Trad Gang

I picked up a "new to me" Zipper TD (top bow in pic) this weekend. These bows are outstanding performers and are also very easy on the eyes! I have always desired a Zipper TD in my collection and this was a dandy of a bow to hold out for. 62" and about 52# at my draw.

I spoke to Bob about the this particular bow and he said that this bow is the next to the last one he built and the last one will be for himself, when he gets time to get around to it.

I sell a few custom pool cue's for Bob now and then. He is outright one of the nicest fella you could deal with.

Just may have to talk to Bill about getting a set of longbow limbs made to go with this riser. Now that, would be the icing on the cake  :thumbsup:  !

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/Rugerfan/ResizeofDSC00045.jpg)

JL

JL, That is a pretty bow. How does it perform compared to the border? The longbow limbs are very nice and perform pretty much the same as the recurve limbs which is very well.

Speedwise, both the Border and Thermal edge out the Zipper, by eye. Granted, both the Border and Thermal are very fast examples of their particular models and the Zipper is by no means a slouch.

Quietness- Thermal, Zipper, Border

Shootability/forgivness- Border, Zipper and Thermal tie for second

The Zipper is a outstanding bow in all regards. It's got the looks, speed and offers the forgiveness that I personally demand out of a bow. I will retain a spot on my rack!

JL

Fine bows ,congrats,

Congrats

JL,
Set the Zipper up w/ the same string drampners as your other bows and let us know how they rank.The Zippers I have are quiet enough that longbow shooters comment on it.
Great find and enjoy

I just added a set of bowhush on the string yesterday. The bow is already quiet and I'm sure the bowhush will take it to another level but I have not shot it (besides the manatory "test" shot off the deck in the pouring rain yesterday) since. Every bow has it's own properties and I am getting to know how this bow likes to be shot,brace, ect. I can tell right off the bat that the feeling out period will be quick. You just know from the first couple shot's weather a particular bow will work with your shooting style. Looking forword to sticking a lot more stumps with this bow...

Where did you get the bow rack?

On the bay, few years back. Works well and was cheap. Should of bought the larger version tho...

JL

She looks nice up there, take good care of her!

Nice. I got an old one, years ago; and got Bob to make me a lighter set of limbs for it, a while back.
I'm glad I did it and they are fine bows.

Hope you like it as much as I like mine.  :archer:

JL-

You got a great collection there. I'm curious about your thermal as it looks different than mine which was built in August of 2006. Is that a high or medium grip? I like my thermal, but I'm not crazy about the grip as it doesn't really force my hand into the same position each time (it's kinda rounded off so to speak compared to others I've  had). Also, what kind of wood is that in the thermal.

Thank you
Brady

My Thermal has a med grip and was built in 2000. The second set of limbs (Ric's newer design that make a 58" bow and 53# draw) were made around 2003'ish, I think, and they really smoke an arrow. I also have a set of 60"/57# limbs for this bow (hanging on the sides of the bow rack). Here's a better pic of the grip area on my Thermal;

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/Rugerfan/DSC00153.jpg)

The checkering on this bow rivals that of the finest checkering I have ever seen. The Osage accent stripe is left intact thruout the checkering. Very nice touch. Here's a better pic of the Thermal strung;

  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/Rugerfan/DSC00155.jpg)

I'm am thankful to be able to put this small but sweet bow collection together and I try to use and enjoy them as much as I can. Only thing I need now is a set of longbow limbs for the Zipper..well...maybe a LB set for the Border also and  :rolleyes:  ...

JL

WOOOW ! that's nice checkering there!! you're right. It doesn't matter how old you get, getting a new bow is a wonderful thing.
Good Luck

Alex

Wow, JL, except for the Border our collections are the same! Your Thermal is very close to mine which is macassar ebony and zebra wood. Ric's contractor for checkering quit doing it when mine was on order otherwise I'd have had it done. It is a heavy, rock solid and quiet shooter.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/beachbowhunter/Marriah%20Thermal/TimberGhostpics008.jpg)

I have both the standard and extreme Zipper risers and more limbs than I care to admit. The Extreme is faster than both the Thermal and the Standard Zipper at the same draw and arrow weights. Here's my Snakewood Extreme on a bear hunt.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/beachbowhunter/Alberta%20Bear%20Hunt/easter2006094.jpg)

Looks mighty fine there Jerry.  Zippers sure are sweet!!

JL and Beachbowhunter-can you guys post side views of your zippers (from the shelf side) so I can see the grips a little better? Mine still looks different at least to me and the grip isn't very comfortable to shoot. BBhunter-is your thermal a medium grip as well?

Thank you
BD

I'll see if I can get a pic of the shelf side of the Zipper's riser posted tonight. Did you have the Zipper built for you or buy it preowned? If the grip is biting into your hand, you could have it reshaped a bit to fit your hand. Sounds like the grip on your Thermal may be a bit large for your hands if your hand is floating.

Good looking bows there BBH! Great minds must think alike! Does your Thermal have the newer style limbs? I personally prefer the newer limbs myself and find they really perform great! Real fast and super quiet. My Thermal is the quietest recurve I have ever shot, bar none, and I have gone thru some bows in my time. I find that generally most real quiet curves lack top perfomance but my Thermal brings it all to the table. It will keep a spot on my rack.

JL

JL-

My thermal was built for me. It is a good performer and is the quietest bow that I have ever shot. With a FF string, it is even quieter with virtually no handshock. I'll try to post a pic of it to see what you think of the grip. It's probably the same as yours, but looks different to me.

BD

BCD, here are a couple of Extreme risers.
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/beachbowhunter/Zipper%20Extremes/MySnakewoodZipper020.jpg) Here is my standard riser
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/beachbowhunter/Zipper%20Standard/BocoteStandard.jpg)
I would say that my Thermal is med to med-low.
JL, yes my bow was made last year...I...um...uh..well, I have a few limbs...
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/beachbowhunter/Marriah%20Thermal/easter2006001.jpg)   :saywhat:

Well,yes I would agree that you do. Nice collection! Have you tryed a Border yet? You know what they say, When in Rome...

Here is the side shot of riser of the Zipper;

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/Rugerfan/ResizeofDSC00049.jpg)

JL

Can you order a set of Longbow limbs for the Zipper Extreme Riser? I have one of the first Extremes that Bob made. A set of Longbow limbs would be great if they would work with the riser. Anyone tried it yet?

Do  a search, pretty sure CJones has one of the first sets and has them on an Extreme riser. I doubt Bob changed the shape of his limb attachments.

JL, no I haven't tried a Border but I have been lusting for one for a good while. It's only a matter of time!

Stickbow, The longbow limbs will fit on any zipper riser! I prefer the extreme riser myself over the standard.

Norb, You need a border? I may be able to help you out!LOL

I like the looks of those extremes. Has anyone chronoed one to see how much faster they are than a standard zipper? Can anyone compare them in speed to a River's Edge?

Thanks

QuoteOriginally posted by BCD:
I like the looks of those extremes. Has anyone chronoed one to see how much faster they are than a standard zipper? Can anyone compare them in speed to a River's Edge?

Thanks

With the same limbs, the extreme riser should pull 4 lb's more.  They were designed with the shorter draw in mind.  With regard to speed (other than the LB's difference) I'm not sure there would be much difference except for the brace height difference.

QuoteOriginally posted by BCD:
I like the looks of those extremes. Has anyone chronoed one to see how much faster they are than a standard zipper? Can anyone compare them in speed to a River's Edge?

Thanks

Yes, I have and to give you an idea, I needed to shoot 61# limbs on the Standard to equal the performance of a 57# set up on an Extreme. I get around 185 fps with a 570 grain arrow drawing 57@27 on my Extreme. There is a definite performance advantage with the Extreme.

I'd love to put mine through a chrono...those are some nice numbers.

Zippers are my choice...the Extreme specifically.

Mine is shooting a little quicker than Norb's. Mainly be cause i'm drawing a lil over 29" and not shooting anywhere near 10gpp. Matter fact i'm shooting warranty voiding arrows!  :bigsmyl:   I don't remember the exact numbers and don't want to be mis quoted but it's over 200fps.

I'm with Chad. I shoot unweighted GT 35/55's out of all of my bows. My Border smokes them at 211FPS, the Thermal is in the hi 190's and the Zipper is in the low 190's, by eye. They shoot well, fly straight and hit hard.

JL

I don't doubt it...when I was shooting ~8gpi they screamed.  Now shooting closer to 10g and still have a super flat shooting bow right out to ~22y

I prefer the Extreme and am shooting it at 6.5...I draw right around 28 and know this thing is performing.  Someday I'll be around a chrono with it.

The nicest thing about my Extreme is that even at the 6.5 brace and an arrow in the low 8's (I've even shot mid/high 7's), it was dead quiet and not even the slightest hint of bounce.  

Love them Zippers    :thumbsup:

quote:

---

Originally posted by cjones:
Mine is shooting a little quicker than Norb's. Mainly be cause i'm drawing a lil over 29" and not shooting anywhere near 10gpp. Matter fact i'm shooting warranty voiding arrows!    :saywhat:

I shoot at a brace height of 6.75. Smooth and quiet.