top 5 classic D-style longbows/pics

shade seeker · January 17, 2009, 02:00:00 PM

Ok! thanks for your previous posts on my most recent quest for longbows. I know now that I MUST have a D'style classic longbow! Dang I wish I'd known that a year ago. Oh well I still did discover traditional archery before I start pushing daisy's!
Now that I know I'm trading in my recurve. Would you please help me further along on my quest by showing me what your opinions are in my search for my next bow! THat is a D-style long bow.

Thank ya

Dartwick · January 17, 2009, 02:11:00 PM

I dont have pics but Great Northern makes a pretty one.

Carbon Caster · January 17, 2009, 02:16:00 PM

I am going thru the same thing as you. LOL!!! From the questions I have asked and information I have gleaned, I would say Northern Mist, Sunset Hill, & Howard Hill should be at the top of the list. A "new kid on the block" is Apex Predator bows. You can see a build along he is doing in the Bowyers bench forum here, and he is a sponsor as well. I have been watching Marty's Bows for a while now and decided to go with him for my first. I have no doubt I will be happy with my decision.

Swamp Pygmy · January 17, 2009, 02:25:00 PM

to tell you the truth I have a hard time believing they make a bad straight limbed longbow. I always hear bad things about Jerry Hill. But it seems odd that bows that are all copycats of each other would shoot so much worse.

At any rate don't fret over it too much because there isn't a tremendous difference in them like the other bows. The basic premise is a straight limb. So there is no dramatic variation between bowyers because the bow forms all look the same.

shade seeker · January 17, 2009, 04:50:00 PM

thanks guy's keep em coming! Starting to narrow it down.

HATCHCHASER · January 17, 2009, 05:00:00 PM

A Mohawk has a mild r/d but still makes a D shape when strung and it is as quiet as anything I have shot. If you have to have straight limbs check out Apex Predator. My buddy just got one from Marty and it is very nice.

SpankyNeal · January 17, 2009, 05:14:00 PM

That's not exactly true Swamp Pigmy as there are some differences. In your other thread I mentioned the different limb profiles for Hill bows - reflex, straight, and string follow; they are all Hill style bows but shoot differently. You also have varying degrees of each. For example, my Kramer has over an inch of reflex and is a powerfull bow, but it has a little kick to it as well. My Pete George has about an inch of string follow and is as calm in the hand as an r/d but is also a little slower. Then you have bowyers such as St. Charles, and Steve Turay at Northern Mist who add just a touch of reflex which gives better speed, but is still very pleasant to shoot while Craig at Howard Hill and David Miller offer all three profiles. For your first you cant go wrong with any of the current bowyers - Hill, Northern Mist, Sunset Hill, St Charles, Miller, Belcher, Toelke, Great Northern, and Marty (I haven't had the pleasure of shooting one of his bows yet but they look awesome) they're all great bows but definately stay with the string follow to mild reflex profiles. You really need to shoot some bows because your going to have to decide on a grip style as well. Personally I prefer the straight grip, but a lot of folks like the dished and locator grips better. Everything has to fit you or your not going to enjoy it as much as you could. I put some pics for ya on the other thread. If I had to pick the top 5 of currently produced bows that I have owned or shot it would be Hill, Sunset Hill, Northern Mist, Miller, and St. Charles, but don't ask me to put them into order first to last because I can't! Hope this helps and good luck! Ken

Swamp Pygmy · January 17, 2009, 07:29:00 PM

I was under the impression that a reflexed limb was a reflex longbow and a string follow bow was a deflex longbow?

As far as I know a straight limbed longbow is exactly that. A straight limb.

But I'm no expert on the terminology. What I meant is that two recurves at the same length may have radically different designs. True D shaped longbows don't have much variation. If you said "What is a good hybrid bow?". Well there are numerous different shapes. No form may look alike. But if you ask about a straight limb bow the forms will be nearly identical. The only real changes might be handle shape, number of lams, width, it they taper, etc. But they are all VERY similar in nature. I didn't mean to imply they are cookie cutters and one is as good as the other.

overbo · January 17, 2009, 07:35:00 PM

Fredrick Baron

gordonf · January 17, 2009, 07:43:00 PM

Make your own out of wood. It's not that hard.

SpankyNeal · January 17, 2009, 07:44:00 PM

Yep your right. Too many people use the generic term "straight limb longbow" when refering to Hill style bows - they don't all have straight limbs.

JCJ · January 17, 2009, 07:44:00 PM

John McDonald "Big River"

mooseman76 · January 17, 2009, 08:03:00 PM

I haven't been a huge fan of straight limbed bows in the past, but they really intrigue me now. I test drove a Toelke D bow this past fall and it was pretty sweet. It had a little thump on the shot, no buzz and not sure I'd call it handshock (but that is subjective anyway, best to try them out yourself). It was super smooth and Ultra Quiet. I'd bet these attributes are pretty common in this style bow.

That said, I'd look at Toelke, Fox, Dwyer and of course Howard Hill. At least, those are the ones that caught my eye

Mike

tippit · January 17, 2009, 08:28:00 PM

I have had and still have many D longbows. There are a few that I don't like...but there are two straight limb D longbows that stand out for me...Doc

Frank San Marco and Dave Johnson longbows

Bear Heart · January 17, 2009, 10:16:00 PM

Why does everybody always bad mouth Jerry Hill bows? I have been shooting one for the past three weeks and can't see anything wrong with it. Not the fastest bow in the world but a straight shooter.

Swamp Pygmy · January 17, 2009, 10:55:00 PM

I've wondered the same thing myself. I didn't mean for my post to slander the guy further, I just honestly don't know why so many people have a problem with his bow.

dano140 · January 17, 2009, 11:32:00 PM

I like Mike Mecredy's Longbows! Look him up at Maddog Traditional Archery http://www.tradstore.com/mta/

Very nice, very traditional, English style Bamboo Backed Osage longbow!
Dan

Elk whisperer · January 18, 2009, 11:00:00 AM

I have a nice JD Berry d-shaped Hill looking bow. Shoots like a dream.

ron w · January 18, 2009, 11:05:00 AM

Don't forget to look at a Mahaska, great longbows!Greatnorthern also.

AdamH · January 18, 2009, 11:14:00 AM

I just picked up a Jerry Hill myself, don't understand all the negativity on these bows, I have no problems shootin it, it is what it is, you're not going to get all the benefits from another design in a design like this, "Straight" limbed bows, people need to understand this, the R/D in other bows is there for another reason so lets compare apples to apples & for what I paid, there's no way you could go wrong, you either want a straight limbed bow or not, they are not for everyone but I dont get all the elbow hurtin, teeth fallin out "shock" you here ,,,, Good Luck .......