HH whats the big deal

[Rick Richard]

They definitely are slim, sexy, nostalgic and all of the adjectives used beforehand.  However, they just don't work for me...I am not as accurate with one.  To each his own.

[Sixby]

I don't have to run other peoples choice of bow down to love the D longbow or Howard Hill longbow. You don't have to have one in hand and shoot it long to like it. The only real thing about the Hill bows that I do not like and I mean this kindly is the snarkiness and elitist that compromise seemingly meany of those that like them. Especially toward any other bow that does not very closly resemble the origonal Hill style bow. Even those bows that are true
D longbows but may have a different configuration.
Of course I claim to be a bit different I really like just about every style of stick bow and see the advantages of each kind.
Longbows are simple, Very pleasing to the eye. Extemely light in physical weight and get the job done. They are very fast to get in action and you can learn to draw and shoot truly instinctively with them easier IMHO than any other bow.

God bless you all, Steve

[killinstuff]

For me, my Harrison HHC's are like my custom made side by side small gauge shotguns. Light fast and fit me just right, hand crafted for me. Pure simple functional beauty and wear from use and time only adds to the beauty.  My Morrison Shawnee and ACS on the other hand are like my O/U duck gun, stout, can take a beating and I'm fine with a new scratch. I don't see beauty, just a functional tool. That's just my bag and how I see it. Compounds and crossbows are like pumps and autos, no soul, machine made and missing the human element. Again, just my view.

CJ

[Ben Maher]

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
it's mostly a nostalgia/aesthetic/work-of-art thing.  if the beauty of an american flat longbow (afl) doesn't grab you from the get-go, look elsewhere at other trad bow designs.  

be forewarned that in the scheme of all things "longbow", hill-style longbows typically require a longer length for a given draw length, more than a mild r/d longbow, and far longer for an aggressive r/d longbow.

as the r/d of a longbow diminishes and becomes dead straight or reflexed or belly set, typically so does its cast.  but these glass/wood afl's typically have some awesome inherent stability, pointability and make excellent hunters, as publicized for decades by the likes of hill, swinehart, and many others.  

a bow collection isn't complete without an afl.    :cool:  

What Rob said x 10

[JamesKerr]

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
it's mostly a nostalgia/aesthetic/work-of-art thing.  if the beauty of an american flat longbow (afl) doesn't grab you from the get-go, look elsewhere at other trad bow designs.  

be forewarned that in the scheme of all things "longbow", hill-style longbows typically require a longer length for a given draw length, more than a mild r/d longbow, and far longer for an aggressive r/d longbow.

as the r/d of a longbow diminishes and becomes dead straight or reflexed or belly set, typically so does its cast.  but these glass/wood afl's typically have some awesome inherent stability, pointability and make excellent hunters, as publicized for decades by the likes of hill, swinehart, and many others.  

a bow collection isn't complete without an afl.    :cool:  

Bingo! I like the nostalgia of old recurves and Hill style bows, but when it comes right down to it I am an aggressive d/r guy.

[nineworlds9]

What everyone else said x 10.  Aggressive R/d longbows are your high end Corvettes and Ferraris, Hill Bows to me are more like an Aston Martin DB, or a Mercedes 300SL..not the fastest or the highest performing, but MAN...WHEN YOU GET IT RIGHT...soooo SATISFYING..all the right sights, smells, and sounds.  Simplicity, elegance, timelessness and most of all SOUL.

[JNewman]

I was a total performance guy. I shot a ilf recurve set it to my preferred draw weight and length and was quite accurate to 30 yrds.  I was at the local pro shop and saw a hill style longbow for 200.  I though that would be great for longbow only shoots.  I took it home and played with it.  Although I am not yet as accurate as my recurve, I am starting to love the bow.  Simple point at instinctive shooting, Light, Comfortable in your hand, quick, smooth, and easy to maneuver though brush.  

Next year my harvest will be with a Hill style longbow, Back Quiver, and wood arrows

[sawtoothscream]

I shot an arner bow over the summer that was flat unbraced and d shaped when strung. Looked so nice and shot great. I have been dying to own a D shaped bow since but just dont have the cash or can really justify another bow purchase at this time. But I will own one someday for sure.  Just have to shoot one

[two4hooking]

HH Anonymous:

Hi my name is Greg...and I have a problem....

[ddauler]

It's kinda like bamboo fly rods and I hear the latest craze is restoring classic glass ones. That said It's the simple beauty of the american flat longbow. I have had several just sold my last at christmas. I like them but really prefer shooting deflex reflex longbow. I also build selfbows and shoot them. I reckon the urge will hit me again someday and I will get another! Thats the way it is with this stuff. Back in the 80's I was reading Hill Books and Watchin shoot em like Howard by Shulz and had to have one.

[Chromebuck]

X10 on about anything that Rob says, but Tim I think you knocked it out of the park.      

 

Originally posted by lpcjon2:
 They carry as much testosterone as a handful of Viagra.

Blake if I were you I would read that Hill thread, look at a bunch of videos like this.
,  http://www.myfootage.com/details.php?gid=0&sgid=&pid=17318
 Then try one out when so you can get more of an idea what they would be like. Careful, careful, not long ago, I had 18 Hill style bows. You may want to try the whole package and get a back quiver as well.
It was a nice day here and a fellow stopped by to see if he wanted to buy my yew wood longbow from me. It fit him perfect and with some coaching, he shot it well, but then he said that my back quivers were plain stupid and that he was not going use for deer hunting anyway, he was sticking with his compound for hunting. He just wanted a longbow. I kicked him off my yard and told him the bow was not for sale. I am keeping my last three Hill style bows.  If one shoots a longbow one should really try to get along with a back quiver, just to try the whole package.
  Then I went into the house and checked to see what the new personal arms rules were going to be, something about 10 rounds and more will be illegal. Does this mean that I can only put 9 arrows in my back quiver?

[Hopewell Tom]

9 and not ONE more...
Except on the string!
I just sold my Mowhawk LB(NOT a Hill, but a beauty LB) and have my back quiver up for sale, too. Going with my recurves.
So, why do I feel like I'm making a mistake?

[Kevin L.]

Originally posted by ddauler:
It's kinda like bamboo fly rods and I hear the latest craze is restoring classic glass ones.

Ddauler is right. I make bamboo fly rods. They weigh more than a comparable graphite rod, are slower action, yet they have a feeling that isn't in graphite. When I am asked why someone should order one of my rods, I say if they need to be convinced of the need for one, they don't need it. If it's the right material or style for them, they will know.

For me, the Hill-style bow is like that. It's not the fastest. It's not the most glamorous. It just does it's job well, with a panache that I don't get from more modern designs. I don't believe it's elitist, just a preference of mine. They shoot better   for me than the R/D and recurve designs I have tried.

[Bill Turner]

Light in weight; outstanding pointability; simple, with no bells or whistles; dead quiet and extremely effective on game. About says it all for me. Not for everyone, but fits me to a "T".