[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: mount and align broadheads: a how to vid #29825

Another great little vid, Clay. I’ll have to keep an eye out at the local thrift store for a pair of roller blades.:wink:

I’m getting a hankering to build some woodies soon…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Practicing the "Cold Shot" #29782

Ha! Well done, David. I need to get out in the woods today and wander….

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Stump Shootin' Days #29775

I don’t think I want to see (or smell) the inside of your quiver, Ralph. 8)

But that country sure looks like it would be a lot of fun to wander in. Thanks for taking us along!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Schulz longbow values #27945

Wow. 😯

Codger, I’d be hesitant to give an exact dollar value, but I would expect those would command a very good price, esp. the “Natural.” Especially given that Schulz is basically retired from bow making at this point, and the last round of bows he made are being auctioned right now well above $1k and even $2k.

You have some fine pieces of history there, my friend – I wish I could afford one!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: One fletch, two fletch, not so new fletch. #27694

That’s cool that they flew well with only 2 x 3″ fletch! I remember reading an interesting article on 2-fletch setups a while back, though I think the author was using 2 x 4″ or 5″ fletching, which is still pretty minimal in terms of overall surface area. It really makes me want to go back to the fletching jig and do a little more experimenting, even though I should probably just leave my current set up alone and quit messing with it!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Too much, not enough, had enough #27682

Great post, Wose.

And I couldn’t agree more about the current state of “every venture into the outdoors being a matter of dramatic survival” syndrome.

In addition to traditional bows, I’m also into traditional knives – I love learning about the history and culture that different knife designs originated from. I was watching a documentary on the Saami people (northern Scandanavia) the other day, and I couldn’t help but reflect on the simplicity of the knives they used for virtually every essential task, even though their daily lives, in a very harsh climate, were/are far more about “survival” on a regular basis than your average modern-day “outdoors survivalist” who seems to be convinced that they are risking their lives every time they go on a day hike if they aren’t carrying a massive military knife/saw/pry bar combo and a pack full of survival gear.

At the same time, I also feel that their is a bit of a false dichotomy created in thinking that it breaks down to either being about the “gear” or being about the “experience.” As with most black-and-white assessments, there is usually a very moderate middle-ground which isn’t either/or. In other words, I believe it’s entirely possible to carry a modicum of proper gear, smartly chosen, and not have it negatively detract from “the experience” whatsoever. But alas, if human history tells us anything, it’s that our brains seldom seem to be able to resist the allure of binary thinking – it makes things so easy. 😉

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Help #27663

grumpy wrote:

By the way… The rule of thumb (2.5 lbs per inch) for calculating draw weights seems pretty sketchy to me right now.

It’s only that – a general guideline. Further complicated by the fact that some bows aren’t even their exact, stated weight @ 28″ to begin with. The only way to really know exactly is to put it on a bow scale.

Regardless, congrats on the new bow!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Shots From the Past #27620

I remember having a similar reaction the first time I read “Hunting the Hard Way.” But it was clearly a very different time – in the case of Pope and Young we’re basically talking a century ago!

I think things changed because of pressure, both from within the ranks of bowhunters, and from the public, who didn’t want to see wounded animals walking around with arrows sticking out of them, and realizing that if bowhunting was going to have a future, the notion of “ethical” shot distances and clean, efficient kills was going to have to become the norm.

All of which were very good and essential developments for the future of our sport, of course. But I can still go back and look at these old films and writings and greatly appreciate and enjoy them, without judging the individuals through the lens of a different set of rules than they had at the time. Long shot distances aside, some of the things these guys did were really remarkable, and Young’s taking of a bull moose with a home-made yew longbow, deep in the AK wilderness of the early 1920s, and then making a boat out of the hide in order to return to civilization, epitomizes that time, in my mind.

So yeah, I think that some things have changed for the better in terms of increasing awareness of ethics. But on the other hand, there was something about that era, and the places those guys went at that time, which is harder to find today.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: One fletch, two fletch, not so new fletch. #26846

It’s always interesting to me how little fletching a well-tuned arrow really needs. How long are your feathers, David?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Shots From the Past #26552

By the way, I believe the above photo of Art Young was taken on a moose hunt in Alaska in 1926. After downing a big bull, they ended up making a skin boat out of the moosehide to float themselves and the meat out. Another time, for sure.

You can watch the 1/2 hr. film “Alaskan Adventures” here (moose hunt starts at about 8:30):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaQ7ajWanFg

It’s silent, so put on whatever music you feel is appropriate. 😉

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Traditional Snowshoes for Hunting #25964

vintage archer wrote: Smithhammer are you sure those aren’t left over beer bottle caps?:lol:

Brilliant! I might even have a few laying around… Locally brewed and handcrafted, of course, in keeping with traditon. 😉

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Traditional Snowshoes for Hunting #25907

eidsvolling wrote: …I like to think I’m one of the people responsible for Smithhammer’s wise choice earlier this winter, and I’m deeply envious of his good fortune in having them available. 😉

You most definitely are to blame…errr, to be thanked for your excellent advice.

I used to own a pair of MSR ‘Lightnings” and I would agree – the traction is unreal. But where I live, deep powder is far more the norm than having to deal with icy conditions, hency prioritizing floatation over traction. But MGS offers these ‘studs’ for their shoes, which I would imagine greatly improve grip in icy conditions:

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Too much, not enough, had enough #25801

My life, and my posessions, are pretty darn simple compared to the average American lifestyle. However, do I own some things that I don’t strictly “need?” Of course I do. Then again, I don’t recall ever taking the vows of a monk, nor have I found any need to.

As others have said, everyone makes their own decisions, and if you’ve chosen to simplify your hunting by picking up a trad bow, then I think you’re on a good path. Beyond that, fretting about what other people own, or don’t own, and making judgments based on that, seems the realm of old ninnies sitting around drinking tea with nothing better to worry about.

I’d rather enjoy life, and everything it has to offer – including the craftsmanship of others.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Emergency Gear #25584

I can’t say that I ever imagined such an innocuous topic, and one that some of us were enjoying, could become so odd, or filled with so many thinly-veiled criticisms conveniently couched in “I’m not really critcizing, I’m just philosophizing” excuses.

I will however respond to the observation that, “to see gear-headedness” grow in popularity on tradbow.com, of all places, disappoints and bores me.” I don’t see it at all. I continue to see a broad range of topics pertinent to bow hunting being enthusiastically and positively discussed on this forum. And I think you’re cherry-picking this particular thread as your outlet, for some reason that I would guess really has to do with other things. There are things that may “disappoint and bore me” as well, Dave. But rather than continually jousting at them, I choose to simply put my attention and efforts elsewhere, and instead post on the topics that I’m enjoying. I don’t come on this forum to raise my blood pressure – I come on here to have fun and share thoughts and ideas with others who enjoy trad bows and hunting as much as i do. There’s plenty of room for all of it.

I wish you the best, Dave. And respectfully, I’ll leave it at that.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Traditional Snowshoes for Hunting #25477

vintage archer wrote: Probably can’t hear it as I am breathing to hard 😀 😀

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