QuoteOriginally posted by Rob DiStefano:
back in the 50's and 60's i had a gaggle of self and composite wood longbows, all with string follow.  they were good shooters out to around 15-20 yards and then they ran outta gas.  the feel in the draw and release was/is quite different than a backset or dead straight longbow, just a treat.  but performance-wise they were dogs

Rob, I edited some of your quote trying to pin down the key point about String Follow.

I was only able to shoot 6 arrows out of my new 68" 55# at 28 HH Robin Hood. I was impressed by the cast and speed at 15 yards. The weather here has dried up so I will go out Tuesday and see the cast from 20 yards.

Then, I will try it against an R/D bow. I will see about the cast and speed difference at 25 yards.  (no chrono, just getting a feel)

My first impression of my HH Robin Hood with String Follow was impressive. You and I agree that speed is not the ticket but, I have to admit, at first blush, my 55# Robin Hood was pretty fast.

More later.....

matt, i'm hopeful that both of our wood/glass composite string follow hills will not only have that good feel on draw and release, but also won't lose much cast at hunting distances.  

there could be, should be, some serious difference 'tween the all wood longbow string follow dogs of my youth and these fancy schmancy, high tech, space age, modern composite hill string follow longbows produced here in the 21st century.  :D

hope to hear about your testing today!

Matt,I'm very curious about your testing.I learned to shoot with an old string follow longbow and still remember how pleasant it was.Your findings will probably be my decision.I would love to have a bow that was reminisant of the past,and like Rob said with some of todays performances.
Iam really leaning towards a HH Cheetah with Yew instead of Bamboo as cores ,66",around 56#,cocobola riser, clear glass and slight string follow,and seriouly thinking of a double shelf like Matts Robin Hood.I've got a bad fealing Craigs wait time has drastically increased !LOL Ah well.

GregD, no worries there about the carmelizing of bamboo.  It is done before the bow is glued up with the raw 'boo and the bowyer will be careful to match the limbs to each other.  The fact is that bamboo is not going to have uniform color throughout the entire limb due to the nature of the grain in what is actually a grass rather than wood.  I have a Dave Wallace longbow that has stained bamboo which is gorgeous but the stain takes a bit differently in different places on the limb.  That is part of what makes the limb so pretty--it's not all one color but like many of the exotic woods used in bows there is variation......Dave

Hey Leatherneck...I just noticed your reply that you ordered a Hill.  Congrats.  If ya did find a couch and are now rested up can you tell us the spec's?

QuoteOriginally posted by David Mitchell:
GregD, no worries there about the carmelizing of bamboo.  It is done before the bow is glued up with the raw 'boo and the bowyer will be careful to match the limbs to each other.  The fact is that bamboo is not going to have uniform color throughout the entire limb due to the nature of the grain in what is actually a grass rather than wood.  I have a Dave Wallace longbow that has stained bamboo which is gorgeous but the stain takes a bit differently in different places on the limb.  That is part of what makes the limb so pretty--it's not all one color but like many of the exotic woods used in bows there is variation......Dave

i LOVE the looks of my mohawk's stained cane limbs, where the ground nodes are darkened and show nicely against the 'straw' colored 'boo ...

Rob,

I love the "Dirty" Bamboo look myself. I had a Great Plains with real dirty boo limbs. It was cool looking.

Matt

It's gratifying to see so many people who understand that longbows should be LONG. I've had several HH bows over the years, including a 70lb one that Howard made for my dad.
I am romancin' one of Greg Coffee's "American" LBs.
Man, that design is sweeet and 68"  

John lets see that hill that Howard built.  :D

QuoteOriginally posted by longbowben:
John lets see that hill that Howard built.   :D  

Yes Yes please   x2    

David and Rob, I also would have assumed the bowyer would be careful to match the limbs and not use material that didn't take the carmelization. I am also not talking about variation in the color or visible nodes, I'm talking about irregular shaped areas that are a stark white as if the area had been bleached. The explanation I recieved was it's a natural material and anything can happen. I'm only bringing it up to you guys because if I had any idea that could happen I would have asked about it before the bow was built. Good Luck, Greg

most all bamboo can be "caramelized" - a fancy word for "heat tempering", which i've read is what howard did because it heats up the internal boo/cane resins and changes the molecular structure of the bamboo, making it stiffer, stronger, more durable and more resistant to breaking and taking a set.  

i've heat tempered green bamboo with a propane torch.  this is a fast way to "cure" it and make it lots stronger.  as the resin bubbles up and smokes, the outer boo skin changes color from light green to light tan. longer it's heated, the darker the coloring gets - amber, amber/orange, malt, dark chocolate.  i love the smell of hot bamboo in the morning.    

mudd's in da hood!  

Nice shooting Mudd!   Was it worth all of those sleepless nights?... YES!      Sherwood Forest is now in Missouri boys!

Cookus, where's the pics of that Black Bear?

Mudd ... glad its arrived mate . Looks sweet !
Are you gonna cough up a review for us ?

I sent that package today to you .

After I bought my Hill with the carmelized limbs, I spoke to Jason at Howard Hill Archery about their supply of carm. bamboo and he told me that the carmelized bamboo is done before he receives it.

Darren

The Black Bear arrived in WV last week TW and I shot it all weekend!   It's headed for Craig's shop in the morning to get 2 inlays (Black bears of course!) and a black laced wrap.   The bow was in pristine condition but I wanted to "spruce her up a bit" before her debut here on Trad Gang!   I think the riser is a nice, orangish cocobolo, but Craig's going to identify it for me.   The contrasting black limbs and orange riser are beautiful!

Mudd, if you don't mind me asking, what are the woods of the bow on the left in the first pic? The limbs look like yew. But what about the riser?