Several months ago TradGang held a fund raising auction to benefit the family of Chris Surtees. I was lucky enough to win the bid on a Black Creek Bow donated by Jim Gainey. I had Jim build a 58” Banshee one-piece longbow with cocobolo veneers and cocobolo and bubinga riser and accents. It is 52#@28. It is one dandy little bow.
I bid on this bow because I had the pleasure of meeting Chris one brief weekend at Ray Hammond’s Hog Heaven. It was a one fun hunt for sure. I got to know Chris a little bit that weekend, as well as one could in a short time frame, a couple meals, a few rides adding corn to the ditches along the property, and a few laughs around the camp fire. I could tell Chris was the kind of guy anyone would consider himself lucky to call “friend“. I could also tell he loved TradGang and his brotherhood of bow hunters who gather here.
In that spirit, I would like to offer up the bow Jim built “IN HONOR OF CHRIS SURTEES” for a traveling bow for TradGang members.
If you would like to carry this little Banshee off into the field chasing wild quarry or just busting stumps in the back yard, it is yours. I will include a journal with the bow. I think it would be great if you would take one page of that journal to outline your experience with the bow for others to read. Heck, include a picture if you would like.
I am pretty sure one bow from that auction is already traveling among us. Hopefully having another bow to pass along will help keep Chris’ memory alive here on this forum.
Based on the draw length recommendations from Jim, I would ask no one with a draw length longer than 29 inches use the bow. Honor system here, but this 58” bow is best suited for 29” or less.
Send me a request for the month you would like the bow. When you are assigned a month, please send me your complete name, address and a phone number.
Ship the bow to the next TG member on or before the 28th day of the month you have the bow. Ship via USPS Priority, signature confirmation, insured for $500.
Here is the list so far:
Nov 2011:
*** SEE LATER POSTS FOR UPDATED LIST ***