HH bug got me ... Part One!

[tradlongbow]

Over the years, I have bought and sold many bows, and through my journey, I have stuck with the Hill grip because it has given me the best fit for my shoot style.

 I really enjoy the classic look and feel of my Hill bow and Mohawk bow, yet I also like my 21st Century for it's accuracy and ease of shooting. The difference in the bows are like having a Classic convertible car, and a Modern high performance car in your garage. Sometimes one will want to take the top down and cruise, and other times one will want to ride in the more sleek arrow dynamic and modern suspension of the newer car.  

 I get the same impulse all the time to buy another bow, I used to say, I need a back up bow, the same weight and length. Know, I say when this one breaks, I'll buy another bow. I even used to think about what a new bow would look like, and shoot like if it had a different combination of woods and glass color. I guess you can say that I was always looking for the best bow combination, instead of just sticking with one bow.
 The one thing that I have been doing different to control my bow buying addiction is focusing on arrow building and perfect arrow flight. It's been much cheaper to buy and build arrows than buying bows.

My collection of bows are down to only 4, and they all have a Hill grip.

Howard Hill Big Five
Mohawk Classic
Saxon Mongoose
21st Century Edge

Darren
Darren

[7 Lakes]

I agree with Dick, once you stop buying you have to start building.  Nothing beats that new bow feeling.  New car, house comes close but then you realize how much further you are in debt..  The new bow feeling is the best.

[jsweka]

Originally posted by Dick in Seattle:
As far as the sickness goes, I can tell you the outcome...  When you reach the point you can't buy more (I had between 30 and 40!) you start trying to learn to build them!     I haven't got a clue to a cure for that!      

That's boat I'm in.  I don't own a Hill bow, but I've built a few "Hill Styles".  I want an actual Hill, but then again I'd feel a little like I'm cheating on myself for shooting one that I didn't build. Such are the ponderings that keep one awake at night.....

[Rik]

. . . how will you know how to build one, if you've never owned one to study. . . and shoot?

[Sean Butler]

I would love to build my own but where to start?  Last year we purchased some of the equipment to start making our own bows but lack power in the garage to hook everything up.

[WESTBROOK]

Sean, you need an Electrician?  :D  

Eric

[Sean Butler]

or really long extension cord  :p

[MT Longbow]

Hey guys I just bought a doz of the HH broadheads 160 grain with the 40 grain adaptor and some Ferul tite hot glue....cant wait to shoot them, just wondering if you guys have used them with your HH bows and if so your experiences with them, also what technique and tool did you use for sharpening.

Thanks Much,

Patrick

[MT Longbow]

Also , just curious, who out there has a Carbon HH, and what have you noticed about the carbon?  does it add speed, or just stability or what is the point of it?


thanks

[Bowits]

I bought a BLACK WOLF HH a few years ago. It was the only HH that I have owned that I put something on the string for noise(I think that carbon bows have a metalic sound to them), it was "stiffer" than the other HH I had with the same specs.  It was faster to the naked eye.

[tradlongbow]

Originally posted by Bowits:
I bought a BLACK WOLF HH a few years ago. It was the only HH that I have owned that I put something on the string for noise(I think that carbon bows have a metalic sound to them), it was "stiffer" than the other HH I had with the same specs.  It was faster to the naked eye.

I agree 100%, because several years ago I bought two identical bows, the only difference was one had carbon limbs. The carbon limbed bow was stiffer to draw than the all bamboo limbed bow, but the carbon limb was a tad bit faster.

Darren

[Dick in Seattle]

Don't know about the faster, but the two I got when Craig first started offering them were definitely stiffer to draw.   I was enthusiastic at first, but aside from the stiffness, came to feel it just wasn't "right".  The Hill is, to me, the best  example currently of a real traditional bow.  Trying to modernize or improve it just doesn't sit well.   Plenty of folks doing that to plenty of other bows.  I like having one that is an honest touchback to the origins, so that we can see what we can do with the same tools they had to work with.

[Steve Clandinin]

Dick,You are so right.I gave my new Cheetah a work out today and after every shot I loved it more.I shot better with that than anything in my arsenal.It just clicked.I shot two of my highly stressed RD longbows,there going to be on the block shortly.The simplicity,romance,history ,whatever it just shot like a champ and was pure pleasure.

[Dick in Seattle]

Getting Back At It


Got back into the shop today for the purpose I'm supposed to be there… first time in over a month.   Been busy with other activities and other types of projects.   Got a friend who wants a special bow, but I have to order some particular lams he wants, so I decided to start on a bow i've been wanting for myself.   As seems to happen a lot with me, the wood talked to me and changed my plans.   I had planned an all maple bow with birdeye back, quilted belly and tiger riser.    However, when I got the rough lams sawn and laid out with the riser block, it didn't look right at all.    Too busy, the grains fought instead of complimenting each other.  

So, what to do?   What changes to make?    Finally decided on birdeye both back and belly, tapered boo core and a bubinga riser.   Got the lams and a power lam cut and the riser shaped and should be able to do the layup tomorrow after a bit of organizing for the first effort in my new glue up room.   Hopefully, it will be as pretty as i hope….   Still haven't decided whether shelf or no shelf.   I suppose the wood will tell me…

More when it's done.

Originally posted by Dick in Seattle:
Don't know about the faster, but the two I got when Craig first started offering them were definitely stiffer to draw.   I was enthusiastic at first, but aside from the stiffness, came to feel it just wasn't "right".  The Hill is, to me, the best  example currently of a real traditional bow.  Trying to modernize or improve it just doesn't sit well.   Plenty of folks doing that to plenty of other bows.  I like having one that is an honest touchback to the origins, so that we can see what we can do with the same tools they had to work with.

Dick, I couldn't say it any better than you did!
     

and...as Mudd wouild say: "It ain't broke so don't fix it"

[Mudd]

 
 

more to follow..........

PS: Tony has called me a "Bo-Ho"...imagine that....lol

[Mudd]

New-to-me HH Wesley 66" 57@28  Yew and boo under clear glass.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
God bless,Mudd

PS: the arrows I'm shooting are over 800 grains and 31&1/16th BOP.

Mudd!
Another nice 66"er
A pretty rascal for sure...      


(not you...the bow)    :p

Haha!  A "boho" does not need to be pretty....just rich...or heavily under the spell of this thread,

[bulldog18]

Very nice Mudd. Feel the bug biting at me again.

[RLM]

Mudd,  Glad you like it, good luck with it. She shoots good and with plenty of authority.