I thought I'd post a highly positive experience, just to get the word out on my latest archery project. Many instances of good "karma" throughout this transaction.
This journey begins on the TradGang, just lazily looking through the classifieds. I was looking for a lighter than normal (for me) longbow to use in sharpening up on my technique and possibly turkey hunting or bowfishing with. I came across Mike Rhinefield's classified ad offering to sell a used Morrison Cougar 64" Longbow 49@28. Mike described the bow as follows: 64 inches, draw weight is: 49#@28
built in 2004, 1 piece, Dymond wood Riser, locator grip, Actionboo limb cores with Canebrake skins and Fiberglass tips, FF Compatable, Dymond Wood Brown Riser Action Boo Limbs, Canebrake rattlesnake skins.
Sounded like a solid bow and Mike was asking a fair price. The deal was consumated.
Upon deliver the bow was just as described. Now I like 2 piece longbows and I've always wanted to give the Warren Bow Bolt a try. I called Craig Warren of the Warren Archery Company, inventor of the Warren Bow Bolt takedown system. Warren Archery is a sponsor on TradGang. Nice man, unfortunately too busy to accomodate my request to cut the Morrison in half and install the bow bolt. But he did refer me to Ted Frye of Raptor Archery.
Raptor Archery is also sponsor on TradGang and run by Ted Frye. A nicer man to transact business, you'll have difficulty finding. Ted agreed to chop the one Piece Morrison in half, (he's braver than I), install the Warren Bow Bolt system and he also agreed to get a bit creative/artistic. I told Ted I wanted him to install a high thumb rest on the riser. I had in mind using an Elk Ivory for that thumb rest. I then wanted to wrap the handle in leather.
What a nice job Ted Frye did on my Morrison Cougar retrofit. I particularly liked how he chose a low point of cutting the bow in two, installed the Warren bow bolt and wrapped the handle in such a way as there is no visible seam. The split in the bow sections is the lower edge of the riser grip. The thumb rest peaks out of the leather riser cover and provides a solid, repeatable footing /locator for my thumb to rest upon.
The quality of the workmanship performed by Ted Frye does well to honor the fine reputation of the entire line of Morrison bows. I now have a 64 inch bow that breaks down into two peices for ease of travel. The upper section is 35 inches and the lower section is 29 inches. Take a look at the photos.
Dual effort of two outstanding Bowyers!