12 years of searching...

[Gdpolk]

After looking for the perfect takedown longbow that shot like my Sarrels Sierra for 12 years, I finally just gave up and committed to a one piece bow despite the inconvenience of traveling with a 64” bow, which I travel a LOT with. I’ve asked Bob a few times if he could convert my Sierra to a take down but he always seemed a little hesitant to do so. Well earlier this fall while on a hunt I got a text from Bob Sarrels with the heads up that he is now doing two piece Sierra bows so I got on his list. I asked for specifications identical to my current one piece. I LOVE cocobolo and have a number of game calls in this wood, mostly from Jeremy Holden, as well as a few knives. I also sent Bob a bit of antler from one of my bow kills last fall on the opening day of muzzleloader season. Pictures are coming in as a work in progress of my grail hunting tool and dream come true...

[Gdpolk]

The limbs are going to be juniper because I like the color and was looking for something a bit more subtle for a hunting bow.

[Gdpolk]

The socket is going to be covered with beaver tail upon my request. This was outside of Bobs typical process but he had no problems with accommodating the request.

[Gdpolk]

The cocobolo should darken up nicely when finished out and the Osage orange laminations in the handle will darken to a beautiful mellow yellow to compliment the streaking in the juniper limbs. Bob has been a first class gentleman to work with thus far. Talking to him on the phone is as easy as talking to my best friend. He has been truly great to work with.

[HARL]

    Looking Good !!

[Caddo]

That’s sweet! Bob is one of the best! I’m partial to the Sierra myself! I like the Cedar in the limbs!


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[Bisch]

Well done Garrett!!!!!

I’m betting your gonna love that stick!!

Bisch


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[GCook]

Very nice. 

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[Gdpolk]

This is the section of antler that I sent Bob to use for tip overlays so I can run fast flight strings if desired while using some of the antler from a previous hunt for sentiment.  It was filled with character and popcorn bark along deep ridges below the first tines.

[Gdpolk]

And of course some of the bark had to be ground down to make it smooth enough to slip a string over it when stringing and unstringing the bow.  This is the first limb tip overlay teaser photo from Bob.  More to come...

[Gdpolk]

Well done Garrett!!!!!

I’m betting your gonna love that stick!!

Bisch

I'm betting so as well.  I thought about doing some wild and exotic veneers.  I also thought about grey dymondwood or whatever that plywood is called cut at a bias because it would look darn near like camouflage in the oaks and hickories that I frequently hunt.  But, I've always liked the red tones and decided to go with a basic cocobolo and juniper build that was a bit less flashy.  Although, I had to put some antler from a fun hunt.

That buck that I shot at 8 yards was running when I stuck him with an arrow!  I had listened to him feeding his way up behind the only blow down that I couldn't see through for over 20 minutes.  I could tell it was a deer but couldn't ID gender, though it didn't matter because my tag could have been for a buck or doe and I was wanting meat.  I heard it turn and start walking away so I made some noise to see if it would get curious and come out from behind the blow down.  It ran just past the thick part of the branches exposing a bit more than half its body and as I saw it slowing down I BURNED A HOLE through its vitals with my eyes.  I let the arrow slip right at the moment that it was coming to a pause and watched it zip right through a perfect broadside shot as it looked at me to see what I was.  It spooked and tore out of there like a bat out of you know where back from where it had come.  As it was running off I noticed the horns and that they were actually a pretty good rack for the area that I was hunting.  It went down with a crash about 100 yards or so from where I was sitting.  Good times for sure and now he will continue to join me on future adventures.

[Oscar-eleven]

Congrats, on the nice buck and bow.

[D. Key]

That's a beauty but just as one would expect from Bob.  I have been watching his posts on FB and really like the looks of your bow.  Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Gdpolk]

That's a beauty but just as one would expect from Bob.  I have been watching his posts on FB and really like the looks of your bow.  Can't wait to see the finished product.

I missed those. I don’t do the Facebook thing too well. However I like the video after he untaped the bow from the press. That juniper is beautiful.

[Wudstix]

Do you have a full length view of the bow?  I'm partial to Purple Heart laminations and bamboo cores.   

[Gdpolk]

Do you have a full length view of the bow?  I'm partial to Purple Heart laminations and bamboo cores.   

Not yet.  Bob did post a nearly full length video of the back of the bow right out of the press on Facebook.  However my bow doesn’t have any purple heart in it. My riser is Cocobolo with a couple of Osage orange accents. My limbs are bamboo cores with mountain juniper veneers and antler overlays.

[Longbowwally]

Thats a cool bow in the works....I really like the socket system for takedown longbows.....Great idea on using antler from buck you harvested for tip overlays....

[Gdpolk]

Thats a cool bow in the works....I really like the socket system for takedown longbows.....Great idea on using antler from buck you harvested for tip overlays....

Thanks. I like the socket system too. I really prefer the look and handling of one piece bows with a leather grip. However I travel to hunt a ton and find take downs to be more convenient to travel with. Plans are to cut a Pelican 1700 or 1720 to fit the bow, arrows, quiver, binos, knife, game calls, arm guard, and glove to make for a grab and go hunting kit that can have luggage piled on top in the SUV or put on an airplane as needed.

I’ve been using a PVC tube type case from Far North Archery for travel with my one piece Sierra for a long time. It works but is just long and bulky for travel.

[Gdpolk]

Bob got the grip and shelf adorned with a little beavertail for me today.  This bow is on its way...
 

[Gdpolk]

Here are a few photos that Bob took before boxing it up and sending it my way...