My Gawd, I am so glad I clicked on this thread! Not more than two weeks ago, I came across a photo Val Sorrentino sent me of “my bow” before he ever agreed to let me have it. He called it something like the Little Delta, a repro that was kind of a cross between a ’60 and a ’62 Kodiak, but looked like a dead ringer for a ’62. After finding the pic, I took his bows down, strung, and shot them again, and it was like a window to my past had reopened. Phil, everything you and Al had said about him was true – remember his phrase “the Bear flair”? He could make a bow that would convince you the best dreams of Fred Bear had materialized on earth! Al said it, too.
That K57 Special in your pic sure looks like the one I have. And, the weight is right. Do you have one too?
I came across that old pic while resurrecting a lot of old memories as I began to display my old collection again. I never met him in person, but Val was a great friend. We sometimes talked on the phone for an hour or more, and he never sent a package that didn’t have a little personal gift in it(I’m still clicking my mouse on a pad with Fred and someone else crossing that incredible Little Delta bridge…..bet some of you are too.)
About the same time, I came across a box of Eastern Bowhunter and NY State Broadhead mags, still in the box he returned them. When Val was down with that awful spine/neck/whatever thing, we talked a lot and I loaned him some reading material. He returned it not long before I heard he was gone.
To me, Val Sorrentino was a real special man and a good friend. And, by the way, I understand he was a guy who knew his way around a bow!!! So funny we talked so much and never met. He always said he wanted to come out to hunt Colorado. I kept saying: come ahead! And all we did was talk on the phone and email.
I may never be convinced that technology is a bad thing. How else would I have known Val?