Thunderchild!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#2488

Spent the last month purging a bunch of stuff I wasn’t using anymore, and selling it all. Had a little extra $$ burning a hole in my pocket…and found myself on Big Jim’s site, drooling over a Thunderchild he had in stock. I’m a sucker for nice bocote, and I’ve been curious about the TC’s for some time now. And then there was a period of time I can’t account for, after which I suddenly received a notification that I had purchased the bow and it was on its way to me…

It arrived today, and everything I’ve heard about Jim’s craftsmanship was not an exaggeration. Absolutely beautiful bow, and the most radical r/d I own to date. I managed to get outside once the temps rose into the low 20’s and in between snow flurries, and flung a few arrows. Might still have a little fine tuning to do, but it’s a serious shooter. Thanks for a wonderful piece of art and function, Jim.

56″ AMO

#52 @ 28″

bocote veneers

carbon/bamboo limb cores

rosewood riser

[Doc Nock]

#9899

So, SH, that keyboard has a mind of it’s own, eh??? Just clicks on stuff and then there it is…!

LOL

Purdy looking stick… Congrats!

Maybe you’ll get a Chinook wind and get to play more soon

[Ralph]

#9930

Nice!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Dave why don’t you try and find those magic keys on your keyboard and double click one your way, and one mine. 😀

That is a mighty purty bow..

[David Petersen]

#9977

“Thunderchild” … man am I relieved. I thought it might be about a kid in the bathroom with tummy trouble! That’s some mighty purdy wood grain, indeed. Although I’ve never been a practitioner myself, I sure do understand the worldview that says “We can never own enough bows! Or knives, eh Bruce? 😀

[Doc Nock]

#10060

Sorry ole Ralph, but my CC wouldn’t handle one let alone two. I found my beloved bow in my avatar… bocote (almost birds eye type) and waterfall bubinga.

Love lookin at other bows and woods, but after all those years of fighting standardized grips, then finding a bowyer who made one to fit my paw and style…

I’m done…

So, Petersen, you were going to send SH a case of Pink Pepto?:lol:

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#10169

David Petersen wrote: Although I’ve never been a practitioner myself, I sure do understand the worldview that says “We can never own enough bows! Or knives, eh Bruce? 😀

If there’s a limit, Dave, I aim to find it.

And then step right over it. 8)

[James Harvey]

#10241

Bruce, you should get a photo of your complete harem of curvy girls together. Just to really drive home that dagger of envy you’ve plunged into my poor little spirit 😉

[wahoo]

#10515

looks sweet – like that reverse riser – 20 degrees what -you must live in the banana belt.

[wahoo]

#10518

oh don’t listen to dp you just keep driving that Idaho economy – congrats looks great

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#10556

ausjim wrote: Bruce, you should get a photo of your complete harem of curvy girls together. Just to really drive home that dagger of envy you’ve plunged into my poor little spirit 😉

Ha. I recently made a pact with myself that if I bought another bow, I’d sell one as well…so, the ’70 Bear K-Mag is on the auction block. Which only leaves 4 longbows (errr…”hybrids” 🙄 ) and two recurves. Though I have to admit, the recurves have been sitting on the shelf lately, just having too much fun with the others.

wahoo wrote: oh don’t listen to dp you just keep driving that Idaho economy – congrats looks great

I was hoping you’d chime in, Wally.

[coastalbendbows]

#10928

Sweet looking bow Bud. Jim builds some pretty bows.

[Troy Warner]

#11090

Great profile and beautiful woods, really like the beaver tail wrap,and the shapes of the tips. Congrats and condolences Bruce, I too must part with a member of my harem to make room for my latest beauty.:cry:

If it takes long enough to sell she might forget it didn’t!:P Shhhhh she might hear.

Troy

[Cameron Unruh]

#11315

Nice choice Bruce! I have been quietly eyeing one of Big Jim’s takedowns. Great looking bow.

BTW – what is the brace height?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#11644

Cameron wrote: Nice choice Bruce! I have been quietly eyeing one of Big Jim’s takedowns. Great looking bow.

BTW – what is the brace height?

Thanks, Cameron. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Jim’s takedown system. A buddy of mine has a Thunderchild takedown on the way right now. At 54″ AMO, I joked with him that when he takes it down, he’ll be able to put the whole setup in his back pocket.

Brace height range on the TC is 7-3/4″ to 8-1/4″ – I have mine set right at 8.”

[Ben M.]

#11707

That is some serious R/D. Can we see a full draw pic when you get the chance, please?

-Ben

[Bernie Clancey]

#11844

That’s some nice looking bamboo right there in the floor. Makes for good contrast with that dark bacote. That is a beautiful bow. Bet it shoots a pretty quick arrow too. I too would like to see the full draw pic.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#12149

Ben & Bernie – ask and you shall receive, though I had to take the pic in my buddy’s cluttered basement since it’s nuking outside today, so it ain’t the best pic. T-child, at full draw:

Put about 80-100 arrows through it today, and it is one heckuva smooth, accurate bow.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#12150

Btw, another friend of mine received a 54″ takedown TC today, a real beauty in koa wood with horn tips and overlays. His draw length is a little longer than mine (29″) and he says he doesn’t notice any stack at all with it.

[William Warren]

#12210

Nice one Smithhammer. I been jones’n for a TC too. Put a deposit on one last fall and waiting my turn unless a new or used lefty turns up before then. But really that will have to be the last one for a while. 🙄

[Bernie Clancey]

#12232

Looks like it is working right through the riser. Should provide a longer working limb, smoother draw, and good arrow speed.

That is a beaut.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#12289

Duncan – A friend of mine put his money down last fall, and he just got the call from Big Jim last week, so I bet yours is up very soon. Looking forward to seeing it.

Bernie – Yup, a short riser and carbon cores make for a snappy, quick bow that draws like butter! Jim really has this design figured out.

[Col Mike]

#12290

Bruce

Beautiful bow and a reveling picture:D

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#20599

A little follow-up after shooting the Thunderchild just about every day for the last 10:

– The first thing I noticed when I picked this bow up was the grip. While it’s a low wrist which I like, the grip felt big, at least compared to the other bows I was used to. So big, in fact, that I wondered if I would like it or not. Well, after a few days, I not only got used to it – now I really like it. It fills my hand nicely and helps make the bow feel really stable. And the beavertail, while it adds slightly to the thickness, provides excellent grip.

– This little bow is fast. I don’t own a chrono so I can’t say exactly how fast, but I’m not shooting a particularly light arrow (620gr. w/ 27% FOC) and the Thunderchild throws them with authority.

– In hand, it doesn’t feel like a particularly short bow. Or rather, it doesn’t suffer from the things that some say short bows are known for. It doesn’t stack or pinch at all at my 27″ draw (Big Jim shoots the same 56″ length bow, and he supposedly has a 30″+ draw). It draws vey smoothly and consistently throughout, and it feels very stable in hand, not “twitchy” at all.

– Putting an EFA bow quiver on it dampened the bow down a little, though it’s not a noisy bow to begin with. Regardless, I’ve been shooting it with and without the bow quiver, and it doesn’t seem to make much noticeable difference in how the bow shoots at all.

All told, I’d say Big Jim has really nailed it with the Thunderchild design. The performance and craftsmanship of this bow is excellent. This is the type of short bow that convinces me that there is no need to carry anything longer, unless you just really want to.

[Author]

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