
AMO 68"
65#@28"

The unstrung total length is 69.5 inches.

Thanks for all the info and help.

Don

[Blackhawk]

If the longbow is AMO 68", the actual string length should be 65". Those straight limbed bows should brace at around 6.5"-7".

Good luck with your return to shooting.  A 65# longbow would be a stiff one for many beginners.

[DLC]

Thanks again for the information.  I am glad I found a nice friendly message board on my first try.

Yah, the 65 pounder is up there a bit, but I am actually in better shape now than when I bought it =).  

Don