Some time back I got another Wesley. Not new, but in new condition. It is 55# @ 27", bamboo under clear glass, a very striking bow. Unfortunately, it has the widest (deepest) of the straight grips I have yet encountered and i simply cannot shoot it well. My hands are too small. I have been debating converting it to locator grip myself, but have finally decided that wouldn't be smart, so I guess it will go to Craig. That grip is so deep he could almost put a full recurve pistol grip into it! Anyway, I have been meaning to get pictures up and the arrival today of another Hill, a Cheetah, kind of kicked me in the but and made me take some pictures. the Cheeetah is a real beauty, It has 3 lams of bamboo covered with two lams of juniper, with a checkered ebony riser and a gold inlaid Cheetah head. It has a black elkhide handle wrap and Cape Buffalo tips. It wa originally mde for Craig's son in law. The bow is 69' long and 57# at 28". It pulls 49# at my 25", but is one of the exceptionally stiff for its weight bows. I can hand string my 48# Tembo with no trouble, but this one definitely takes a bow stringer.
The poor bamboo Wesley is going to get the short end of the stick here, but two shots are enough to show it. We all know what they look like strung. Here you can see the beautiful limbs... juniper on the Cheetah and clear glass over bamboo on the Wesley.
|
This closer shot shows the nice treatment of the risers, and also the great depth of the grip on the Wesly. Fortunately, the straight grip on the Cheetah is not so severe, and it seems I can shoot it once I adjusted to it and changed arrow weight. (see below) |
Another riser closeup...
|
and the reverse side with the Cheetah inlay. Actually, this isn't the usual type of inlay that Craig does, it's actually a three dimensional bas relief. |
A better shot of the juniper limb coloring.
|
As I said, it seems I can shoot the straight grip if it isn't too extreme. I shot a couple of rounds with 1916 arrows and they were consistently to the left, so I switched to 1716's and this was the result... The best group I have shot recently. I haven't tweaked with the bow at all. I need to check the nock point. It is probably set for split finger and I shoot three under. |
So, there you have two more nice Hills to look at in our collection. I have another coming in a week or so and will try to add it more promptly.
Dick