[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: What is Traditional Archery? #24010

A lot of good points made. Like many of the best things worth doing, I don’t think it all fits into one tidy, specific description very easily. But I know it when I see it, and it has as much to do with the person holding the implement, and the attitude they bring to the game, as it does whatever happens to be in their hand.

But I will say this – I’m grateful for this place, and the level of intelligent conversation and respect we have for each other. I’ve tried to spend time on a few other so-called “trad” forums and have been shocked at the level of discourse.

This is the place, as far as I’m concerned.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: feathers #23261

David Petersen wrote: I’m just curious why you prefer straight other than “they fly just fine”? 😯

Dave – I don’t really have a preference one way or the other, I’ve just found it interesting that I haven’t really noticed any difference in how my arrows are flying, from when I used to put offset and helical into them. They still appear to spin in flight. So, I’m theorizing that the natural helical of the feather, (combined with a shorter and stiffer feather) is what is still creating that spin, even with a straight fletch. And they are also quite stable in flight as is – I’m guessing that 4-fletch is an advantage here as well (along with high EFOC).

I also seem to remember something Dr. Ed was talking about a while back with using straight fletch in conjunction with AA fletching, but it’s possible I’m not recalling that correctly.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: feathers #22593

Curious if other folks are straight fetching when they change to smaller feathers?

Since I switched to 4 x 2.5″ I’ve been straight fletching, – no offset, no helical, and they fly just fine, making me question the need for either at all (except to mask tuning shortcomings…) I believe feathers already have a small amount of helical by natural design, no?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Quality, yet affordable knife suggestions? #22107

Alex –

I would take a look at the Buck 113 Ranger Skinner. It’s a solid, classic knife for the money, with good steel and made in the US. If you look around, you can often find them for under $50.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Bucket list hunt #20618

Hawaii has been on my list for a while. Pigs and rams and sleeping in a hammock, and maybe a little bonefishing along the way? What’s not to like? 😀

I want to make a javelina hunt happen sometime soon as well.

And caribou.

And…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: grouse and woodcock #19664

Webmother wrote: T.J. will occasionally kill an elk while hunting grouse! 😉

That would be a pretty accurate description of my pursuits as well..

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Some people's thinkin' #19461

Thanks for posting this, R2. This topic gets my blood boiling, and I’ve already deleted a couple fired up responses…

Killing is an inevitable part of successful hunting, and while I enjoy hunting immensely, I don’t revel in the killing, or take it lightly, ever. While it can feel like an intense sense of accomplishment when it all comes together, I don’t pump my fist in the air, I don’t laugh about it – no matter what species it is. I’ve had people tell me to ‘lighten up’ and quit taking it so seriously, but the fact is – I can’t, and I don’t want to. Having an incredibly fun time hunting, and still taking the killing seriously are not mutually exclusive in my book.

As Jim said well above – “Everyone of those pigs is just another animal born into the world and trying to make their way.” While pigs are non-native and can be very destructive, it doesn’t negate for me anything that I said above. I respect tenacity in all its forms.

And if anything, we as a species are the worst culprit of everything we tend to accuse non-native species of. As is the case with most forms of hatred, it probably applies to the accuser at least as much as the accused…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: A short rant about KE… #19335

Sharpster wrote: Bruce,

You really need to open up and say what’s on your mind. You’re among friends here. You can tell us what you really think. No need to edit yourself like that. 😆 😛

Ron

Good to know, Ron. I’ve been holding back….:D

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: The Trad Knife Thread #19314

Great looking knife, and that looks like some really nice leatherwork on the sheath as well. Particularly impressive if the knifemaker is still in his teens!! I think I might have seen some examples of his work before on a knife forum I hang out on.

But is it just the light, or does that jimping on the spine look like it would eat your thumb for breakfast?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #18631

David Petersen wrote: Bruce — If that’s you in the last photo, what’s with the bandaged right hand? Did you injure it in the big jewel heist in France the other day? 😛

Naw, that’s an elk hunting buddy who took a good spill on his bike a couple weeks ago. Ended up with some pretty bad road rash.

And I was never in France, just for the record…8)

ausjim wrote: In about 2 hours a man is going to drill a hole in my head to anchor some kind of artificial or ‘robotic’ tooth in place. So I’m basically going to be robocop. Alas I will no longer be kocher or halal, as some portion of a pig is getting grafted onto my face to rebuild some bone as well. But seriously, who doesn’t love bacon?

Wait – what? Yikes – good luck with it all, compadre.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #18421

More scouting this morning. One month to the day till ‘game on’….

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Cold Shots #18396

David Petersen wrote: Alex — My practice sessions also usually start with several arrows in the ground — only my eyes are open and I’m shooting at the target! 😆

Been there too many times…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Dirty Old Hats #17499

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: A short rant about KE… #17264

R2 wrote: I like it when my connectic energy works.

😀

I’ve been noticing a clear connection between how my arrows fly, and the presence of daylight. Therefore, I’m forced to conclude that my arrows must be solar powered…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: A short rant about KE… #17186

handirifle wrote: Well if it makes ya feel any better, the rifle guys aren’t any smarter. There’s those that feel a 80gr, 6mm bullet at 3500fps is better on big game than a 400gr .458 bullet at 1700fps. It will out penetrate it shoots flatter yada yada.

Funny all those dead Bison might disagree with them.

Ha. No kidding.

Alas, you can lead a horse to math, but hooves still make it hard to push the calculator buttons.

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