[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #17154

ausjim wrote:

I’ve been wheeling and dealing all week, I’m run pretty ragged (that doesn’t take much, I’m pretty lazy!), but I’ve got myself signed up to be a guide for a 700km sea kayaking expedition through tropical Queensland for Aussie veterans who received serious physical or psychological injuries in Afghan/Iraq. The best part is I’ve got my CO’s approval which means I’ll be getting paid by army for the pleasure. Sometimes I seriously love my job 😀

I’ll leave in late August and be gone pretty much all of September. One of the guys who lost his legs on the trip with me in 2012 did a similar paddle last year with the same organisation and loved it. I’m really looking forward to it!

Fantastic, Jim!! It’s a great thing you’re doing, and I bet it’s going to be a helluva trip! Can’t wait to hear more about it – I used to spend a lot of time in a sea kayak myself before I moved inland. Such a great way to travel and explore.

Btw, have you ever heard of a Yank named Chris Duff? He was an acquaintance who was really into doing these BIG kayak trips, usually circumnavs. He wrote two books that you might enjoy – one about paddling around Ireland, and the other about paddling around the south island of NZ. The latter, in particular, had no shortage of hair-raising moments:

http://www.amazon.com/Chris-Duff/e/B001IXTP3Q/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Thunderchild T/D #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.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #16983

R2 wrote:

Bruce I been dried and pruned too many days, the type of quiver you have pictured? I want to order one methinks.

R –

It’s made by Big Jim, and I’ve been really happy with it. Here are a few more pics:

https://www.tradbow.com/members/cfmbb/messages.cfm?threadid=9AE90C16-1422-1DE9-EDFCCB184FBBA6AA

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #16792

Glad to hear you got some rain Ralph, and I hope there’s more on the way!

Got out stumpin’ with a buddy last night. It was a much-needed good time, but the skeeters are coming out something fierce in the woods right now!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Survival training #16790

jasonsamko wrote: …My family (kids and wife included) make a point each week all summer long to learn a new skill and master it. Its good fun quality family time and very rewarding.

When we have guests over and I tell my 9 year old go start a bon fire and I had him a ferisoum rod and a pocket knife, the guest always follow him in total silence wondering if this is possible. 5 minutes later my son has a tinder bundle, 5 piles of different size sticks, and sparks flying. Thier jaws drop to teh ground. They always ask him “how many fires have you made like this? his favorite reply is “this is my first one…..today”.

Im glad he is proud of the skills he is learning. Hopefully he will pass them on to his kids the same way.

Excellent.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Thunderchild T/D #15184

Cameron –

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

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Thunderchild T/D #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)

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #13945

colmike wrote:

Bruce

It appears that the better half could use a new bow and what about a side quiver:lol: A balanced inventory!

Mike

I know what you’re up to, Mike.

Thankfully, she doesn’t read this forum. Yet….

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Side quivers with arrow grippers #13822

ausjim wrote:

I emailed the folks at shrewbows but never heard back from them…

That’s a little concerning. I hope you didn’t already send them payment?

The EFA quivers is my favorite bow quiver I’ve tried. Very light and unobtrusive.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Side quivers with arrow grippers #13712

sinawalli wrote: You are able to shoot with that set up, or do you have to drop the pack?

No problem at all. I wouldn’t hunt with any setup if I had to drop any of it to shoot. As I rotate my upper body to draw, the quiver and pack rotate behind me, and out of the way of my draw arm. No interference at all.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: How the Hisotry Channel seems to get things wrong.. #13548

Critch –

Not sure which video on the English longbow you were watching (maybe the one with Mike Loades?) but I agree – I doubt that a running start, or even an aggressive step forward, was the usual way to shoot an English longbow in war.

Tactically, the English approach to using the bow in war was largely pretty regimented and static (which some historians attribute to why its success was limited). The role of the English archer in battle was primarily for pre-emptive strikes, cover fire upon retreats, and as a supporting role to what the English considered to be the more “valorous” form of fighting – hand-to-hand combat on foot, or even more esteemed – as a nobleman on horseback. As you point out – if a step forward was required of an entire line of archers with every shot, you do not have a static line, you have an advancing line – not what you would always want in those situations.

In addition, it was common for English archers in battle to have a supply of arrows in, or on, the ground by their side. I would bet they would want continue to stand next to that supply and not keep stepping away from it.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Thunderchild T/D #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.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Thunderchild T/D #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]

in reply to: Side quivers with arrow grippers #13425

sinawalli wrote:

Smithhammer, would love to see a pic of your set up! Please and thanks!

No prob. Here ya go:

It’s the ‘Duiker Deluxe’ from Safari Tuff. It’s quiet, light and easily holds a 1/2 dozen arrows. The deluze version includes the large side pocket and a storm cover, which is worth the extra $20, imo.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Thunderchild T/D #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.

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