Reverse Handle Tembo II by John Schulz

Dick Wightman

 

I recently had the opportunity to trade for an older Hill, made my John Schulz while he was the bowyer there. Schulz worked for Hill Archery from 1968 to 1974. His bows do not have his initial in the identifying information on the riser. He apparently built a number of reverse handle bows, and these carry an "R" in front of the serial number, as seen on this one. the bow is 68", marked with the "R" for reverse handle and with a serial number. As noted, no bowyer initial, and no length, but is marked 65@28. It is also marked "Custom made for Tom Gallup". It is a stout bow. Normally, I would expect a 12# weight drop for the 3" less that I draw, but it draws 55# at 25" for me. This inidactes to me that I am pulling into the range where its power curve is starting to steepen. It shows good speed. This weight, 55#, is the upper edge of my range; but I was comfortable enough drawing it, probably because it was tillered at 28". I've given some serious though to ordering my next bow an inch longer draw than I really wnat, just to be sure of getting an easier draw. Anyway, it was a comfortable short shooting session, and as you can see, it shoots very well. The nock was high even for me (I shoot 3 under) at 3/4". i'll be lowering it to my usual 5/8", which should bring the group up to center or a bit above. The slight left grouping with the 1916 Eastons can be adjusted by form/eye compensation or I might try 2018's. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to trot this one off to a 3D shoot tomorrow.

Dick

More info! I contacted the guy I traded with and got the following:

>>>Dick... I was told that the riser wood was lemon wood. As you can see on the bow it was made for a man named "Tom Gullman" if I recall correctly. (Note: was Tom Gallup) Four years ago when I bought the bow the man that owns the archery shop told me a little old lady came in with some of her deceased husbands bows and wanted them sold on consignment. Well, If he was older I would assume it's a pretty old bow? That's really all I know about the bows history other than it killed A LOT of squirrels in my hands. Oh, ya...I think he hunted in Africa a lot too, he didn't say if the bow had taken any large African game or not but I remember it being mentioned.

A. Wayne Brown<<<

 

So, OK... can anyone prove that Tom Gallup DIDN'T take the whole gamut of African game with this bow? :^) Hey, it fires up my imagination!

Dick

 

 

 

Here is the whole bow with it's break in group. You really, really have to keep your eye on that reverse handle when stringing. Your brain wants you to string it backwards! As you can see, it's a pretty bow, with nice lines through the riser and brown glass.

 

 

 

 

 

Typical of older Hills at higher poundage, this one carries a healthy reflex... about 1 1/2". Remember, you're looking at a forward riser. My first thought looking down it was that it had taken a set!

 

 

 

 

Very nice, graceful, and comfortable shaping on the riser... almost feels like an older recurve.

 

Front view...

 

The riser wood is very light. The grain looked to me like a very light walnut, or possibly myrtle. However, I have learned from the guy I got it from that it is supposed to be lemonwood. This was a very common bow wood in the 60's.

 

 

Well, heck, I had one extra cell in the table, so here's a closer shot at the whole riser and at that group.

 

 

This script is stictly a paint on, not into the finish as is common now. It's also much smaller. The glass looks blacker in this pic than it is.

 

This is more correct as to color.

 

 

There you have it... a neat bow and a heck of a fun shooter!

Dick