I've always been one of those weirdos that needs a back-up bow exactly like the main hunting bow. (whatever can go wrong has gone wrong, so I plan ahead). Probably a dozen times I've had a bow I really liked, then ordered an identical bow for back-up and hunted the season. There have been times when the identical back-up bow was perfect and sometimes a really different feeling and shooting bow, to the point that I couldn't use the same arrow.
This is the first time I have ordered a third of a kind. So that's saying something. I received my 3rd J K traditions Kanati Longbow today. It's as good as the others and shoots absolutely exactly like the others. They are 60lb@30". (60" bow) (Some photos attached for those who like to look at bow pictures.)
I put the rubber grips on them but Jason uses a finish that doesn't get gloss smooth after a summer of shooting so the rubber grip is not a necessity. The first two were gray and the third is the brown one. I order the grips altered so I can shoot with a straight bow arm/high wrist. Jason cuts them just right.
The supplied strings appear to be very good, but I have my own made up and ready. After testing a dozen or so string recipes using the newest materials on these bows and others, I settled on a clear winner - 18 strands of 452X, no padding in the loops, .025 #62 serving and two woolly whispers. The Kanati is so quiet and shock free with this string.
Late in the season this fall (after a shaft failure on a nice buck) I switched to Alaska Bowhunting Supply Grizzlystiks .320 TDT that weigh about 650 grains when finished. (With a 250 gr point). Those shafts have been really impressive so far. The finished weight and FOC that I wanted is really easy to obtain. And I can go up or down in point weight 50-100 gr with almost no change in tune, flight or trajectory. To me that means shots from twisted positions still have perfect flight.
Note - the Grizzlystiks are not the Grizzlystiks of the past. They are very high quality, made by Victory and worth trying. They are close to the new AD Stingers but with tighter tolerances and a higher price tag that has proven to they are worth the $. When I first got 6 of the grizzlystiks I didn't give them a chance and only experimented briefly and put them aside. I am glad I tried them again.
Tedd