After struggling with shoulder pain, cortisone shots, physical therapy, an MRI, and the disheartening news that I have arthritis which can only be fixed by shoulder replacement surgery, I was afraid my trad days were over. I moved over to the dark side and continued to drop both bow mass weight and draw weight until I was down to a carbon compound at <50#. It still got me into the woods, and I managed to fill the freezer, but the joy was certainly reduced. Then I discovered that the physical therapy my doctor had ordered was not right for my issue. I picked up a 40# Slick Stick, and kept practices short. I've worked up to 45#, and that will probably be my max.

To continue my story, I've been seeking "The One" ever since my original Kanati died. I've had some fine bows, but none of them fit me the way a Kanati does. I've kept that old bow for nine years, not knowing exactly why, but every once in a while I would take it down and just feel that grip. Last week I brought it home from the cabin without really knowing why. I'm not sure if I was going to finally get rid of it or what. Last Friday, as I lay awake at midnight, I reached for my phone and searched for Kanati longbow. Naturally Jason's website popped up. I'd looked at it many times before and he never had a stock bow that fit my needs...until Friday. There it was...a 58" 44# @ 28" green on green Kanati. At 12:30 a.m. I emailed him to hold that bow until I could get there on Sunday.

I went up to Jason's shop and "traded" my old Kanati in for this one. It's a couple pounds under the original draw weight, but man is it sweet! Like all of his bows, it flat out smokes an arrow and is whisper quiet. The draw is so smooth, my bum shoulders tolerate it pretty well, although the days of shooting 50+ shots are necessarily over.

Okay, I guess I better give you guys something to drool over, so here she is:
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Dressed to kill:

Russ, it's always a good feeling when you find a bow that 'fits just right'.  Good luck with the  Kanati.
Shick

Nice looking bow, best of luck with your journey.

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I wish I could do it justice with the pictures 

The grip is what really makes it feel like an extension of me!

What happened to your original Kanati?

I ve had 6 now own just 2. Im done. One is 2 years old the other a year. I dropped to #40.

To me ,the grip makes or breaks it for a bow.  Since I make my own I've pretty much got what I like nailed down...

Congrats on the new bow and take it easy on that shoulder!

Quote from: BUCKY on November 15, 2023, 09:17:38 PM
What happened to your original Kanati?

Delaminated on the belly just above the sight window. It was eight years old at the time, so well out of any warranty situation. I was target shooting and needed to use the bathroom, so I laid it across the box of my Polaris Ranger. When I came out again, it had folded up. The weather was warm but not really hot. I don't know if the black plastic of the Ranger got hot enough or if it was just time for it to let go. Thankfully, I wasn't shooting it at the time. I've had a couple other Kanatis and my son also has one, so I guess it was just a fluke. Anyway, I obviously still believe they are great bows and Jason is an awesome bowyer. Like the original, this one is extremely easy to shoot.

Quote from: kennym on November 16, 2023, 07:13:51 AM
To me ,the grip makes or breaks it for a bow.  Since I make my own I've pretty much got what I like nailed down...

Congrats on the new bow and take it easy on that shoulder!

I agree completely! And thanks! I get along pretty well most days as long as I take my time between shots and limit the total number per session. I don't shoot competitively, so I just have to control the desire to keep flinging arrows...you know how hard that can be.

Very nice!

Never shot a Kanati but sure would like to but the weights are always too heavy more me, got to be under 40, preferably 30-35# and that usually means custom order. Or some model very similar to them.

Quote from: Kelly on November 17, 2023, 01:52:42 PM
Very nice!

Never shot a Kanati but sure would like to but the weights are always too heavy more me, got to be under 40, preferably 30-35# and that usually means custom order. Or some model very similar to them.

I'm sure Jason could do that, but yes, it would be a custom order. I think he's out to March or April at this point.

Coupe I read your original post. I just got off the phone a few minutes ago with Jason. I have a stock Kanati headed my way tomorrow. 60in 45lbs. He has one stock bow left.

Quote from: soap creek on November 17, 2023, 08:32:08 PM
Coupe I read your original post. I just got off the phone a few minutes ago with Jason. I have a stock Kanati headed my way tomorrow. 60in 45lbs. He has one stock bow left.

That one is a beauty! If it had been a 58" you'd be out of luck. Congrats.

I love the kanati, closest grip I found to my cascade. I had one build and called it "special k" because I asked Jason to mimick the special edition Bear Grayling pattern.

That bow was amazing but I wasn't shooting at the time and wanted to thin out some things.

Looks like the last in stock bow Jason has is coming to Souther Illinois sometime after Thanksgiving. Will get some pictures here after it arrives.

Quote from: Kelly on November 20, 2023, 01:32:47 AM
Looks like the last in stock bow Jason has is coming to Souther Illinois sometime after Thanksgiving. Will get some pictures here after it arrives.

That's a pretty one as well, but with my 27 1/2" draw, it was longer than I needed. Congrats to you as well, looking forward to the pictures!

At 27-27.5" draw myself but think the 62" length will be super smooth and Jason has managed to get it down to 36# for me.

Grip configuration and feel are critical, as others have said.  All the bows I have are no longer in production.  My MOAB is perfect and both the Big River bows, recurve and longbow fit me very well.  Never saw or shot a Kanati.