Dad's old Jet and early Assenheimer bow

[Ryan Rothhaar]

I was out in Iowa a couple weeks ago visiting the folks and I took my "new" Jack Howard Jet out there to show to Dad.  He was a Jet fan way back and always said it was the best bow he ever shot.

One thing led to another and we dug out his old Jet riser (he dropped it out of a tree in around 1976 and it landed on the bottom limb tip - delaminating it).  He cut it off right at the end of the fade outs and kept it.  After removing some old camo paint we found:

 

We traced the purchase to late 1972 or early 1973 from Jack.  Dad wanted it quickly and Jack sent it out with the epoxy finish still tacky, so this is consistent with the manufacture date.  Dad weighed this bow at the time and came up with 62 lbs at 29 1/2 inches - surprisingly high for a bow 56 at 28 - he called Jack and they had a lengthy "discussion" about how to weigh bows.  Suffice to say that at the time Jack Howard was weighing bows in such a manner that they were approximately 3 lbs heavier than they were marked.  He had a reason for this, but he and my father disagreed on the method.

We weighed my bow (F-486, marked 59 at 28) and came up with 62 at 29 1/2 - exactly the same as Dad's old bow....

Dad pulled my bow a couple times and made the statement "There is something special about the Jack Howard Jet!"  -- pretty high praise from him.

Next time I make it out there I'm going to take out my 50 lb Jet....I'm afraid I might not get it back, though!

While digging around we came across this old box...


 

These are EARLY, like some of the very first, Assenheimer prototype limbs when Dad and Donnie were making the first bows.  These are copied DIRECTLY off the old Jet - in effect a takedown version of the Jet.  These are the old Urac strip glass and all.  Makes a 66 inch takedown with the original riser.....

 

Unfortunately the limbs (there were 3 sets) were all 67 to 71 lbs.

Here's Dad reminiscing about the bows....

 

It was an interesting couple hours!  Then the women called us in for dinner.

Ryan

[jcar315]

Ryan, what a great way to spend some time with your Dad. Cool pics and thanks for sharing.

Enjoyed your Dad's books and his portion in MBB I

[Warberg]

Super cool, Thanks for sharing.

[PAPALAPIN]

Great post Ryan

You should surprise you dad and have that old Jet re-limbed.  It may not be jacks limb desigh, but it would resurect a legend.

[myshootinstinks]

Very nice, thanks for sharing.  With all the interest in the old JH Jets I wonder if someone will duplicate them as the old Bears and others have been copied???

[PAPALAPIN]

Hey. if anyone is interested, the company is still for sale with all equipment, materials, and supplies

[Ryan Rothhaar]

DaddyRabbit - that was the plan, but the fellow you mentioned for re-limbing isn't quite ready to do that yet.  We have been talking, tho, and I'm interested in his projects.

R

[PAPALAPIN]

Post a question here and see if anyone else cando it.

[Ron Roehrick]

Ryan great post. Enjoy your Dad every chance you get mine has been gone since 2004 and I still miss him. Your Dad is a special man.Tell him I said hello, I spoke to him on the phone a couple of years ago and we talked for over an hour, I enjoyed our conversation and learned alot... Ron.

[stagetek]

Nice post Ryan. Enjoyed reading your Dads books and many articles. I still remember a quote from him. When he was always being asked, why he used a recurve instead of a compound. He answered, "because a compound never guaranteed a kill, and a recurve never prevented one. That say's it all !

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Thanks, guys.  Thought some of the history buffs might be interested in these old bows and stories.  Having grown up around this sometimes I take it for granted...its just some of the "junk" laying around....     Like having to brush aside 4 or 5 sets of 150 inch whitetail racks to make room on the table to open the box...its just how it is.

I forgot to mention the old white limbs with the green spray paint he was looking at were the ones he used to kill his bull moose on the Moose John in the early 80's.  He and Jim Emerson went up there and floated the river with Jay Massey, Doug Borland, and Dick Robertson.  As I recall Dick killed a caribou, Dad killed his big bull, and Jim and Doug collaborated on another big moose.

Ryan

[2treks]

This is a great post Ryan, Your Dad is one of the Greats in our sport and you are blessed to be part of it. Even though it is "just the way it is" you are humble about it, as is your father. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the PM.
Chuck

[Zbone]

Jay Massey, Doug Borland, and Roger Rothhaar in the same Alaskan camp, WOW!!! Would have luved to been there.


Ryan - any chance your dad penning a book of these excursions?

Thanx

[shoot4fun]

Neat stuff Ryan !!
When you were tracing serial #'s on your dad's bow did you come across any info that could identify the year my jet with ser# F-63 was made?
Thanks ,
John

[Kelly]

John;

I used to own a Jet with serial number F-88 and Jacks answer to me was 1968. Also, know where F-96 Jet is-still in original owners hands-he bought it in 1968, also. So my guess is your F-63 is early 1968 or 1967. Jack made bows in two bunches of 50 each(sometimes more)per year so it's possible all three of these could be from the same batch in 1968. Furthermore, now of F-79 Jet but is not owned by the original purchaser.

[Chimaster]

If you only spent a couple of hours talking with dad that wasn't very long. Every time we go out there the talks go way into the night. I've got to get out there to see him. I'll be out in Wis. the end of october. Then its to Kansas, I'll stop on my way and see if we can't burn a few hours.