I wanted to wait until the honeymoon was over to write a review on Steve Jewett's (Bushmen) 58" longcurve.
I asked Steve if he could build me a 58" bow and a few months later - I got a box in the mail.
1. Fit and finish - if you've ever seen or held a Bushmen - you know. There are some as good but non better. 2. 2 piece design - I really think this is where the Bushmen has a significant advantage over other 2P designs. Steve does some proprietary things. It's a grooved sleeve so it requires no tools, it's fast and secure. He used some sort of fancy G-10 material - adds a little soul to a carbon bow. 3. Performance - like all Bushmen - it's quick. It's NOT on the level of the Xyphose but it's fast. I don't keep slow bows. 4. Draw cycle - Of all the things I didn't expect - the draw cycle is one of the winning features. The bow is VERY easy to string (despite those hooks) and the first 8-10" is VERY mild. No massive pre-load that you really have to get in to immediately in the draw cycle. For me - this is really nice for saddle shooting (or awkward angles).
5. Quiet - I don't keep loud bows... and I hunt deers in Texas so i need a quiet bow. The bow is very quiet. As quiet as any of my quiet bows (Chinook and Sovereign Ballistik). Those big round hooks tend to roll the string vs. slap. Does have a little low frequency hum on the shot... but even with 9 gpp arrows... it's quiet.
6. Grip - I have a Bigfoot ILF riser that has a grip that is to die for. I shoot that thing so well. At Steve's request - I sent a point blank/360 video of that riser grip along with measurements. He nailed it. Also had him build the shelf and sight window like I like.
7. The elephant in the room is my 30" draw and a 58" bow. I'm very sensitive to stacking... like when I feel the bow stacking I start to feel like "I'm gonna snap this thing in two..." The riser is heavy but short and that bow is very happy at 30". Yea... that bow is 58" but a LOT of that are those big hooks... so when it's strung it's incredibly short. Great in a tree or in a blind.
8. Steve does a great job of painting (ghost camo) his carbon limbs to make them pretty in the sunlight. I've got a TC and a Javaman with beautiful burl limbs that are so pretty... there's give an take with carbon. The limbs are simply not twistable... but they are carbon. So it's not the prettiest girl at the dance.
Overall - it's a winner. I travel to hunt so I use the takedown feature. Despite my efforts... sometimes I'm not all that sweet to my bows - that thing is built like a tank so there's no stress when I drop it or something lands on it. It's short and maneuverable and quiet.
Who would like this bow? Long draw guys that need a tough travel bow... and want recurve performance and have specific grip/riser preferences.
