Needing a FORWARD HANDLE design!!!

[stickbow73]

Hello to all of my fellow Traditional shooters! I appreciate any help with this.....I recently acquired 4 staves of Osage Orange that actually have the date the original gentleman picked them and it says 1933! These staves are awesome and I found them in the corner of an old barn. I could barely read the writing but they were definitely picked in 1933! Anyway, here is my problem/concern....Two years ago this past July, I took a trip to meet the one and only Mike Treadway out of Ashville, NC. He was an incredible man and I felt connected with him because my grandfather grew up in Weaverville which actually butts up to Mike's property! My grandfather was an amazing outdoorsman and he had nothing. He was extremely poor. He learned to live off the land. He built many a bow from the hardwoods of those gorgeous mountains. Anyway, Mike's bows are the most amazing bows I have ever shot. The extreme forward handle that he uses, coupled with the Reflex/Deflex design, makes an outstanding feeling and shooting bow. I was so accurate with his bows right off the bat that I DO NOT want any other style. The problem is, Mike has stopped taking orders for bows and now I am stuck. I missed my boat and I don't know what to do. I called Mike and left him a message last week asking if he would make me an exception and build me a bow but he hasn't gotten back to me. I have 4 staves and they cost me a pretty penny due to their age and rarity. I want to know if there is anyone out there who could duplicate Mike's forward handle design and be willing to build me a bow for a greatly reduced cost if I give the other 2 staves to them as part of the payment? Please give me any ideas you may have! I am really upset that I cannot have one of Mike's bows. Thank you so much! My email is [email protected]

[stickbow73]

WOW! I am amazed at all the posts to my thread! LOL....Is there anyone out there?

[Sam Harper]

I'm not really that familiar with Mike Treadway's bows, but I was curious about the idea of having a forward handle bow made out of a stave, so I googled him.  All the forward handle bows I was able to find by him were laminated bows, not stave bows.  Are you sure it was a bow made from a stave that you shot?

There are lots of other people who make reverse handle bows.  Check out Bob Sarrels' "foot hills" and "black hills" longbows.

 http://www.sarrelsarchery.com/

[LittleBen]

I'm with Sam, Also couldn't find stave bows wth forward handle.

Again, to add to what Sam said, also might look at Big Jim's Bow Company, he has a couple forward handle designs. Really, most of the R/D bows are forward handle.

[stickbow73]

I appreciate the info! And I was wrong. I called them staves. They are just 4 pieces of osage. I want to use them.

[Swissbow]

I have built a few d/r-longbows, with a forward handle. I took a different approach on the concept by building a regular riser, just a bit slimmer, and then building up the rest of the handle on the front. By doing so I can move the grip forward about 1 ½" and on the same time I also increase the mass of the handle to make it even more stable on the release. They are smooth to draw and very nice to shoot. I just love em.

 
__________
Andy

[bigbob2]

That's an interesting approach Andy, looks good too!

[Robertfishes]

There are lots of bowyers on this site. Go to the sponsor list and look at the bows. Maybe you can find a suitable bow there. Mike T's bows are very nice!

[stickbow73]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Keep em coming!