I thought I'd post a highly positive experience, just to get the word out on my latest archery project. Many instances of good "karma" throughout this transaction.
This journey begins on the TradGang, just lazily looking through the classifieds. I was looking for a lighter than normal (for me) longbow to use in sharpening up on my technique and possibly turkey hunting or bowfishing with. I came across Mike Rhinefield's classified ad offering to sell a used Morrison Cougar 64" Longbow 49@28. Mike described the bow as follows: 64 inches, draw weight is: 49#@28
built in 2004, 1 piece, Dymond wood Riser, locator grip, Actionboo limb cores with Canebrake skins and Fiberglass tips, FF Compatable, Dymond Wood Brown Riser Action Boo Limbs, Canebrake rattlesnake skins.
Sounded like a solid bow and Mike was asking a fair price. The deal was consumated.
Upon deliver the bow was just as described. Now I like 2 piece longbows and I've always wanted to give the Warren Bow Bolt a try. I called Craig Warren of the Warren Archery Company, inventor of the Warren Bow Bolt takedown system. Warren Archery is a sponsor on TradGang. Nice man, unfortunately too busy to accomodate my request to cut the Morrison in half and install the bow bolt. But he did refer me to Ted Frye of Raptor Archery.
Raptor Archery is also sponsor on TradGang and run by Ted Frye. A nicer man to transact business, you'll have difficulty finding. Ted agreed to chop the one Piece Morrison in half, (he's braver than I), install the Warren Bow Bolt system and he also agreed to get a bit creative/artistic. I told Ted I wanted him to install a high thumb rest on the riser. I had in mind using an Elk Ivory for that thumb rest. I then wanted to wrap the handle in leather.
What a nice job Ted Frye did on my Morrison Cougar retrofit. I particularly liked how he chose a low point of cutting the bow in two, installed the Warren bow bolt and wrapped the handle in such a way as there is no visible seam. The split in the bow sections is the lower edge of the riser grip. The thumb rest peaks out of the leather riser cover and provides a solid, repeatable footing /locator for my thumb to rest upon.
The quality of the workmanship performed by Ted Frye does well to honor the fine reputation of the entire line of Morrison bows. I now have a 64 inch bow that breaks down into two peices for ease of travel. The upper section is 35 inches and the lower section is 29 inches. Take a look at the photos.
Dual effort of two outstanding Bowyers!
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p177/MikeOrton_2006/DSC02917-1.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p177/MikeOrton_2006/DSC02928.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p177/MikeOrton_2006/DSC02919.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p177/MikeOrton_2006/DSC02920.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p177/MikeOrton_2006/DSC02927.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p177/MikeOrton_2006/DSC02928.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p177/MikeOrton_2006/DSC02926.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p177/MikeOrton_2006/DSC02930.jpg)
...........AND? Did Ted saw that Cougar in Half??
:scared:
UH OH NOT A COUGAR!!!!
Sorry about the delay guys, I had to "remember" how to post photos
WOW!! This is an absolute beaut! The snake skin is so nice here, and it fits this bow wonderfully. Now I have to REALLY pine away waiting for my new bow.....
Jeff
Everybody Involved in the Project did some FINE Work on an Awsome Bow! I want to add a ThumbRest to my Dryad (Not Done Yet) due to my Fused Wrist.
Maybe make it a Little More Stable in my Hand as well! I didnt know which way, covered or uncovered was the "Way To Do It".
Thats is a Fine Looking Bow!!!
Funny on how these bows go around. I traded that bow to Mike's for his Fedora Xtreme T/D longbow, and I purchased the Cougar from Bob Ferrell. Ted did a great job on it and made a great bow greater.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: A beautiful bow and a great job on the rebuild. You got a winner there>
Chort
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/kcummings/morrison.jpg)
I ain't no bowyer, but I can tell ya right now, that ain't gonna shoot right.
:scared:
:biglaugh:
Nice looking bow!
KPC
Kevin,
It does too shoot straight, Those arrahs shoot straight sideways. Judos are now obsolete since the arrow downrange is already sideways like a boomerang....twaps them bunnies good that way! :wavey:
How much did the retro-fit cost?
Thanks for the kind words Mike, I had fun doing this project with you . Boy all the praise needs to go to Bob as that is one heck of a nice bow, what a sweet shooter and now easy to travel with.
I would have loved to hunt with that beauty at the Texas Sweat but my current bow would have gotten upset, Lightning has been true to me all these years, wouldnt feel right not hunting with it. Thanks for the offer however.
Boy you should have seen the look on the face of the guys in the shop when I cut that bow in half.
The look on those guy's faces is exactly why I did not have the nutz to chop the bow in half myself. If I had screwed up, I'd have no one to blame, if you screwed it up well,,,,I' d have you to blame now wouldn't I! :goldtooth:
Ahmen!