Stinkman and Blue runner

[willy]

Actually anyone else who appreciates fine craftsmanship, thought you would enjoy what I got for myself, bought it off a fellow from Minnesota, he needed to sell some of his bows. since he has three from this great maker I talked him out of this one.
It is made by a fellow who is now 75, John McDonald who is a legend for his craftsmanship and tillering skills up in Minnesota. actually all over the country but among the longbow aficianados.

Anyhow check it out 66" Big River Longbow- Bamboo laminations with Tulip Wood veneers on the back and belly, Texas Ebony riser. My poor photos do not come close to doing it justice. She is only 48 lbs. at my draw length but spits an arrow out like a silent rocket.

Enjoy

[willy]

OOOPS sorry about that, just another piece of craftmanship, by the big man

[Stinky_Hooker]

LOL...love the last pic! AWESOME find! Well done...Love it!!

[C YENSEN]

I dont hunt but I sure recognize beautiful craftmanship when I see it..

[willy]

I'd like to take her, that bow and a dozen broadhead arrows and make like Jerimiah Johnson for awhile.

[nipper]

Beautiful Willy. Hey, I know nothing about bows, so forgive me for asking, but what are those little furry ball things on the string?

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by willy

I'd like to take her, that bow and a dozen broadhead arrows and make like Jerimiah Johnson for awhile.

"Skin that one, Pigrim...an I'll brang you anothern!"

[Stinky_Hooker]

How does the 45# pull?? I have a 55#, old Pearson recurve that is sweet but pulling that as opposed to a 70# compound is a WORLD of difference. I bet the 45# would be just right.

[willy]

Stink I normally for most of my life shot 58-62 lbs, but years ago I shot 45-50 lbs. recurves and killed many a deer with them and was more accurate.
All thru the modern era of archery, late 50's thru the late 70's the most common bow weight was 45 lbs. and these guys took game of every size all over the world.
For many years due mostly to the influence of the greatest archer that ever lived, Howard Hill and then one of the most popular Fred Bear, who both shot 65-75 lbs. bows a lot of fellows over bowed themselves and paid the price in lost accuracy and various ailments of shoulder, back and neck etc.
If I did not have a neck problem I would be shooting 50-55 lbs. bows at my draw length and any critter walking the planet would fall to my shot.
Don't forget that the bows are marked at AMO standards of 28" draw length.
If you draw above or below you will lose or gain 2.5 to 3.5 lbs. per inch for the length you draw.
The difference is in bow design, some shorter bow gain at faster weights where you feel like you hit a wall.
When I was a few years youger and shooting a lot more than I do now I had an old Damon Howatt Hunter that was 40 @ 28, I drew 29.5 so I was actually shooting about 45 lbs. I shot at a big doe at 25 yards and hit the back of the shoulder blade, went thru and cut a rib on the other side as it passed thru and buried in the ground. She went about thirty yards and dropped.
Arrows are not like bullets. They do not kill with shock trauma to tissue, they kill by hemmorage. When they enter a vital area ( heart and lungs) they cause massive bleeding. Picture a cut by a razor, you dont even feel it, but it bleeds like crazy.
Because of that accuracy and broadhead design are far more important than weight of bow.
The average weigh of the eastern American Indians white ash or hickory self bow was around 40 lbs. and they were far worse performers than our modern fiberglass backed bows. They killed everything including each other with those bows.
Stink shoot that bow, draw and come to a good anchor holding only for a it second as you focus on your target, keep your bow arm solid and pointing at the target thru your release, practice 20 FEET away until you can pick a small spot and hit it consistently then move back five feet, etc.etc.
Then start changing up your distance all inside 20 yards until you start getting real consistent.
Later when you become more comfortable we will talk and I will tell you how to become real good.

[willy]

Well Stink did you fire up that recurve