The Other Hill Bow

[evgb127]

It seems that in recent years there has been a resurgence in popularity of Hill-style bows.  This resurgence has reignited the debate over what constitutes a Hill-style bow versus an American Semi-Longbow versus a flat bow versus a D-bow, ad nauseam. In my mind, that debate has already been settled by the likes of John Lee and, more recently, Nate Steen in well-written blog post available here:
 
https://sunsethilllongbowsandleather.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-american-semi-longbowits-definition.html?m=1

This post, however, has nothing to do with that. Rather, I would like to share some love for the “other” Hill bow… the Ben Pearson 304.

Invented in 1954, the Pearson 304 was one of the first fiberglass takedown bows. This ambidextrous, 64” bow was made with a wood core encased in fiberglass.

Hill endorsed the bow in 1955 and you can see him using one in the Catalina Island hunt from the DVD Hunting and Fishing with the Bow and Arrow.

If you can find a 304 at a reasonable price, don’t hesitate to buy it.  It’s a pleasure to shoot and is practically indestructible.

[Sant-Ravenhill]

Thanks for posting this!

[Burnsie]

Nate's blog post was very informative - Thanks

[Hill Style]

Most don’t know Howard Hills company sold and marketed a recurve bow. I’ve seen people post things like “ Howard Hill would shoot a recurve if he was still around now”. There were recurves in Howard Hills day that were every bit as fast and well made as anything today…..Hill still shot a longbow and for good reason. If a recurve offered any kind of advantage to a hunter you can bet Hill would have used one. 

[M60gunner]

Wasn’t it in his book “Hunting the Hard Way” he described a Grouse hunt in Canada using a “recurve” he had made? If I recall it didn’t go well for him and he went back to camp and got “grandma” and proceeded to take his limit. He said he was having trouble getting into shooting position because of the foliage. Him and the recurve and odd shooting positions didn’t go together.