Thunderchild T/D

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#2730

I’ve been enjoying the Thunderchild I acquired this past winter so much that I started thinking how sweet it would be to have a takedown version. I had a nice 3-piece recurve that I really wasn’t shooting anymore, so out with the old and in with the new. I got in touch with Big Jim to see what he had laying around the shop, and coincidentally, he was just finishing a “very special” takedown Thunderchild, in the poundage and length I was looking for.

I’ve had the bow for about 3 weeks now, and it’s every bit as impressive as my other T-child, with the added benefit that I can break it apart and it actually fits inside my Duiker quiver. 😉

Specs:

#55 @ 28″

56″ AMO

Bocote riser

Mango limbs

Moose antler tips

[David Coulter]

#12551

Wow, that’s nice! If you need a safe place to keep it… dwc

[Col Mike]

#12758

Bruce

That is very nice:D By the way did you win the lotto or something–kids have shoes?:lol:

Mike

[Ralph]

#12849

That is one fine looking bow!!!!!!!!!!!Way to go!:D

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#12970

colmike wrote: Bruce

By the way did you win the lotto or something–kids have shoes?:lol:

Mike

Ha – I wish! It was easy – sold a bow, bought a bow. I call that “revenue neutral.” 8)

And no kids – which definitely makes impulse buying easier.

[Ben M.]

#12994

It’s very, very pretty, Smith. And rather catchy in that the upper limb is integral to the riser instead of the lower. I’ve never seen mango wood before.

Is there a lamination between the antler and the black phenolic on the riser or is that outline just a result of photography?

[James Harvey]

#13284

So, to be clear, you have a thunder child that’s just a normal one piece, now you have a WHOOOOLE other thunder child that comes apart? How did you ever sell that idea to your lovely wife? Or do you just never have them both in the same room with her at the same time??

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#13442

Ben M. wrote: It’s very, very pretty, Smith. And rather catchy in that the upper limb is integral to the riser instead of the lower. I’ve never seen mango wood before.

Is there a lamination between the antler and the black phenolic on the riser or is that outline just a result of photography?

Thanks, Ben. I had never seen a bow with mango wood before either, but after digging up some photos, I was amazed at how unique and complex the grain can be.

Big Jim’s takedown system is beautiful simplicity – no hinges, pins, etc, just male/female with integral grooves for aligment. It’s rock solid once it’s put together, and you would probably never even know that it is a takedown.

The moose tips do have a black phenolic lam between the antler and the limb wood:

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#13447

ausjim wrote: So, to be clear, you have a thunder child that’s just a normal one piece, now you have a WHOOOOLE other thunder child that comes apart? How did you ever sell that idea to your lovely wife? Or do you just never have them both in the same room with her at the same time??

All part of the long-term plan, Jim. First, I got her a bow this past winter, and now she’s really gotten into it. That helps.

Then, I simply told her that I had sold a bow and bought another. So in addition to being revenue neutral, it’s also inventory neutral. That helped as well.

[Etter1]

#13874

Big Jim makes some of the best looking bows out there. He is one of the few that might make me stray from my widow curve.

[tailfeather]

#13957

Man. Very, very nice.

[David Bartlett]

#14020

[quote=Smithhammer]

Then, I simply told her that I had sold a bow and bought another. So in addition to being revenue neutral, it’s also inventory neutral. That helped as well.

I have to give this angle a try.

[Murray]

#14059

My favorite technique is along the lines of, “Ray left 3 of his bows in my truck tonight. I oughta just keep them for a while, til he remembers.” This also confuses the amount of inventory, and opens up all kinds of avenues for future acquisitions. Also works with guns, flyrods, binoculars, and knives.

Murray

[Brennan Herr]

#14089

Smithhammer,

That is a really great looking bow. I am going to have to shoot one at ETAR this year. Think I can pull the old recurve for a TC on the wife? Probably not! But might have to try. Thanks for sharing and a shooting video would be handy just to see if she performs as well as she looks. 😀

Brennan

[Col Mike]

#14431

Brennan

Look forward to seeing you at ETAR. Perhaps we can shoot the thunder child then blame our purchase on Bruce:D

Mike

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#14493

Murray wrote: My favorite technique is along the lines of, “Ray left 3 of his bows in my truck tonight. I oughta just keep them for a while, til he remembers.” This also confuses the amount of inventory, and opens up all kinds of avenues for future acquisitions. Also works with guns, flyrods, binoculars, and knives.

I like the way you operate, Murray.

brennanherr wrote: Smithhammer,

That is a really great looking bow….Thanks for sharing and a shooting video would be handy just to see if she performs as well as she looks. 😀

Thanks, Brennan. I’ll see about getting some video, but in the meantime, I can tell you that it throws a heavy arrow with no lack of authority. It’s a tack-driver, assuming I do my part.

colmike wrote:

…Perhaps we can shoot the thunder child then blame our purchase on Bruce:D

Feel free to use my name for whatever blame/enablement is required. 8)

[Cameron Unruh]

#14557

And no kids – which definitely makes impulse buying easier.

Smithhammer – enjoy the season without kids and get as much as you can stored up. I have two boys 19 and 23 and I just finished saving up enough for a new bow and I was also looking at one of BigJim’s bows. But when my son called and wanted to come home for vacation – (He is living and working over on the Island of Maui…he works for YWAM – Youth with a Mission.) I was excited to have him come home but at the same time watched my bow money become an airline flight.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#15184

Cameron –

Enjoy the summer with your son at home! And I just checked out your website – good looking bows!

[Cameron Unruh]

#15239

Thanks Smithhammer – I really enjoy building bows. I hope to build as well as Bigjim someday.

[Brennan Herr]

#17053

Mike

Sounds like a plan to me. :D.

Smithhammer

I have seen you wearing kuiu gear in your pics. Do you have the chugach jacket by chance? And if so what are your thoughts on it.

Thanks

Brennan

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#17150

brennanherr wrote:

Smithhammer

I have seen you wearing kuiu gear in your pics. Do you have the chugach jacket by chance? And if so what are your thoughts on it.

Thanks

Brennan

Brennan –

Sorry, I don’t have the Chugach jkt. But I’ve been very happy with the technical pieces I have from Kuiu so far.

[Author]

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