I am in love - Dryad Orion Longbow arrived Wednesday

[30coupe]

No, I didn't dump my Kanati, but I have been searching for a three piece takedown bow that suited me as well as the Kanati. I have a Badger recurve...a very nice bow, but not "the ONE." I had a Kota Prairie Nomad...a super nice bow, but still not "the ONE," so it will be headed to it's new home down under to the hands of northoz when the mail leaves tomorrow.

Then, in a moment of (hopefully) temporary insanity, Over&Under agreed to sell me his 58" 53# @ 28" Dryad Orion longbow. It arrived a couple days ago and I am totally smitten! Wow! Does that thing sling an arrow! I had to trim my ICS Bowhunter 500s down to 28.5" and build out my sideplate a bit to get it to handle my 235 grain broadheads! That is one full inch shorter than I used in the Prairie Nomad!

I have been too busy playing with it to take pictures so I'll post the ones Jake sent me. It's not just a shooter, it's a looker too. Now my two favorite bowyers are Jasons: Kendall and Westvang. Both these guys are artists.

Anyhow here are a few pics:

 

 

 

 

The limbs are dirty boo under clear glass with cocobolo wedges. The riser is myrtle and cocobolo. I think the black accent lines are phenolic, but I'm not sure. Maybe Wingnut or Jason can tell me.

I have small hands, so finding a riser that fits has been a real challenge. My 46# Kanati is pure perfection. The Orion has almost an identical feel. It is FAST, quiet, accurate and absolutely dead in the hand. I had it out stumping this evening and was thumping dirt clods at 20-30 yards. Then I got serious and knocked the heads off of three dandelions from 7 to 11 yards away...with three consecutive shots! Did I mention, I love this bow?

Thanks Jason Westvang for building such an awesome bow and thanks Jake Barboza for your moment of weakness!

[Wannabe1]

WOW! That Myrtle and Cocobolo make a great combination. Congrats on a great find.      

[Kenneth]

Beautiful bow!!  I love the Coco and Myrtle riser, and dirty boo always looks great!!

[Over&Under]

Russ

I could not be more happy that it found such a welcoming home!  You are more than welcome, and wish you many years of happiness with it.  It is a great bow and great looking!.  

Hope to see some hero pics with it soon, and good luck on your bear hunt....again, I am a little jealous!

Jake

[Mr.Vic]

Beautiful bow there, I almost got one of these bows with skins and antler. Money was in my hands but never got a return email. Faith had it i found my Pronghorn instead,funny how things work out. But you do have a looker for sure.

[COLongbow]

Wow! That is a very courageous wood combo that totally works. Very pretty. Never shot a Dryad, but if it shoots as good as it looks, it's a winner. Grip looks perfect too. I'm a fan of a good, hand-filling recurve grip. Good on ya!

[30coupe]

Jake, the bear hunt will be a while...still saving for that one. I guess I could have taken the camera along and taken pictures of the headless dandelions...lol!

COLongbow, trust me, it shoots as good as it looks! The grip is smaller than it appears in the pictures, which is ideal for me.

Mr. Vic, I've never shot a Pronghorn, but I have heard nothing but good about them. Right now, though, I am about as satisfied as I can be with my bows. In fact, I'll probably be thinning the herd a bit. I have some nice ones that just don't get shot much. I think I could happily live out my days with my 46# Kanati and my Orion. They fit me, they shoot great, and they look great. The Kanati will take everything up to and including whitetails. The Orion will take anything on this continent and beyond. I don't really know what else I would need.

[bmfer]

That thing is sweet...

[wingnut]

Dang can't believe he sold the bow.  LOL

The accent stripes are black glass and are used both for looks and strength.

Have fun with it!!

Mike

[30coupe]

I can't believe it either, Mike, but I'm sure glad he did.

I am having a blast! Now I'm thinking I need to sell another bow to finance some 56" static limbs for the ground blind...

I get down your way at least once a year. My folks winter on Lake Texoma, and I have been down there for spring break for the past 19 years. Now that I'll be retired, I may make it more often. I'll try to get down to Weatherford next time to shake your hand and Jason's too.

Anyway, thanks, Mike!

Russ

[stickbowmaniac]

All i can say is she is BEAUTIFUL.Sure is a looker and shooter.

[Mudd]

I just had an "ah ha" moment.   :eek:  

I can not believe that I've known Mike all these years and have not even once shot one of his bows.    
 
What's up with that?

I believe we've even been in the same place at the same time and it never dawned on me to ask permission to shoot one of his bows.    

If he's at the MoBoJam this July, I will remedy my mistake.    

God bless,Mudd

[Over&Under]

Mike the ONLY thing that allowed me to sell it was the grip, (it was comfortable, just could'nt get a consistant feel with the palm swell) in fact I even thought of reshaping it myself just so I could keep it because it shot so well!

Like I said, glad it found a good home, and hope Russ is able to take lots of hero pics with it.

[KentuckyTJ]

Lots of folks are happy that Jake is so hard to please, LOL.

Great bow and I love it when one is all it's dreamed to be.

[Over&Under]

Tom -          :D

[elknutz]

That is a beautiful riser.  I was a fan the first time I saw a picture of it.

[30coupe]

Jake sold me a Kanati that made my youngest son very happy as well. He took a great 12 point buck with it last fall...his first. I think that bow is home and so is the Orion! I just hope Jake finds one that is "the One" for him...someday.