Home › Forums › Bows and Equipment › short longbow recommendation
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I’m looking to buy a new custom bow. I was shooting a Tomahawk SS diamond series r/d longbow but I snapped the tip off in my truck door.
I really liked the bow but it seemed a little cumbersome at times in my stand and in my blind. I picked up a used recurve made by Rampart Bows to get me through this deer season. It shot pretty well but I realized I really like the look and feel of longbows.
I got my name on the waiting list for a Shrew bow but I don’t think I can wait another year for them to start producing it.
Does anyone know of any good shooting short longbows? I’d like it to be 56 – 58 inches and 55#’s @ 29 draw length. I’m planning on this being the last bow I buy for a while so I want to go all out on it.
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Cascade Archery just came out this past fall with a short longbow and it apparently is getting good reviews. Also Hoots is making a short longbow, and there is also Big Jim’s Buffalo bow . they all seem to be very alike in design
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jjnapp wrote:
I got my name on the waiting list for a Shrew bow but I don’t think I can wait another year for them to start producing it.I faced the same problem. I was on a 17-month wait list for a short Shrew recurve when a friend told me about Wild Horse Creek bows in Perry, KS. Mike Dunnaway, who owns WHC Bows, makes beautiful custom longbows and recurves. I ordered one of Mike’s 54-inch recurves instead of the Shrew. I love my WHC and do not regret my decision to cancel the Shrew. In fact, I’m ordering a WHC for my wife and another one of Mike’s longer recurves for myself. Mike also makes a short longbow in 54, 56, & 58 inches he calls the Kestrel, which you may consider … fast, smooth, and the quietest bows I’ve ever shot. I also shoot a Shafer Silvertip recurve, so I’m used to quality bows. But this past season I hunted more with the little WHC than my 62″ Shafer recurve.
You can’t go wrong with a WHC, and Mike Dunnaway’s a great guy to work with on designing that one-of-a-kind bow. Also, the price is reasonable … about $600 with delivery in about 3 months. 😀
Good luck with your search,
Later, Chris
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I would shop for a Shrew Classic Hunter on some of the various forum classifieds. You will likely find a Shrew that suits you and save yourself some money and waiting time as well.
I have a one piece SCH and it has caused me to sell my other LB’s. I am about three months out on the list for another in takedown. -
thanks for the suggestions guys! I heard from someone that Striker makes a good short longbow. Has anyone ever shot one or know anyone that has one?
I found some pics on line of the Hoots and Big Jims bows. They look great…does anyone have any personal experience with either bows or have any input about them?
Celinsin – Do you have a link to Wild Horse Creek Archery or know how I could get more info on their bows. I could find much.
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I would love a Shrew too…but Im not sure they are that much better (very subjective I know) than other short longbows.
I have a Quick Stick (60″, 55#@28) (Kustom King has it) and it is fast and smooth. Only “draw back” is that it kind of has the same “chwak” sound as a compound….but my silencers are home made and small’ish. Anyways…it impress everyone who have tried it so far.
I think that the Bama bows that are discussed in another thread looks real nice too…they have more of a “custom” look about them than my Quick Stick.
I have never seen anyone say anything bad about Shrew bows (quite the contrary)…but I suspect that they might be a tad hyped (admitted…I have never tried one).
Cheers
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jjnapp wrote:
Celinsin – Do you have a link to Wild Horse Creek Archery or know how I could get more info on their bows. I could find much.The owner/bowyer’s name is Mike Dunnaway and his e-mail is MKDSLD@aol.com. Wild Horse Creek Bows is located in Perry, KS. Mike’s phone number is 785-597-2290.
Just call or e-mail Mike and he’ll e-mail you his brochure, price list, and photos of bows he’s made … a good guy to work with.
Sorry, I didn’t include this info in my previous reply. 😳
Later, Chris
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I don’t have any experience with the other short bows so can offer no opinion other than imitation is the sheerest from of flattery, and the Shrew design is what most of the other foward handled short longbows are modeled after.
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Well it’s good to finally have some discussion of Shrews here. If you read down through these posts it’s clear that the Shrew is widely accepted as the standard for great short longbows. I have two Classic Hunters, both at 54″ and plan to be buried with them. I also had a Li’l Favorite recurve and it too was superb, but at this point in my archery career, after owning countless excellent bows, I’m a Shrew CH guy forever. To each his own. And I share the growing frustration with the long wait, as I’ve suffered through it twice myself. The reason is that one man builds every Shrew from start to finish. IMHO Gregg Coffey is the finest bowyer working today, and that says a lot since we have so many art-level bowyers out there today, a blessing. Thus, Shrew is a two-man operation: Gregg builds the bows and Ron, the founder and owner, handles the business end. Their fix is whether to stay in an elite “ma and pa” status with a waiting list growing ever longer, or hire some bowyer helpers and grow it into a production-oriented business. That’s not likely, as Ron is semi-retired and likes it that way, and Gregg has a full-time job on top of building 80 or so bows a year. So it’s good that other makers are following the Shrew lead and producing good short bows you don’t have to wait more than a year to get into your hands. Yet Shrew is the original and will remain the standard. If you can work it, I suggest getting on the Shrew list (at under $700 for a standard bow, last I checked, they remain a major bargain), and go ahead and get one of the other short bows for the meanwhile. Once you get used to a really good short bow for hunting, shooting anything longer just no longer makes sense. I am a serious Shrew-head, but didn’t become one without good reason! I personally hope Shrew never gets any bigger, as the limited number of bows they are making today will only go up in value in future. If you buy a used Shrew, look for the GC on the limb indicating it was made by Gregg Coffey. I don’t pretend to be objective here, as I am happily spoiled. dave p
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I agree that both Gregg and Ron are both top notch. I’m coming up on the build list pretty soon for my second SCH, a take down model. I’m a little concerned right now because I have suffered the same neck neuro ailment as Don Thomas and I am just recently able to draw some of my hunting weight bows again. Kind of put a kink in some of my original plans but getting older is better than not.
Like Dave said, get on the list especially since it doesn’t cost anything. Look for a Shrew in classifieds but be diligent because they usually won’t last more than a day or two which ought to tell you something.
Dave when do you have another book coming out? Your work has done an admirable job of putting words to my feelings, but I am currently read up on your list. That has made me catch up on Paul Shepard, Edward Abbey, revisit Aldo Leopold and even some Emerson. -
jj — I talked to Gregg and he says they will have 13 new Shrews at K-zoo for immediate sale. This is a tradition and the only way you can get a new one instantly. There will be a variety of models, weights, etc. If you can’t make it, maybe you can designate a surrogate to check ’em out for you.
David — Thanks for the kind words. Anyone who is interested enough in why we are who and how we are as humans to suffer through the exacting beauty and revelations of Paul Shepard’s difficult prose, rates high on my list.:D I just released a 20th anniversary edition of Racks, heavily infused with Val Geist. No more books currently in the works as I’m too busy hunting. 😀
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David Petersen wrote: Well it’s good to finally have some discussion of Shrews here.
I’m a few days from being on the list for exactly one year and still waiting…but it’s in a good way, considering other more pressing issues that have arisen, but I’ll be ready when the time comes. 😀
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Yea me too, I think it was around Feb. 8th last year when I talked to Ron and got on the list.
Dave I see that you have a 54″ SCH, what is your draw length? I have a 56″ one piece and love it but the idea of a takedown 54″ is appealing. A broken down 54 would really pack and travel well.
One thing that I really like about my 56″ is that the riser is solid phenolic. It definitely isn’t as warm and visually appealing as a well figured exotic but the added mass and stability is significant. Likely I’ll go with that on the takedown with a really super extra dull finish.
It’s funny that I have some other bows, some really nice ones but as pretty as the woods are in them nothing appeals to me like the humble simplicity of the Shrew. Everything that is required of a hunting bow and nothing more. -
The Shrew is definately one lovely bow, but as mentioned above the price and waiting period were a bit too much. Another good bowyer is Mike Mecredy of Maddog Archery. Nothing terribly fancy in design, but a functional, well made bow for a fraction of the price most other bowyers charge.
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I took all of the advise on here and I decided to keep my name on the list for a Shrew bow and I’ve ordered “Expedition” model from Bama bows. I can’t tell you how excited I am for this new bow!
I talked with Nathaniel from Bama bows for a couple hours and I think we came up with something pretty special. It sounds like it should be finished within 2 months. I’ll let you guys know how it turns out!
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That’s great, good luck with the upcoming new bow. It’ll keep you mind off the Shrew wait and get you into the business of short longbow hunting.:D
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Make sure you post pics!
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jnapp,
We appreciate your patience and I hope your new Bama bow works out well.
Please believe that whenever someone asks how long its going to take to get their bow, I HATE telling them 17-18 months. For some reason its working though. We’ve already got a darth or new orders this month and the Kalamazoo show is yet to come…in two days.
Thanks for all the kind remarks above,
Java Man the Shrewyer
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I have the good fortune of calling Ron and Java “friend”. Two great guys whom I would have never met had it not been for traditional archery. I have the extreme privilege of hunting with Ron each fall at his old fashioned deer camp, “Shrewhaven”
I give you these bona fides not as a brag, but to preempt the notion that my opinions of Shrew bows are prejudiced by friendship. They aren’t. I take full advantage of venues like the upcoming Kalamazoo Expo and Comptons, and shoot every bow I can get my hands on. I have yet to find a bow….of any style…that I shoot better than a Shrew.
When Ron brought the Lil Favorite to camp 4 years ago, I was in love. I hogged the prototype, and hunted it more than anyone else. I was already on the list, and changed my order to the abbreviated recurve. I have 100% confidence when I release that bow on a game animal .(I couldn’t care less about 3D competition, I shoot a bow to hunt).
Then they screwed me up. This past season, Ron brought the Armstrong Ghost to camp. To be honest, I kind of ignored it for a couple days. I loved my Lil Favorite, and was determined to “dance with who brung me”. Then Ron, in his Granderfatherly, gruff way, stood in front of me as I was leaving the cabin to shoot.
“What the hell is wrong with the Ghost?” he wanted to know. He was bothered that I hadn’t sufficiently put it through its paces like I had the Lil Favorite years before.
I didn’t have an answer. I just simply loved my recurve, and didn’t think I wanted to change (I won’t jump back and forth between bows).
How wrong I was. I started stumping and fiddling around with the Ghost. To make a long story short, 3 days later I had a fat doe on the ground, courtesy of the new prototype. Dang it. Through lots of begging, hauling water, toting firewood, forgoing my spot on the list again, and a handy check book, that prototype went home with me. 52# at 54”. The Shrew grip. Perfect. I feel guilty every time I take it off the rack, and I can’t look my Lil Favorite in the eye. But I’m hooked again. I’m having the hide from that first doe made into a bow sleeve. I love it.We have lots of Shrew bows in this house. I’ve waited 12 months, 18 months, and it’s always worth it. The time flies by. The only problem I have is that every time I get on the list with one bow in mind, they come up with something else.
Bows are personal, and I would never insult another man’s bow. But as long as Ron and Java are producing Shrew’s, that’s what I want. -
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We have lots of Shrew bows in this house. I’ve waited 12 months, 18 months, and it’s always worth it. .
I even make my friends wait for a bow..:lol:Dave thank you for the good review but I wish you hadn’t said what you did about Gregg, “IMHO Gregg Coffey is the finest bowyer working today” Now he’s gonna want a raise..:roll:..:lol:
I’m sorry that folks have to wait so long for a new Shrew, Gregg and I both would like to change that. Unfortunately the only way I can think of to make that happen is to get Hop Sing over there in China to help us out..:lol:
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“My name is Kevin Winkler and I am a Shrew-Aholic”
Yes, it is an addiction! I shot one at the Compton shoot a few years ago and fell in love with it. I should have bought it on the spot, but before I could make myself pry my wallet open, someone else had bought it.
So I ordered one. Not being the most patient guy in the world, I bought a used one, then another one, then another. 18 mo. after I had placed my order my custom made 56″ CH arrived, and it was worth the wait. You won’t find better people to deal with than Ron and Gregg.
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I’m sorry that folks have to wait so long for a new Shrew, Gregg and I both would like to change that. Unfortunately the only way I can think of to make that happen is to get Hop Sing over there in China to help us out..:lol:
No Hop Sing, we wait just fine.:D -
jjnapp wrote: I took all of the advise on here and I decided to keep my name on the list for a Shrew bow and I’ve ordered “Expedition” model from Bama bows. I can’t tell you how excited I am for this new bow!
I talked with Nathaniel from Bama bows for a couple hours and I think we came up with something pretty special. It sounds like it should be finished within 2 months. I’ll let you guys know how it turns out!
Nate’s actually told me a lot about your bow as it has improved substantially from the prototype he sent me based on my feedback and a few conversations we’ve had. And that bow was already good! In fact, he insisted I send mine back so he could tweak it and I’m waiting on it as well!
Best solution for any major bow dilemma – buy them both! 😆 I love it! You are going to end up with two great bows from two great bowyers!
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Well I would like to chime in here with my own praise of Ron and Gregg’s work. I went to KZoo this weekend and had no intention of buying a bow especially a short longbow. I am 6’3″ 230 pounds with shameful gorilla arms and a draw length of 30″. I picked up one of Shrew’s longer bows (a Model T) and loved the grip. After shooting it I brought it back to the rack, not because it didn’t shoot well, but because I have 3 other long bows that are 64″. That is when it happened…Gregg hands me this stealthy looking short longbow and says to try it. Being polite only, I went to the range with him looking on. After the first 3 arrows I found out what all the fuss was about.
It is a Ghost Bow, complete with mystery core, 56″. While shooting it 6 other guys asked to try it. When I finally got it away from those guys I calmly walked over to Gregg and told him it was sold. I have never shot a short longbow worth a crap. After shooting it for 2 days, in the barn after the kids were asleep, over my lunch break and again this am, the turkies are in trouble in a couple of months! Gregg and Ron both grinned when I walked over, stunned, with my wallet 😀 I asked Gregg how a guy with monkey arms could shoot such a short bow and his response was classic: “Cause I designed it that way.” I kinda feel gulity not waiting. So, I’ll just put my name on the list for another one!
After this long-winded response I’d like to say find a Shrew used. There are some that pop up on the Trad archery websites. Imitation is flattering, but the real deal, bonafied innovator of short longbows is what you have ordered 😉
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David — I pull 28″, which a 52″ Shrew handles well and a 54″ feels like 62″. Someone mentioned that the “long wait and price” work against Shrew. As thoroughly discussed in this thread, indeed the wait is excruciating. But price? Please see my earlier post to refute that. I’m sure there are used Coffey Shrews already selling for more than their new cost and that will be the norm in future years. Among the many blessings of the reborn traditional archery and bowhunting movement brought about by TBM over the years is that today we have SO many superb bowyers and arrowsmiths working, that who and which is “best” comes down mostly to personal preference. My preference for Shrews does NOT imply that other bows are inferior, but only that I personally prefer these “hot little redheads.”
You should also check out Java Man Bows, Gregg Coffey’s own line of unique and excellent custom sticks.
“Shrewyer” … I like that, Gregg. 😉 dave
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Just a FYI, Mike got pulled away from our banquet here in MO due to the death of his mother, (I was told).
celinsin wrote: [quote=jjnapp]
I got my name on the waiting list for a Shrew bow but I don’t think I can wait another year for them to start producing it.I faced the same problem. I was on a 17-month wait list for a short Shrew recurve when a friend told me about Wild Horse Creek bows in Perry, KS. Mike Dunnaway, who owns WHC Bows, makes beautiful custom longbows and recurves. I ordered one of Mike’s 54-inch recurves instead of the Shrew. I love my WHC and do not regret my decision to cancel the Shrew. In fact, I’m ordering a WHC for my wife and another one of Mike’s longer recurves for myself. Mike also makes a short longbow in 54, 56, & 58 inches he calls the Kestrel, which you may consider … fast, smooth, and the quietest bows I’ve ever shot. I also shoot a Shafer Silvertip recurve, so I’m used to quality bows. But this past season I hunted more with the little WHC than my 62″ Shafer recurve.
You can’t go wrong with a WHC, and Mike Dunnaway’s a great guy to work with on designing that one-of-a-kind bow. Also, the price is reasonable … about $600 with delivery in about 3 months. 😀
Good luck with your search,
Later, Chris
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I notice some RH and LH Shrews listed on the TG Classifieds for anyone who might be interested.:D
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Fletcher — Can you please provide website links for either of these? Thanks, ttf
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Roy Hall has a joint venture going with the guys who sell the addiction recurve and they are now producing the addiction longbow as well. here is the web site address but the long bow isn’t on the site yet, you will need to call.
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I hear Annewakee is coming out with a longbow model. Not sure if it will be a short one though. Their recurves are beautiful.
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Hi Folks,
I saw this thread looking for info on short longbows. I just picked up a Stewart Slammer yesterday. Mine is longer than you are interested, but he brought a 56 incher to the club shoot last night. They are beauties. Light, fast, tremendously well made. Leon’s a great guy and very well respected. http://www.stewartsarchery.com -
I would without hesitation choose a STORM from Estonia. Living in Denmark it st closer, but anyway Siim offer great service and a soft shooting “54 bow. Tjek it out on falco.ee or try youtube search for FALCO STORM. Waiting time 5-8 weeks, price so low you might think it is not worth trying, but it is. I used to shoot Border.
Well, they talk a lot about the short longbow from Cascade being worth a try, but that on your side of the atlantic:lol:
Greeting from Denmark
Some day I will go to Colorado.
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Switchback – Welcome here, from your fellow Dane, albeit for me the third generation (that is, my grandfather came over in the late 1880s). I love your culture and your landscapes, but the food sounds awful! 😛 Wish I could get there to try it for myself, but I’m now living on Social Insecurity so there goes that idea. Thanks for the bow advice. dp
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Shot a Shrew and loved it. Super bows!
Dollar for dollar in a short longbow………??
Thunderstick Mag by Jim Reynolds.
I know this guy…..HECK of a nice guy….usually wears some kind of camo hat…..has one, loves it to death, a friend might end up with it over the above mentioned’s love of OLD OLD OLD…….bows.
Worth a shot if you get a chance!
God Bless
Steve Sr. -
The leftover stock from the Kzoo show proved irrestiable to me. I got the left hand, 50# Super Shrew. Though not as short as Dave’s Shrew Calssics, it is short for a longbow. It shoots great but I am going to add a bow quiver. I beleive it will add just enough weight if I get a 4 arrow strap on. It is naturally camo’ed with the muted and darkened wood combination, finished with a flat finish. The curly grain jumps out when the light hits it just so. Pretty, in my opinion. Anyway, good choice for a short longbow.
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Duncan wrote: The leftover stock from the Kzoo show proved irrestiable to me. I got the left hand, 50# Super Shrew. Though not as short as Dave’s Shrew Calssics, it is short for a longbow. It shoots great but I am going to add a bow quiver. I beleive it will add just enough weight if I get a 4 arrow strap on. It is naturally camo’ed with the muted and darkened wood combination, finished with a flat finish. The curly grain jumps out when the light hits it just so. Pretty, in my opinion. Anyway, good choice for a short longbow.
I prefer a bowquiver on short bows like this as well. Seems natural to me.
My new Bama Expedition is currently in production. I can’t wait to have an adventure with it.
Jim Reynolds does make a great bow. I haven’t shot a Thunderstick I didn’t like.
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Duncan — ah, you eastern guys with all those great tradbow events are so darned lucky! To walk in and see Shrews on a rack and get to shoot one and buy it on the spot … In all, I’ve waited almost 2 years for 3 Shrews, and started years ago. You da lucky guy! Coffey’s own Java Man bows are equal great shooters but a bit heavier in handle wood and a whole ‘nuther different look. But he builds them down to 58″. Ah, but being maybe too fair a guy, he doesn’t shoot his own brand bows in front of the Shrews he builds, so there we still have to wait.
And I third or whatever the vote for strap-on bow quivers for these small light bows. For me the extra weight really steadys thing out good.. Hey, let’s have Kalamazoo next year somewhere out west! Homer
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Homer,
Just check Ron’s site right after K’zoo to see what is left over. Something might suit you. Thats what I did. I did’nt get to customize it but hey, I did’nt have to wait either and it looks custom enough for me.
Duncan -
i`ve got a new bear-paw quickstick, but is 60″ long… but i`ve never shoot a bow like this… zero shock absolut quiet… its a lot of fun to shoot with this verry fast bow ( 204 feet with 50# !!) … at my first day i shoot a litle bird at 18 yard extremly accurate … for me its the best bow… but i think it is to long for you… i would try to load some pics.. 🙄
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I know this thread has morphed into a “Shrew” topic, but back to the initial question. I just received my new Don Dow Stik and must say, it’s a fantastic bow. It’s quality and design is top shelf, it shoots a quick arrow without noticeable handshock (yes, subjective), and costs about 1/3 the money of a Shrew. And, you can get it in about three weeks! If, like black widow owners, you just have to have a bow that is overpriced, then far be it for me to suggest otherwise. If however, you want a great performing bow at a reasonable price, I strongly suggest looking at Don’s Stik. He is also great to deal with and will talk you thru the different options he offers.
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