When asked by my family what I'd like for Christmas I answered nothing - everything I want these days is expensive, so when I was pressed for an answer, I jokingly said a Big Jim Thunderchild.
Well, didn't they say ok we'll pay so much if you cover the rest.   :eek:   ( I don't know if there is a graemlin for blown away ).
So, having never held or shot one, and never ordered a custom bow before, where to start? I shoot both longbows and recurves, although I lean towards longbows. How do they shoot? Are they quiet? How do they perform at different lengths? How do you decide on a grip size?
Dave.

I would start with a call to Big Jim. He can answer your questions and give solid advice in grip, specs, etc. He is a great guy as well as a great bowyer.

I have two Thunderchilds. One has more of a locator grip than the other, but they are both great shooters. Both of mine are 58"

I'm interested in this too. Looking at one myself

QuoteOriginally posted by Sam McMichael:
I would start with a call to Big Jim. He can answer your questions and give solid advice in grip, specs, etc. He is a great guy as well as a great bowyer.

This is great advice.  However, the reason a bower makes different bow lengths, bow weights and grips is that there is more than one type of person.  Big Jim doesn't know what type of person you are, when it comes to bows.  You may not even know that yourself, or be able to answer Big Jim's questions accurately.  The only way to know if you will like a particular bow is to live with it and shoot it for a while.  Shooting it a few times before you buy it won't tell you that, although it may be enough to know that you definitely don't like a particular bow.

I once tried a bow someone was selling at a tournament, and hit the first thing I shot at with it.  I loved that bow at first sight, and bought it right then and there.  That was the first and last time I ever shot very well with it, and sold it before very long.

Bows are much more personal that shotguns, for example, and you just have to live with them for a while to see if they are going to work out.  If not, you just have to sell them and try a different one.

It would be nice to be able to try one out for a few days, but I don't know anyone who has a Thunderchild. The best I can do is to ask people how they feel about their bows and how they handle and feel. I like a bow that is lightweight in the hand. I shot a friend's widow recurve that has a heavy riser and I didn't like the feel. All my bows are feathers, even the heavy draw weight bows, and to me they feel like an extension of my hand when I'm shooting.
Dave.

Well Dave, if you don't like it after a few days, just call me up ..or email me and we can discuss what we need to do to make it right. I can make modifications to the grip if necessary, or make you an entirely new bow if that's what it takes... even if it happens to be a different model. I do have several other models, although the Thunder Child seems to be the most popular these days.

I wan't you to be happy with your new bow. Just because it doesn't fit you just right, doesn't mean it won't fit someone perfectly... and they are waiting not so patiently for it.
Thanks, BigJim    (no customers harmed during the process    )

There you go. How can you beat that? BigJim,I have heard nothing but the best from ever one that has dealt with you. I see why. >>>----> Ken

 

I Have a Thunder Child and Love it!  I will say Its a short Bow and a lil fussy if I mess up but when I do my job its Incredible. Like Jim Said, the nice thing is he has other Models if the Thunderchild is not your style

As far as Grip, I talked to Jim and he was able to nail it.

Thank you guys, and Jim, you are a gentleman. I'll be giving you a call.
Dave.

I had a thunderchild I never gave the time it deserved. I got it when I had my only ever issue with target panic. One day I'll get another bc I know it was so smooth and forgiving I just didn't do my part