Welp, couldn't let well enuf alone with this li'l 50# Bear Montana I just picked up off our Trad Bow Classifieds ... it was in like-new condition, but the darn limb tips were long, bulky, and heavy - unbraced I could've used the bow as spear! I decided to "Littlefeather-ize" this puppy kinda like how Curtis did up his Montana.
BEFORE ...
AFTER ...
... I used a bandsaw and table sander to do most of the dirty work, then some abrasive paper and finished it off with slow set epoxy smeared with a finger. Now the bow just feels like it's smaller (it is!) and handles a bit better in the woods. Dunno what it does for overall performance, but each lopped off limb tip weighed about 46 grains (not counting what the bandsaw chewed off) on my digital arra scale.
I also pulled off the grip wrap - this must be a later model, 'cause the handle didn't feel square-ish or "blocky" at all. So I won't hafta rasp it down like CK did.
CK also trapped the limb backs - not sure if I wanna do this yet, I'll give it some more shootin' time 'fore committing a Dremel router to chamfering the limb edges. I also like the draw weight, and trapping will take it down mebbe as much as 5#.
Anyhoo, that's what I done so far to my Montana - what a great shootin' longbow for cheap!
Topic: Modding a Bear Montana (Read 4075 times)
