I'm potentially in the market for a new 3 piece hybrid longbow and am having some trouble making decisions... At this point my main considerations are:
Schafer Silvertip 3p Longbow - I absolutely love the grip on these. They draw smooth, are performers but the cost adds up quick with all the bells and whistles!
Thunderhorn Heartstopper - I called Duane and Kim the other day and sounds like they have one in stock. I've never shot nor held a Thunderhorn, so am unsure about the grip, but they are beautiful bow and everybody loves them. Plus if they are not being made much anymore, they're demand!
A&H ACS - I'm drawn to the performance of these bows and even like the looks of them. I've never short one, so am uncertain of the grip, but I know they offer several grip options.
Morrison Wood ILF - I've contemplating ILF for hunting but will not give up wooden risers for trad bows at this time. I like Bob's innovations and have a Shawnee that is quite a shooter. I've contemplated getting a wooden ILF riser and having the options of various manufacturers limbs... but limbs can get expensive too, and I already have a Shawnee...
Cari-bow??? Looks a lot like the Hearstopper... which I like.
Any thoughts? Suggestions?
Things I find important in a bow:
+ the grip - feel of the bow in hand (like I said, I've yet to feel a grip better than the SS LB)
+ Aesthetics of the riser and the overall flow of limbs into the riser
+ Performance - whether its a hybrid or recurve, there's some amazing speeds these days and I want in on the action!
+ I'm open to buying a used bow, but if I'm going to fork out close to 1K, maybe I ought to have a custom made for a few hundred more...
Thanks for all input and if you've got a bow you love that you think I'll love, tell me about it and send a pic!
My only advice is to try the grip before you buy. Several years ago I listed after a A and H longbow. I saved up my pennies for a long time and got an RC Riser and limbs. It's was a wonderful bow but had a grip I just could never get along with, was very uncomfortable for me . Tried a beaver wrap and grip tape and never found a good position. Had to sell the bow.
Just something to think about.
Mathis is not a knock on A and H bows, they are awesome, and I am 100% sure if I would have tri d their various grips I would have found one that fit me well.
Excellent advice JR.
Unfortunately I live in Idaho and there aren't a lot of traditional archery events to meet custom bow makers and try out their bows...
Check to see if any of these bowyers have a try before you buy. They may send you one to try. Good luck.
They're all excellent bows. Would be nice if you could try before you buy because the grips do vary quite a bit from one to the other.
I've handled or owned most of those you list, and still do own a few of them. My absolute favorite grip is on my Morrison Shawnee. I also like the hybrid longbow limbs on that riser. I know Brandon doesn't advertise them, but he just might make you a set if asked. They're very difficult to come by on the used market.
Good luck in your search.
Don't overlook tall tines stickflinger longbows very good bow smooth drawing very quiet and throws an arrow and Brian's wood combos are Awesome!
I have 2 heart stoppers a 3 and 1piece you will love one. I also wanted an AH and visited Larry at his shop in MI shot his bows they shot good but it slapped my wrist something fierce and I like the grip on my Thunderhorn better. Larry told me I was gripping the bow wrong so that could be just me. I really like the Thunderhorn because it doesn't look like a TD recurve with longbow limbs like most do it's more slender and has better lines in my opinion. [attachment=1]
X2 on the Stickflinger. A wonderful bow. I have one with 49# and 55# limbs. Zero handshock and smooth.
Disregard -- wrong thread.
The Caribow you're referring to is the Silverfox....And I can't recommend it enough. Here's a picture of mine. I received it from Abe in March of last year and was confident enough in it to take it as my primary bow last year on my mountain goat hunt. The quality and craftsmanship are as good as I've seen in a bow and Abe's customer service is outstanding. The grip fits me perfect and it's very quick....seemingly as quick as my recurves of equal weight (although I've never shot them through a crono).
(https://i.imgur.com/dWoCI9N.jpg)
Dark Timber, that's your Idaho Goat! That's awesome you used the Cari-bow on that hunt. If you could compare the grip on the Cari-bow to another, what would it be?
Thanks for the suggestions everyone!
x3 on the Stickflinger.
My favorite longbow that I have found!
I have a Fox Royal Crown, that has become my Holy Grail.........
I have an A&H ACS and a Morrison. The Morrison ILF is my go to bow.
Quote from: ProAlpine on April 03, 2018, 08:14:29 PM
Dark Timber, that's your Idaho Goat! That's awesome you used the Cari-bow on that hunt. If you could compare the grip on the Cari-bow to another, what would it be?
Thanks for the suggestions everyone!
Really hard to compare grips because they're so individual but I'd say of the bows I've shot it's closest in shape to my Tall Tines recurve grip which I had Brian do in a medium low wrist and also pretty close to the Silvertip recurve medium low grip. Being a longbow it's obviously much thinner than both of those recurve grips but shape is similar and I actually prefer the thinner profile.
www. Stickflinger.com !
Thanks Dark Timber. That's helpful.
I thought Brian was done making bows? ala Stickfinger...
At the moment I'm leaning towards another 3 piece Silvertip Longbow...
Quote from: ProAlpine on April 04, 2018, 01:13:14 PM
Thanks Dark Timber. That's helpful.
I thought Brian was done making bows? ala Stickfinger...
At the moment I'm leaning towards another 3 piece Silvertip Longbow...
Stickflinger!
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I own 3 Cari-bows and cannot say enough good things about them. My three are a 62inch, 43@28 Silver Fox Specil Edition,; a 62 inch Peregrine, 48@28; and a 60 inch Tutku take down recurve, 47@28. All three are great performers and Abe's craftsmanship is second to none.
Brian stopped making bows for about two days...seems like that is all people can remember. He is definitely still in business and churning out fine bows. Best hybrid I have ever shot, really the best hunting stickbow I've ever shot is the TallTines Stickflinger, you should give one a try.
You're doing yourself a huge disservice if you have left the Zipper Nitro off your list. I've tried most of those mentioned, find a Nitro!
I have a Stickflinger and a Fox Triple crown. Both are excellent bows. The triple crown is a light physical weight but accurate with the best craftmanshift. The Stickflinger has more physical weight and shoots well. I have a black river hybrid on order and would like to try a Royal crown.
Great advice everyone. It's exciting reading others impressions of bows I'd like to own. Out of curiosity, have any of you shot or owned the take/down Silvertip?
I have shot most all bows you mentioned as well but am shooting the Zipper Nitros . Nothing smoother or faster that I have shot.
Anyone tried one of the Foley T/D longbows? I've seen quite a few on RMS's site. They look great...
Haven't shot a Foley, he stopped making bows. Only heard good things about them. Probably the last one's he made that you see.
I have owned or at least shot most of those on your list. The A&H is the fastest, but also very loud and heavy. Caribou are second only to high dollar blacktails as far as beauty. Fox triple crown is gorgeous and very good shooter for those who love recurve style risers/grips. If shaefer is what you love, always cheaper to buy the best once....Best shooting 3 piece hybrid IMHO? = Tall Tines!!