Is the Robertson Fatal Stick grip similar to the Blacktail VL grip?
Both valid but completely different grip :biglaugh:
Well, I'll throw in my two cents worth. I don't currently own either, but have shot both. To my feel, the Blacktail has a bit higher wrist which is also more convex under the palm compared to the Robertson, which tends to be a little straighter/flatter under the palm. Work equally well, I think. Just a matter of what you prefer.
It kind of makes a difference on how old the VL is. Whenever I purchased a Blacktail in the past, I have had them 'open up the grip'. My thumb joint always rubbed on the under side of the shelf.
About a year ago, I bought another VL, and requested my usual grip modification. Alan suggested that I try the grip first; as the grip is now 'opened up ' a little. Sure enough, it fits just fine.
Ok, thanks for the replies.
I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to own quite a few bows, but have always tried to keep the numbers down around four or so. I've had good luck dealing with people here at Tradgang.
One of them was a Blacktail that I let go to try something else. I had a chance to trade for a nice Fatal Stick via the Contributors buy and sell section and was hoping the grips were similar. But apparently they are not.
I've had both and liked both. Although slightly different, on both bows their grips are considered to be one of their strongpoints.
Grips are very personal things. I have a Robertson Fatal Styk, and have taken a deer with it. I tried to like the grip on it for years, but just didn't. Although not usually at a loss for words, I found it difficult to express why I didn't like it, so I never sent it off to be changed. For the same reason, I never tried to change it myself. Finally, I began to think about grips I like, like the Bob Lee, the Bear Kodiak, and the Black Widow, and figured out that I liked those because my hand stayed in position without having to force it to. With the Fatal Styk, my hand felt like it wanted to slip off the handle to the left. Once I figured that out, I determined that there was enough extra material in the grip to flatten out the part that touched my bow hand, and remove the curve that made me feel like my hand wanted to slip. So I did that myself, refinished the handle, and now it fits my hand like the others I mentioned.
It is likely that other Fatal Styk grips are not the same as mine, since they are made one at a time, and so may fit differently. It is evident that no two bowhands are the same. So YMMV.
I have never owned or shot a Blacktail, so can't compare the two.
Once again, thanks for the replies.
G