Big Jims Thunderchild

[memo]

Well after a long wait, my first custom bow has arrived safe and sound. Settled on a 2 pce Thunderchild from the big fella. Specs are 58" length and 58@30". Riser is walnut and tiger myrtle limbs with horn limb tips. You hear it said often about Big Jim's bows that "pictures don't do the bow justice", and now I know what they mean.



The Tiger Myrtle in the limbs is stunning, and it appears that the differing shades and highlights in the timber give it a real "depth"







Haven't had a chance to take it for a spin yet, but will finish off some arrows this weekend and have a shot.



Oh yeah, and couldn't help myself......



Memo

[g_r]

That Tiger myrtle is looking great!

....You hear it said often about Big Jim's bows that "pictures don't do the bow justice", and now I know what they mean....

Was the same for me

You wont be disappointed shooting it.

[Chase N. Nocks]

Gorgeous! A collision of beauty and function!!

[Nephew]

Good choice, Memo! A very impressive looking bow mate. From all accounts, these bows shoot every bit as good as they look so I'm certain you're gunna love it!
As you say-"GO THE LONGBOW!" but...I reckon you're about to get unsolicited instruction from Stickbow Hunter on the nuanced definition of "Longbow", as opposed to "Semi Recurve". ( Sorry Jeff, just couldn't help meself, mate!)

[stickshooter]

i think your right there Mort,the second to last pic shows that,but thats what make them fast.
Beautiful bow Memo,how much did that set you back
Nigel

[Brigsy]

Wish people would stop doing this to me!!!! I have 2 months 2weeks and a day (not counting or anything) I havnt seen an ugly bow come from the big fella yet. It has been mentioned on trad gang too ask for an ugly bow just to see if he has it in him. Cant wait to see how they shoot.

[Stickbow Hunter]

Big Jim seems to make an excellent bow. I watched some video footage of him making his take-dowm sleeve that Rod Long posted up the other day and he appeared to be a real craftsman. That Tiger Myrtle looks really nice. Memo, was it just veneers as it appears the lams are something else, do you know what they are?

I must say though that there is nothing about that bow that even remotely suggests its a longbow - which it isn't.

Congrats on the new bow mate and I hope you have many years of enjoyment shooting it. You better take it for walk to look for a feral now.

Jeff

[memo]

Cheers fellas,
Brigsy, hang in there mate. My 5 monts went to 6 months and eventually ten months. Didn't bother me as I knew what I was getting and it is more than a bow, its an heirloom and a work of art.

I must say though that there is nothing about that bow that even remotely suggests its a longbow - which it isn't.
Jeff

It's longer than a compound Jeff- that makes it a "long" bow doesn't it?
Just kidding, have scratched off the inscrtiption and replaced it with "Go the deflex/reflex - semi recurve hybrid"

Memo

[Stickbow Hunter]

Just kidding, have scratched off the inscrtiption and replaced it with "Go the deflex/reflex - semi recurve hybrid"

And you would still be wrong; just semi-recurve describes what it is.

I did ask above but you might have missed it; what are the lams (core) in the bow?

Jeff

[Nephew]

Jees, Memo, you got off light there, mate! The old bloke must be feeling a bit crook! You should try being trapped in a car on a long journey with him and bring the subject up! It's the one and only time I wished a had an Ipod!

[Chase N. Nocks]

There is a bright side to such a long wait though.

It means I can get a deposit together and get an order in and have 10 months + to save up the balance...

Maybe even add a exotic item or two to the order along the way.

For me, (and remember that I love all bows pretty much equally) this type of bow is at the pinnacle of tradbow design.

Cheers
Troy

[BenBow]

For such a big man with big fingers Jim does fine work. Very nice bow.

[rodlonq]

What a fantastic combination of browns, great looking bow there. You could just sit and look at it for ages . That style of bow is definitely on my list of "bow styles I would like to build". Also, for some reason it makes me think of fine chocolates, like you could just about eat it I reckon the country down your way is too green for a bow like that mate, better send up here to North Queensland where it'll blend in better

That reminds me....... hey Jeff, thats a q at the end of my alias, not a g mate (ie rodlonq => Rod Lowe North Queensland). Makes me seem like I'm being a bit of a peacock or something when it's written rodlong Yeah.... I know it is not the best thought out handle but I gotta live with it now Sorry to hijack memo.

Back to the thread, Congratulations on acquiring a fine looking bow memo. It was certainly worth the wait.

Cheers.......... Rod

[memo]

Cheers fellas,
Jeff - the tiger myrtle is a veneer, and the lams look like bamboo. I'm sure he uses bamboo in 99% of his builds (unless requested otherwise), but didn't ask him what was in this particular bow. He's away hunting at the moment, so i'll find out for you when he gets back.
Stickshooter - cost all up was around US$800.
Memo

[kimall]

Stunning bow no mater what it is called. By all accounts they shoot as goos as they look too and at that price would have to be about the best value bow on the market today.
Cheers KIM

[Stickbow Hunter]

Thanks Memo; the Bamboo would make it a sweet shooter IMO.

rodlonq, Yeah I know who you are, but I did miss the 'q', must have been old age.

Jeff

[rodlonq]

Gidday Memo,

I cant seem to get the images of you new bow out of my head. Next time you've got your camera out, would you mind taking a directly side on profile pic of the bow strung and unstrung please. It has a very interesting shape when strung, it must have a fair bit of reflex in the outer limbs when not strung - I think Thanks mate.

Cheers......... Rod

[memo]

No worries Rod, will do when I get a chance.
Here's a link to a slideshow of some bows Big Jim's made.
http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/ ... =slideshow
If you can't get the bow out of your head, this should make it a lot worse.
Memo.

[memo]

Here you go Rod,
A few pics of the prfile.
Memo.

[otis.drum]

yhose laminates are very pretty.

how do the two sections join?

[daniel boon]

Nice bow, Big Jim does great work. Hope that you are happy with it.

[rodlonq]

Gidday Memo,

Thanks for taking the extra pics mate. The thunderchild certainly has a lot of deflex in close to the riser. What a great looking bow. Thanks again .

Hey Otis, have a look at http://www.ozbow.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11773

Cheers...... Rod

[BigJim]

Thanks guys for the compliments on the TC. Yes I know they resemble recurves, however, oficial rules state if the string doesn't touch the bow after leaving nock grooves, it is then a longbow.

Besides that, it has all the best atributes of both. Recurve atributes: fast, short, little to no handshock
Longbow atributes: stable limbs, exceptionally quiet, light weight, durable

Anyway, they have been exceptionally popular since there inception. So much so that they nearly surpassed my Buffalo's in total production numbers.

I will be coming out with a recurve soon for you guys that prefer them. I must say that I enjoy building them even if longbows are my first choice.

Ya'll take care, BigJim

[Stickbow Hunter]

Welcome to Ozbow Jim; your bows look very finely crafted indeed. By watching some of your videos it is clear you love making your bows and take great care in crafting them.

Yes I know they resemble recurves, however, oficial rules state if the string doesn't touch the bow after leaving nock grooves, it is then a longbow.

Yep they resemble recurves because they are a type of recurve.

Shoot rules have nothing whatsoever to do with ascertaining what type a bow is, bow design alone does!!!

By design your TC bows are clearly semi-recurves and for some silly reason it has become fashionable for these types of bows to be incorrectly called longbows. Beautiful bows indeed but they aren't longbows although many now days will say differently.

Jeff

[rodlonq]

Gidday Jim,

Welcome to Ozbow mate.

Cheers........ Rod

[clinton miller]

that's a really nice longcurve. your not shooting 'synth' arrows out of it are you memo? LOL

[otis.drum]

wow great vids, but gee, there goes three hours of my life

[memo]

Clint,
Yep got some carbons for this bow, although they are the Gold Tip Trad's so I suppose for Jeff's sake we'll call them semi-woods
Oh, and welcome to Ozbow Big Jim!
Memo

[Stickbow Hunter]

Jeff

[otis.drum]

jim,
i have spent many an hour looking at how i might make two piece bows, and i have to say that your method is the best i have seen yet. i love it.

thanks for the detailed vids, they really break it down for us. i might even have to cut a bow in half one of these days