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Author Topic: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"  (Read 1511 times)

Offline toddster

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Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« on: July 26, 2024, 02:49:01 PM »
On here we have had some great collection's, like HH bug bit me, and Bear.  I figure it was about time to honor a bowyer who made several bows that many of us loved, the Thundersticks by Jim Reynolds.  I would like this to be a collection of pics, models, discussions about them and Jim himself.  Jim made the Thunderstick, the Thunderstick II, Thunderstick III, ThunderMag and the MOAB, I think he made a Recurve too.  But this is the point of the thread to honor him and his great bows.

Online Jack Denbow

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2024, 03:21:52 PM »
That is a great idea Todd. I won't be able to contribute, anything since I have never shot one of Jim's bows, but I sure will enjoy reading all the posts.
Jack
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Online Steelhead

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2024, 04:12:46 PM »
Great Bowyer

Had 2 Thunderstick 111s,and a MOAB.

The recurve was very nice.I shot those a few times at shows.It was called the Ramhorn.Very rare to see one of those.I came in 54 inches and 60 inches.50s style recurve

Offline toddster

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2024, 07:32:26 PM »
I shot a MOAB, a guy at a shoot let me shoot it.  It light my eyes up with its smoothness, and pointability.  I could not afford one at that time.  Fast forward 8 years was walking a blanket sale at cloverdale, a guy had a thundermag.  I snatched it up and love that bow.  Finally a few years ago came across a thunderstick III, snatched that up.  Love that bow, 60" 55#.  Usually not a R/D lover, but Jim's bows has something special.

Online Wudstix

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2024, 08:20:44 PM »
Had a TS III 62" 65#@28" that walked out of my locked Ford F-150 along with much of my hunting stuff I had inside when I stopped at a restaurant after hunting and it's gone.  Replaced it with a 60" MOAB 62#@27" that is one of the best bows I have shoot.  Enjoy hammock camping and hunting hogs.  Met Jim at PBS San Antonio and he put the bug in my ear about the MOAB, so when my TS III walked is was a no brainer!!!  Got it with the same purple heart riser, bamboo cores, and curly maple laminations.  It was about the same poundage as my TS III but screamed an arrow.  Named Hallelujah, because those were the first words out of my mouth when I shot my first five arrow group with all the feathers touching, 18 yards. 
« Last Edit: July 26, 2024, 09:57:48 PM by Wudstix »
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60" Big River 67#@28"              
60" MOAB D/R LB 62#@27"
60" Big River D/R LB 65#@27"
62" Kota Badlands LB 72#@28"
62" Howatt TD 62#@28
58” Bear Grizzly 70#@28”
62" Big River D/R LB 60#@30"
66" Moosejaw Razorback LB 60#@28"

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Offline DVSHUNTER

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2024, 09:43:13 AM »
The inly bow I regret trading was my MOAB. 60in and 55@28. I shot that bow so well.
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Offline abbatoys

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #6 on: July 29, 2024, 03:46:47 PM »
Had a Thunderstick for a few years and it was a very nice bow, was able to grab a moab about 15 years ago and is now the only longbow I own. Best bow I have ever shot.
62" Thunderstick Moab  52lb @ 28"
60" Bear Takedown 45lb @ 28"
60" Bear 59'er 45lb @ 28"

Offline blacktailbob

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #7 on: July 29, 2024, 03:50:19 PM »
Did he ever make any LEFTIES?
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Online Terry Green

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #8 on: July 29, 2024, 05:12:00 PM »
I'll post these 1st, then post mine later.

A friend of mine wanted to buy his 2 employers(both brothers) a bow.  I have known all 3 a long time and have hunted with them all many times.  This was some gesture from an employEE.

Now, they all shot compounds....but when we started hunting together the 3 became quiet intrigued watching me shoot the longbow. 

We'll, one got ambushed by me and I told him to shoot it just once....and when he did, he wanted to shoot again....after a short tutoring, keeping it simple my friend was acting like a kid.  He had to have the same bow that I had, and he told me to order him one and to pick out the woods for him....not only that, but I had to find him a used one so he would have one to shoot during the 4 month wait.  I did a thread on him back in 2010.

Well, two years later he he made the call to me that he wanted me to play Santa, and he wanted me to call both brothers and announce that I was Santa and the elves were frantically working on them a custom MOAB from Jim Reynolds.  He had me call them because he knew they would give him a fit about it.  And, he commissioned me to not only to order the right length, weight and draw length, but to totally handle the wood combos.....


Now, this being laid on me really made me think long and hard about what the bows should look like as I really wanted them to be stunning as they would no doubt hang them in the office while not in the field.

I wanted them to 'POP'...I wanted to push the envelope, but not over the edge, I wanted a little 'wild flare' mixed with a less wild but striking risers and overlays. Since they were brothers, I wanted to make them 'sister bows'.  Same limb veneers but same woods reversed in the flared riser he offers.

Now here's where another Jim comes in...Big Jim.  I called him to see if he would sell me some of those beautiful back ebony veneers I'd seen before and send them to Jim Reynolds. As always, Big Jim said...'Not a problem".  Big Jim even got the specs needed from Jim Reynolds and cut me 3 sets off of 3 different blocks.  I picked two sets for front and back for both and he sent them to Thunderstick.

I'd picked Bacote and Cocobolo for a nice semi contrast  risers...again reversed so each brother would have their own look and could recognize who's was who's with a glance without having to read the inscriptions.

Now some might not agree with my choices, but I thought they would come out stunning, again, some might not agree, but the employee and the employers made comments of...WOW, striking, gorgeous, I can't stop looking at it....and that's all that mattered to me.  And I'll also add that I would love to have not only my 1st bow to look this good, but I'd love to have one like them myself today.


Many thanks Jim and Jim.    :campfire:   


 

    

    

   

   


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Online Wudstix

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #9 on: July 29, 2024, 05:40:33 PM »
Awesome MOAB's.
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"If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space!!!" - Me

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60" Big River 67#@28"              
60" MOAB D/R LB 62#@27"
60" Big River D/R LB 65#@27"
62" Kota Badlands LB 72#@28"
62" Howatt TD 62#@28
58” Bear Grizzly 70#@28”
62" Big River D/R LB 60#@30"
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Online Terry Green

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #10 on: July 29, 2024, 05:46:54 PM »
This one I gave to a friend of mine....

It's a MOAB 65@28 and was dipped in Predator Spring Green. He killed a his 1st hog with a bow I gave him, then I gave him this one and he killed his biggest buck with it, and several pheasants with me on a couple of the St Jude hunts....

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Online Terry Green

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #11 on: July 29, 2024, 05:48:45 PM »
BTW, all mine are/were 60"s

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Online topGUN

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #12 on: July 29, 2024, 08:19:38 PM »
Did he ever make any LEFTIES?

Yes he sure did. I had a Thunderstick MOAB and a Mag, both in Left Hand. Sure wish I hadn't sold the MOAB.
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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #13 on: July 29, 2024, 11:55:04 PM »
Seems to be a common thread, "Wish I hadn't sold my MOAB" don't plan to make that error.  At 64# I should be shooting it for several more years.
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"If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space!!!" - Me

Psalms 121: 1-3 - King David

60" Big River 67#@28"              
60" MOAB D/R LB 62#@27"
60" Big River D/R LB 65#@27"
62" Kota Badlands LB 72#@28"
62" Howatt TD 62#@28
58” Bear Grizzly 70#@28”
62" Big River D/R LB 60#@30"
66" Moosejaw Razorback LB 60#@28"

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Online Terry Green

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #14 on: August 01, 2024, 12:55:29 PM »
I designed a bow to represent the many colors of Tines that we chase, and I succeeded way beyond my expectations in more ways than one.

I used Tamo  Ash for the veneers, and for a contrasting color riser I used Zircote.

The 1st animal I killed was the biggest buck I have ever killed, both head gear and body weight.

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Online Terry Green

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #15 on: August 01, 2024, 01:37:45 PM »
Now that you know the back story above....

Meet ........















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Online Terry Green

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #16 on: August 01, 2024, 03:02:59 PM »
Then the next year, the 2nd animal, and 2nd Ten point....



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Online Mike Bolin

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #18 on: August 01, 2024, 09:44:55 PM »
I'm a lefty and have owned 3 MOABs. The first one was 65# and the second one was 63#. Shoulder issues dictated that I move on from those two, but I ran across one that was advertised as 48#@28" so I sent a check. When I received it, it was marked 49#@30". I was concerned that it wasn't heavy enough and sold it. At my draw it would be perfect for me now. Great shooters and I killed a few deer with them. Would love to own one in the low 40# range but, have not been able to find one. When you're in your late 40s you don't consider what you might need in your late 60s.
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Online Terry Green

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Re: Jim Reynolds "THUNDERSTICKS"
« Reply #19 on: August 02, 2024, 09:59:51 AM »
Mike, I hear ya.

However, even though can still shoot 60 to 64 pounds walking out the door, I need a month to really be able to shoot my 70# MOAB as I should.

I saw the wrighting on the wall 5-6 years ago and started selling off all my other heavy bows and have replaced them with 50#ers and TDs as well. I also have a 50# MOAB that was given BACK to me by Rob DiStefano unsolicited that I have yet to kill anything with.  It has only been on one outing with me and that was the St Jude Bear Hunt I offered last year at Cohutta.  I will be taking it again this year, hoping for deer, hog or bear.

More on that bow later, as same for the 60 and 70#ers
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