HH BUG GOT ME - Part Two!

[evgb127]

Well Santa ended up bringing me an American LongBow by Steve Schulz. It is 66” long with about an inch of backset. Brown glass on the back and belly.  Two yew lams sandwiching one bamboo lam. I needed a lower poundage bow for working out some kinks with my swing draw.  I’m very pleased with this one, which pulls a very smooth 48 pounds at my draw length.

[Sirius Black]

Nice!

[toddster]

Evgb where did you find the American Longbow from Steve?  I tried searching the web but cannot find his site.  Would love to have one.

[Tim Reese]

 very nice! I love brown glass ASL BOWS

[evgb127]

Evgb where did you find the American Longbow from Steve?  I tried searching the web but cannot find his site.  Would love to have one.

Steve stopped building bows, but I think John’s other sons Tom and Dave are still making bows. Dave can be contacted through Instagram.

[toddster]

Ok, Hill owners.  I have a birthday coming up and have been debating about adding to my stable.  I have always heard Big 5 rules, but the Cheetah is the most gorgeous.  For those that own both your thoughts?  I am thinking 68" length, 50#@28, standard grip.

[Orion]

Don't know where you got the idea that a Big 5 rules.  The Cheetah is my favorite. Really isn't much difference among the various Hill models. Every model has its devotees.  They're all good. 

[evgb127]

I don’t think you can make a wrong choice.  I suggest that you call Craig and talk through all of your options.  I’ve owned two Big 5’s. They are great bows.  However, I always heard that the Tembo was a better performer because it had fewer lams.  I don’t know where that idea came from and never cared enough to do my own research.  Anyway, good luck with your search for a new bow. 

[David Phillips]

Todd,  I own a Westley Special and a Tembo right now but have owned or shot every model Craig makes and several of the special editions. My personal favorite is the Tembo in string follow. I never understand when I see/hear folks saying they can’t tell any difference between the models or with String follow,backset and straight profile. Every single one I’ve shot felt different even at the same draw weight. The straight profile WS I have is 1 pound lighter than the Tembo that’s with a digital scale not what’s wrote on the handle and you don’t need a chronograph or anything else to know the WS is faster. Arrow tune alone will reveal that. That’s side by side Same length and using the same string. But the Tembo shoots better for me not even close. Same string, same arrows same distance the SF Tembo will shoot smaller groups. Maybe the SF is more forgiving of release I don’t know the why I know it is. The String follow makes a difference in draw and shot no question, and I prefer that type. The speed difference at hunting ranges is not enough to make a difference. I’d rather have the arrow hit the right spot than not hit the right spot but faster. The backset profile Hills are harsher at the shot period. Find all three shoot them side by side and you will notice the difference. The extra speed between the BS and straight is about as much as the straight vs SF and what you gain in speed is a loss for shootability. Hill shot a lot of backset some very backset but also said and wrote the string follow is more accurate, his words and I agree.
     Each individual has their own criteria for what they like in a bow. You have to decide what you prefer. The Big five I had was straight profile and was a good bow just not my preference. I think the  Cheetah devotees mostly like the looks of the bow, which doesn’t add or take anything away from its performance.
   

[toddster]

Tembo in SF, now I can see that, didn't know he offered that.   Thanks

[darktater]

I just got off the phone with Steve Turay @ Northern Mist and placed an order for a Classic 68" 50@28, now the wait begins hehehe I'm really looking forward to it.

[David Phillips]

Yep Craig will make any bow on their list backset, straight or string follow.
I’m waiting on a Northern Mist myself I had originally wanted a Classic but I recently came across a used SF Shelton with yew limbs, about as fine an ASL that could be made. I’m now changing my order to the Shelton. The NM have a little more string follow to them than the Hills. I don’t think I’ve shot a smoother drawing bow than the Shelton if it was 10 pound heavier I’d be done buying bows. I got a few more months to wait on my NM probably March.

[Hoosierarcher88]

Adding a new one to the mix. Just bought a 70" great northern traditional model longbow. Good to be back to a straight limbed asl

[Sam McMichael]

Dave, you will like the the NM Shelton. I have two, and one of them is yew. It is a truly good looking bow and is extremely smooth. I also have 5 HHA bows. They are all great bows. 2 are Wesley Specials, and two are Cheetahs. Lastly, I have a Big 5. Back when I could still pull fairly heavy bows, the 65# Wesley was my bow of choice. After that, the 55# Cheetah got the call. Both of my NM bows are 53#. I swap between them, but I do slightly favor the yew. As I get older, a 45# Tembo sounds looks very inviting. To me, there is nothing like an ASL, I just wish I could shoot one of every bowmaker out there.

[MnFn]

As I mentioned earlier I have a Northern Mist  Ramer coming. While waiting for it to arrive, I have been reading part one of the Howard Hill bug got me.

All I can say is what a wealth of information that topic provides.
Many things I have never even thought of.

Thanks to all who have participated in that discussion. I am up to about page 212!

[darktater]

Thanks MnFn, now I'm reading through Part #1 again....

Not sure I'll be able to wait until the NM arrives to order a Hill.....

[David Phillips]

I thought maybe I was the only one reading the HH bug  thread part one lol. A lot of good info.

[stik&string]

It’s a shame the whole photobucket thing made a lot of the pics go MIA. My problem with going back to the old thread is reading about all the Hill bows I sold over the course of the thread, some I wish I could get back.

[ron w]

Just made a trade for a 66” Big Five , I don’t have one in my collection!! I will shortly   

[Hoosierarcher88]

Not your normal hill style but this one will be here tomorrow.