Bow bolt system - thoughts??

[Rando]

Looking to have a "twin" of my current one-piece longbow made up in a takedown version - guess that doesn't make it a twin...
But anyway, the system the bowyer uses is the bow bolt which I have not used and wanted to get feedback on this type of takedown from those that do use it, or have in the past.
I like the concept & looks, but I recall that there were some issues with it when they first came out so I guess I'm looking for some assurance that they are reliable before I invest a fair amount of income in a bow with one.
Thanks for your thoughts!

[MnFn]

The only reference about it that I have heard about was Ron from SHREW bows saying they discontinued using it because they had too many problems with it.

I found it with the "search" feature.

[oldgoat]

Iam looking at 5 bows that have the bow bolt. Firest one had a wood rise and pulled out,bower said no warrenty. The other all have some kind of marcarta or manmade risers. 3 of the bows are Toelke bow and by far the best and nicest done of all. No problems at all with them.

[Big Ed]

Javaman Archery uses them. I had a few by him and had no issues. All of the riser sections where Phenolic.
Big Ed

[Bladepeek]

I talked extensively with Gregg Coffee (Java Man bows) before ordering my Elk Heart with bow bolt takedown feature. Gregg had a bow in his shop which he had built years ago and bought back at the first opportunity. It was made with an all-wood riser and he said he was convinced it would eventually fail. Since then, he has always used a reinforced I-beam construction with phenolic as the strengthener.

I have had my bow since the first of the year (admittedly not all that long) and have had no problems. I would not hesitate, if I win the lottery and decide to buy more bows, to order another.

[pdk25]

I have several, and none have failed, with probably around 15,000 shots on one of the bows.  Most, if not all, bowyers, will only use it in risers made of phenolic, micarta, or dymondwood.

[Flatshooter]

Seems to me to be one of the weakest and potentially problematic t/d systems out there. A fellow trad member and friend had one blow apart on him not too long ago. The locket/socket system used by Black Widow and BigJim is one of the strongest and problem free systems out there IMHO.

[pdk25]

The nice thing about the bowbolt is the added weight of the bowbolt, as well as using heavier phenolic or micarta for stability.  The problems with using a bowbolt usually stem from using a riser with wood and not alot of material in it, and the exact location of the bolt.  I have actually heard of many more failures with the connexion hinge system, but I agreee that the locket/socket is a great system.  It just doesn't give the extra mass that can be a nice feature.

[Caddo]

I have a Roy Hall Navajo Apache with a bow bolt that's been my "go to" bow for a lot of years. No problems at all!

LD

[Ben Maher]

I have shot so many thousands of arrows out of bow bolt longbows with not a single problem I think the point is probably moot.
Dan Toelke wouldn't use them if they were flawed.

[Kyle Lancaster]

like them alot. I like that they ad mass to bows in addition to the takedown feature.

[Florida lime]

Originally posted by Big Ed:
Javaman Archery uses them. I had a few by him and had no issues. All of the riser sections where Phenolic.
Big Ed

Same here.    

[Terry Green]

Our hope and faith bows years ago use the bow bt... and that was back when we were doing hunters every two weeks.... We never had a problem and they worked like a champ.

[AZ_Longbow]

Is guess it depended on the weight of the bow. A 30# will put alot less stress on it than a 65#.

[Java Man]

Like mentioned above, have to use the right material around them.  Then they are quite sound.

I still use them at a fairly rapid rate.

Gregg

[Burnsie]

I have it in my Toelke Whip and love it. Worked great to pack into the back country in Colorado this year.  Easy to take down and put back together.  A simple 1/4 twist and its nice and tight.  As mentioned, all of Dan's bow bolt bows use micarta in the riser (that's the key). The locket-socket system would be my second choice,  it is also a solid proven system. IMO the other two piece systems such as the connexion hinge and such are butt ugly and really booger up the looks of the bow. I think a few bowyers such as Fox and Wes Wallace still make two piece bows with the old brass sleeve and socket.

[Chain2]

I have no experience with one. However I carried s 3 Pc longbow strung on horseback as much as I could elk hunting. When it was just too dark to see anything I broke it down. I was wishing for the Elkheart I'm waiting in line for. For no other reason than the bow bolt. I checked them out at Greg's and it seems like the way to go, whether riding or walking.

[WESTBROOK]

Dick Robertson has switched to using them now after decades of the connection hinge.

[Terry Green]

For the record to be fair about bow poundages.....


As far as the poundage Mike made two sizes one for light bows and one for heavy bows.

[Yellow Dog]

I have not one concern about the Bowbolt, my favorite takedown system. Over the years I've had one built by Dan Toelke, four built by John McCullough and seven built by Gregg Coffey. Still have eight of them, done correctly by the above superb craftsmen and you'll never have to worry.