blackwolf-cheetah

It isn't often that you get two Hills together, but that's what happened to me today. I had ordered what amounts to a new model, the Black Wolf, and right afterwards sent a Cheetah in for a refinish job. I sent the Cheetah in a pvc tube. Craig timed them to come out together and much to my surprise, both fit in the tube together. So, when the mailman came, I really scored!

The Cheetah was a typical one, walnut riser and juniper over bamboo limbs. However, it had seen some pretty hard use and the finish was pretty scratched and kind of heat bubbled at the edges. I sent it in for a refinish, and also specified the addition of an inlay, since Craig said that was possible.

The Black Wolf was kind of a wild hair of mine. I had ordered a Black Bear (#2) and found that the carbon limb stiffened it up more than I expected. I shoot it OK, but it's right at the top of my pull range at 55#. I wanted to try another carbon, a bit lighter. About that time we had a discussion on the list of lamboo... the cross-laminated bamboo lams that Craig can use if specified. I asked Craig which would have the greater effect on a bow's speed, all lamboo limbs or a carbon back. He said that he though the carbon would have the greater effect. I think asked what would happen if you combined that, i.e. all lamboo limbs and a carbon back. His reactions was kind of, "ooohh!". I didn't want just another Black Bear, but something just a tad different, so I ordered a Big Five, four lams plus fiberglass belly and carbon back. I would have loved to call it a Grey Wolf, but carbon doesn't come in grey, so it became Black Wolf #1.

The Cheetah is 60" and marked 54@26". It is actually a bit less, having apparently lost a smidge along the way. It pulls right on 49# @ 25" for me. I like the 60" length, I can string it by hand with no trouble.

The Black Wolf is marked 48@25 and pulls exactly that. It is 62". I can string it by hand, but it's a little stiffer push.

I did very little shooting with them on arrival. It wasn't a good day for me to do that, but I did put nocks on both (5/8" for three under) and they both shot center OK with 28" Easton 1916's. I just wasn't concentrating and shooting well today. I'll wring them out more thoroughly in a day or two and report back on-list.

Cheetah riser before This picture was what I could get. It actually looks better than the bow really did.	Cheetah riser after Nicely cleaned up and with the new bear paw inlay. I really wanted this inlay on one of my bows. The bear is kind of my totem animal. (I am Ursus Black in the Harry Potter on-line world, but that's another story.)
Cheetah limb before. Note finish at edges. Again, this looked worse on the bow than in the photo	Cheetah limb after

	Love the inlay! Black elk laced wrap. Cocobolo riser.
Cocobolo tip.	and here are the two together.