HH bug got me ... Part One!

[Green]

Originally posted by Green:
 

Originally posted by Hermon:
 

Originally posted by Green:
Thanks y'all for helping me sort through this.  I forwarded the picture to Craig as there's gotta be a reason for that "R".

One would think that Craig should be able to look up the serial number and tell the story on it?       [/b]

Hope so.  If I ever were to sell the bow, I'd like to be able to explain it.
[/b]

Here's Craig's response to my question about the origin on this bow:

Rob:
I can understand your confusion. I was also confused so I went back and looked up the original order.
This bow has juniper on the back and yew on the belly. This is why the serial lettering is unique.
Hope this helps.

         Craig

So...I guess it is, in fact, a Red Hawk.  That's pretty cool!

[Goshawkin]

Originally posted by Green:

a Red Hawk.  That's pretty cool! [/b]

Yes it is!  :D

[Tinbow]

Ok after seeing the pics of Mudd's new Vixen I'm thinking JD Berry is in store for my near future . I have a question though what's everyone's thoughts on the Misty Dawn ?

[False Cast]

Any short draw guys shoot a 63" or 64" Hill-style?

[Goshawkin]

I draw 26.5" and have a 64",shoots very nice for me.

[False Cast]

Originally posted by Goshawkin:
I draw 26.5" and have a 64",shoots very nice for me.

Thanks for your input. Backset? Glassed?

[Charlie Lamb]

Lams and backing ready for glue up. Note tip wedge glued in place.
   

Spreading glue with notched putty knife.
   

Glass and lams stacked, with heat strip,rubber pad and firehose in place.
   

Cutting riser with bandsaw.
   

Cut and ready for grinding Buchanan dips.
         
   
Grinding riser with drum and jig.
   

[Charlie Lamb]

Riser glued to lam lay up. I set the riser 1/2" below center on the lam stack which makes the upper limb 1" longer than the lower limb.
   

[Goshawkin]

Originally posted by False Cast:
 

Originally posted by Goshawkin:
I draw 26.5" and have a 64",shoots very nice for me.

Thanks for your input. Backset? Glassed? [/b]

it's a 64" 56#@27" Timberline,backset,all yew,clear glass back and belly. Shoots great and is one of the faster Hill style bows I've shot at around that weight.I know some guys would say I need to be shooting 66" because of my draw,I have some 66" bows as well.I really don't feel the difference between them.I honestly don't think anyone would until you got into the really long 28"+ draw lengths either.

[Green]

Excellent Charlie...thank you!  It's nice to see a Hill style bow come together.  Never heard the term "Buchanan dips", but that's a nice jig setup you've got for grinding your fades with consistency.  Really nice to watch a craftsman at work.

[two4hooking]

Very interesting Charlie!  Keep it up...love the build!

[False Cast]

Originally posted by Goshawkin:
it's a 64" 56#@27" Timberline,backset,all yew,clear glass back and belly. Shoots great and is one of the faster Hill style bows I've shot at around that weight.I know some guys would say I need to be shooting 66" because of my draw,I have some 66" bows as well.I really don't feel the difference between them.I honestly don't think anyone would until you got into the really long 28"+ draw lengths either.

Thanks for the info. At my draw of 25"-25.5", I'm considering a 63" or 64" bow. I appreciate hearing from others' personal experience. Obviously, the bowyer's recommendation will impact my decision the most. I wouldn't dislike a bit more maneuverability as compared to my current 66" bow… but is certainly isn't lacking in the smooth department.

Any other input from short(er) bow users is welcome. Thanks everyone.

[Bud B.]

Originally posted by two4hooking:
Very interesting Charlie!  Keep it up...love the build!

Ditto

[Shakes.602]

Awsome Charlie! I am anxious to see the Finished Product Sir!!

[mikebiz]

Originally posted by False Cast:
Any other input from short(er) bow users is welcome. Thanks everyone.

Hey False Cast.  I have a 25" draw and have shot 64, 65, 66, and 68" Hill-style longbows. Currently all of my Hill-style bows are 64", except for one that is 66".  I have no problem with any of them.  I would say that the 66" is probably a bit smoother, but none of my bows are really comparable.  One is backset bamboo, one is backset yew, another is string-follow bamboo and the 66" is straight-limbed bamboo.  All of them are glassed back and belly.  I do think that the string-follow bow is the most pleasurable to shoot, though.  So much so that I would definitely order that profile on a new bow.  

I have shot Goshawkin's all yew 64" bow.  Quite a bit of backset on that one and it is FAST in my opinion.  Of course it's much heavier than my personal bows so that's probably why it seems so quick.  That's also why he owns it now    :D  

So in short I think you'll be very pleased with a 64" Hill-style longbow.  I wouldn't go any shorter than that.  64" will be plenty maneuverable in all hunting and shooting situations.  You dont' see too many Hills under 64".  There's got to be a reason for that.  Good luck.

[toddster]

Awesome charlie, very interesting concept of glue up.

[khardrunner]

64" should work nicely for 25-25.5 inch draw. I like 66" for 26-28" draw and 68 for 28-29 inch. I have close to a 30 inch draw and shoot a 69" Schulz.

[darin putman]

Ok I just came in from shooting, I consider myself a  pretty good shot inside of 17-18 yards just picking a spot and releasing. As a matter of fact I've forced myself to ignore the tip of the arrow as it really distracted me in the past if I noticed it at all. But I recently received a book from David Miller (Shooting the American Semi Long) along with a smaller book (a pamphlet really) My method of shooting A bow and Arrow by Howard Hill. After reading them and trying seeing my arrow in my secondary vision and notice where it is all the while concentrating on my spot I really improved my shooting from 20-25 yds. Not trying to debate Hills shooting style, as a year of reading threads have taught me to steer away from that but I guess I was just really suprised at the results. But definately gonna keep working with this method  of shooting and see how it goes.

[Charlie Lamb]

Alrighty then! Got some early morning business taken care of and got in the shop this afternoon.
Unclamped the riser block and cleaned up glue and made sure I had a smooth transition from fade out to lamination.  
   

Got the fiberglass ready to glue to the belly. I wasn't real happy with the color of brown I got. I've been getting some nice dark chocolate brown glass, but this is lighter and leans toward the red end of the brown spectrum.
   

Rubber pressure strips in place and air hose strapped down and inflated. Got a good squeeze up the sweeps of the riser with no gaps. Put the heat to it for a few hours and it's sitting cooling and curing until tomorrow morning.      
Could have used my long hose but decided to do it with the two short ones.
   

[Rob DiStefano]

truly awesome stuff, charlie!

your shop looks like mine - BUSY!  :D