I have a John Schulz Tonkin Bamboo Backed Bow. No Glass. I don’t remember if it is 64” or 66”. Marked 52lbs at 28”. But it seems lighter. Maybe because it’s so smooth and doesn’t stack. Excellent condition. Any clue as to its value?

$150 sounds fair to me and I do mean to me.

Hi Matt,from Montana. I know what it's worth to me. Give me a call if you like. I'm interested in it. Ron Roman, AKA "Romanator".

Those bows are worth thousands. When that parting shot series were made people were all over them and likely had no intention of shooting them.

I sold my granpa and my sage (a lot rarer than the bamboo naturals) for around $500 a few years ago. I’ve had quite a few of the schulz naturals over the years.

That’s a 65 inch bow btw

Mr. Newell hit the nail on the head.

Since his passing, I was wondering what the current market value is.

That tends to change things.

He was done making bows years ago but as soon as he fired things up for a last round people went crazy.

There were 12 of those parting shots made and they had musical grade myrtle. I remember the auctions on TAS well. I wouldn’t say the response to them was overwhelming but they all ended up selling. No doubt the value of johns work has went up since his passing, rightly so for he was an archery icon for so many years and a direct link to Howard hill himself. Dave schulz (one of John’s sons) is still making the natural bows.

This is my David Miller Tonkin bow. David worked with John and learned how to make the no glass bamboo bows. This bow is a shooter

Ron that one has that narrow wedge Hill grip- I like that one

Andy, I ask David to make it that way.

I have a “Short String” made by John. It was the last bow he built commercially, before he retired. It’s the one bow that I’ll never sell.

I've never bought a bow though. I do follow the insanity of others.

I'd just make my own.

Thanks Ron- have that on my Dave Wallace bows- took a while getting used to but now like it alot

Tonkin is small cane, 2 1/2', possibly 3" at the max, one could probably cut thin lams out of it and a back for a very narrow high crown bow.

Lots of folks used to sell what they claimed was Tonkin, I bought some once, when I received it I could tell it was heat treated Mosa or Mandrake, 2 1/2" wide and as flat as pancake.

There is really good documentary out there about a guy in the US who is the largest Tonkin dealer for split bamboo flyrod makers in the world. It follows his trip to China to hand select the cane and shows the locals harvesting it, not a bit of bow worthy stuff in the lot, all very small.

^^^This^^^

That's not entirely true Eric. Tonkin doesn't grow large but it's still possible to find somewhat larger stuff. The quality just declines because the bamboo is getting older.

I got some larger stuff from Andy and it was fine for bows. Narrower to be sure but a narrow bamboo backed bow is fine.

Rich Saffold used to use garden variety stuff not much over an inch wide to back Ipe.

Hill was very likely using Madake for his old bows. I often wonder if Schulz actually was using Tonkin.

Also I wasn't implying Rich was using garden variety Tonkin but rather just pointing out that very small bamboo can be used.

Much like a high crowned sapling bow is fine and bamboo is generally stronger than wood in tension.

Admin. Please delete

Here is the documentary trailer "Trout Grass", very well done if you can find it. It was on youtube but they only have the trailer now. I think I found it for rent for $3 somewhere years ago but don't remember where.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2HFF3EAk3E

You can buy the video off eBay for less than $6 shipped free.

Anybody want to buy my parting shot

LoL Danny! What about your jerry Miller white Eagle ?

Sure. ??

I’ll e mail ya

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