The Sentinel

Jim Jackson · June 27, 2011, 09:49:00 PM

Several years ago Bill Dunn (Zipper Bows) put together a custom bow for me out of wood off of our family farm. It was a resounding success and honors the legacy of the farm and what it has taught me.

I was restoring a glade on the property a couple years ago and found an ancient gnarly old dogwood that had finally given up the ghost. The lone tree was at the top of a bluff overlooking the main valley like a sentinel watching over the farm. The main stem was over 8 inches and I rough milled it to see if I could honor the old tree by finding a bow within its lumber. The character of the wood was exquisite, and I knew I had to get in touch with Bill again to see if he could work his magic a second time for a farmwood bow.

I shipped everything I could salvage out of the old relic to Bill and after a few days got an email that he felt that he could craft an SXT out of the lumber. The SXT is the shorter 14" riser option that Bill offers. I was thrilled to say the least. Another farmwood bow was in the works! Started out as this:

Over a year and a lot of Bill's blood, sweat, and tears later it all came together. Bill's own words "It was a bear through the whole build,but VERY worth it in the end. That wood is really something.Simple yet stunning."

The Sentinel...

Thanks Bill and Tracy for this heirloom that provides another connection to this land that I hold so dear. Stewardship with the land, stewardship with what comes from it, stewardship through the hunt... we are each Sentinels.

fatman · June 27, 2011, 09:52:00 PM

bendbig · June 27, 2011, 09:54:00 PM

Nice.

michbowhunter · June 27, 2011, 10:01:00 PM

Awesome looking bow and a great story to go with it!!

Wannabe1 · June 27, 2011, 10:07:00 PM

That is sweet! Congrats on a bow that will last you through the years!

gto_guy · June 27, 2011, 10:24:00 PM

That is really cool

ksbowman · June 27, 2011, 10:32:00 PM

Beautiful wood and bow! Congrats!

Whip · June 27, 2011, 11:14:00 PM

It's not often that a bow can claim both exquisite beauty and a deep emotional connection for the owner. This one does both in spades! What a special piece of work

Ragin Bull · June 27, 2011, 11:19:00 PM

I think Whip said it well

SlowArrow · June 27, 2011, 11:21:00 PM

A great bow with history spanning before it existed. That is cool!

GRINCH · June 28, 2011, 12:42:00 AM

Bill did a great job,thats some piece of history you have,enjoy.

Fishycatfish · June 28, 2011, 01:14:00 AM

Man that is one pretty bow!

Easykeeper · June 28, 2011, 09:52:00 AM

Cool story. Your sentinel tree made a beauty of a bow.

ishiwannabe · June 28, 2011, 10:03:00 AM

Outstanding in many ways. Awesome.

Charlie Lamb · June 28, 2011, 10:41:00 AM

Very nice bud!!!

vermonster13 · June 28, 2011, 10:43:00 AM

Beautiful!

Gatekeeper · June 28, 2011, 11:11:00 AM

Very nice, Andrew! What weight did it finish out to? I see (-)2 @ 28. Is that fist number a 5 or a 6?

Congratulations buddy!

bayoulongbowman · June 28, 2011, 11:20:00 AM

wow...

Jim Jackson · June 28, 2011, 06:17:00 PM

Tom, it came in 52@ 28, right in the middle of the range I requested. Feels more like 45 with the new evolution limb design. Smooth!!

Thanks everyone for all the comments. Bill's craftsmanship is truly amazing and matched only by his humble nature. He and Tracy worked really hard on this project and are great people to work with.

Jwilliam · June 28, 2011, 06:29:00 PM

That is Amazing!!!

Bill