Where do I start, first I will not give all the details as it would take quite a bit of space.

I was sent this bow, it is a Borders Griffon GL the original weight was 82lbs @ 28". amo 70" bamboo carbon no glass.

The owner aged and couldn't draw that weight so he had the limbs trapped (cut into a trapezoid shape) in order to remove weight. It was reduced to 64lbs @ 28", but the limbs were seriously narrowed to a point he didn't trust it so he gave it to another fellow who sanded all the finish off and realized one limb was twisted, He sent it to me after I showed interest in it.

I couldn't string it because of the weight and there wasn't enough tip to use a stringer so I just filed a small nock under the original in order to string it, I could only pull it to my chin, but man did it throw an arrow.

A gentleman we all know goes by the handle of 2 Bears showed a little interest after hearing about it. we discussed possibly taking a little more weight off and putting a finish on it, The bow was 59lbs @ my 27 draw. Ken managed after extensive massaging the limbs and what ever magic he performed on it to get it to 53lbs @27". The biggest thing was taking that twist out of the upper limb, he managed after a lot of work to get most out and it looks like it will be safe to shoot if strung carefully, it doesn't have the correct string on it as I was waiting to see if it would make it.

I received the bow back today and the finish is really super,(even though the camera hides the gloss). I twisted the string until I got 7 inch Brace Height, couldn't get more because the string was doubling up in knots.

I shot six arrows at 25 yards the first went way over the target because of the flat trajectory of this bow, the second arrow I figured it out.

Due to the weight I could only pull 26" so I was shooting a 50.12 lb bow, I don't have my scale so I don't know the weight, but the arrows are 28.5 BOP 23/32 shaft 5.5" banana feathers and pretty heavy arrows with mercury speed nocks.

Pardon the green mold on my out building as it has been raining every day for the last 15 days.

Now that is a pretty thin bow!!!!!

I was happy that I still could draw and hold a 50lb bow, I will be 73 next month. I have been shooting a 40lb bow for the last year so grabbing a 50lb cold I did pretty good. I shot twenty more arrows without tiring, but I think I need to go to a 48 lb bow to be really accurate or work myself up to this weight, I will know in the next two months because I will be shooting this bow everyday.

With the help from 2 Bears I believe we saved a lost cause.

I forgot to mention that the second arrow was the one to the left the other four were grouped pretty close for that range. I will be looking to shoot at 40 yards to see how it does.

Thanks for reading.

RonG

That Ken fellow is near a magician. Nicely done and good shooting.

Good deal Ron! Whatever happened to that Hill you were attempting to fix?

Nice bow, RonG! Ken is a friend and a great workman. Glad you sent the bow to him. Border makes some nice longbows.

Thanks Mr. Hatfield I hate to throw anything away and I knew if Ken couldn't do it than it wasn't to be. When I first strung it up and struggled to shoot it, my arrow went way over the target and into the 52 acre swamp behind my house, that one is history, I just couldn't believe how powerful that bow was especially after shooting a 40 lb. self-bow. I wish Border still made the Griffon, that baby is smooth and the draw is so even you can actually draw more than you thought, it is difficult to explain, but you know what I am talking about, it seems that the weight of the draw is the same at full draw as it is at partial draw.

George, Thank you sir, I have to give Ken all the credit he spent some serious time on this one. As far as shooting, my 40 lb bows you have to aim high at 25 yards, this one you aim below....Ha!Ha!

SB, I haven't forgot that Wesley special, it did de-laminate and broke a foot from the tip, I was thinking about splicing in some similar wood, but it may not work, Ken again offered to discuss and come up with a solution, we will see.

Thank you everyone for your interest and time.....RonG

I forgot to mention, as much as this bow has been cut down it is amazing that it survived.

It may not last too much longer, but if I am careful with it I may have a fun bow, I think my accuracy will improve greatly shooting this fine bow. I just love 70" bows anyway. OK I will be quiet as soon as the excitement wears off...Ha!Ha!

Very nice, and that is a pretty good amount of weight at 73. Well done.

Wow! That is just awesome. Jawge

Wow. I would be afraid to shoot it. Good luck

That's a nice, sleek looking bow. I'd shoot it.

Joe

Thank you gentlemen, I shot 25 arrows from it yesterday right after I received it and it seemed very stable, but being a 70" bow and thin as a toothpick that rascal has power. That gives me an idea of a name for it ???????? toothpick.

2 Bears had it for some time and he worked on the twisted limb and refinished it and it looks great.

Thanks Joe, Yes that is what the plans are, to shoot it till I can't or it can't anymore.

pdk25 it's not my strength, but my lack of smarts, I shouldn't be shooting this much poundage....Ha!Ha!

Babysaph I was sweating it as I drew it or the first time, believe me.....Whew!!!

I will work on a video and see if I can get it on here (not very computer savvy) you won't believe how quiet the bow is.

I will have to get a proper string for it, but in the meantime I will still shoot at those hay bails in my yard.

God I hope my bod holds up, I am having fun with this one....Ha!Ha!

The BOW CONTINUES! This is a VERY GOOD THING! BLESSED BE!

Thanks Batman.

I increased the Brace height from 7 to 7.5" the bow was just as quiet and absolutely no hand shock, but the speed and power seemed to decrease slightly at 25 yards, the arrows seemed to drop slightly compared to yesterday, I will set it back to 7" and see if I gain it back. I would have done it today, but it was raining.

I had a difficult time today drawing the bow for the first five shots, but gained strength after that and it was not a problem.

I think I will shoot for 46 to 48 lbs on my next bows, even as strong as Mr. Hill was he had to drop considerably when he reached our age.

Thanks everyone for the nice comments.

Glad to hear it stayed together.

Babysaph, yes if you look at the photo of the bow in full length you can't see the last one third it is covered by the width of the string....Ha!Ha!Ha! That is a seriously narrow bow. I still haven't come up with a name, it must have toothpick in the title, maybe you witty and smart folks might help me on this one.

Trapping out a limb on a very heavy bow will always make a serious shooter out of it. Even an ASL. But it can be tricky to do and if not done right will cause limb twist problems

Obvious 2bears know what he is doing and I'm glad he lined the bow out for you. Looks like she fits you very well, nice shooting

Todd, That is what Ken said and he mentioned who ever did the trapping he wanted to talk too, but backtracking I couldn't find out who did it. The only thing I could possibly verify is the bow was originally 82 lbs. @28"

Ken took a while, but he got it. As thin as those limbs are Ken and I agree it will fail some day, but in the meantime I will wear it out or it will wear me out.

Thanks Todd, yes if anyone needs some bow work done 2 Bears is the man to contact and talk to him about it.

Well I shot it this morning and I am able to draw slowly and hold anchor at 27" which the bow measures 53.4 lbs quite happy with that, my bod isn't totally shot.

I got some lighter arrows and shot at 15 yards, I don't have an arrow locator on the string so I am guessing where to nock the arrow and due to split finger I can keep the arrow from sliding on the string. I remeasured the bow after shooting this morning and it was the same.

With an arrow on the string and the string centered on the bow the arrow tip is at least 2 inches to the left of the string, that seems to be a little extreme, but it shoots great.

These are my first four of the lighter arrows this morning at 15 yards. I shot a 40 lb bow for the last two years, this 53 lb I have to get used to.

Well a few words from the horses mouth. Ron knew this bow had been greatly over reduced. Previous owners had given up on it. Ron wanted to keep it going if at all possible. It also was supposed to have belonged to some one sorta famous that had hunted in Africa with it. With the serial numbers gone it was not possible to verify. It had a beautiful but severe trapping job done to it to get the weight around 59# as I remember. It was still to heavy for Ron + badly twisted which is something in itself for a longbow. I reduced it about 6 more pounds maintaining the tiller and concentrating on the strong side. It helped,reworking the nock helped a little more but it would still throw the string with the slightest torque. I began a series of straightening operations, using weights and checking it daily for several weeks. It finally started moving. left it strung another week then began shooting it. Well now, she is worth refinishing. After curing, strung her up again and shot some more. I have to thoroughly test every thing.Ron assured me he was very careful using a stringer and would be careful not to torque the string. Well you see how he shoots. The bow is sure not for every one and maybe not to risk a hunting trip with. I feel in Ron's hands it can still be enjoyed as a practice bow. That is all he was hoping for. It does look like it could stand a little more straightening now. With the cost of mailing longbows now days maybe Ron will let me coach him to do it. Then again if I was shooting like that I might not risk touching it. It sure seems to like his arrows. It is good to see Ron so excited about it and see an old Border doing what it was built to do. Ron, it still needs a good string. That old twisted kinked up string can't be doing it or you any favors.Shoot straight, >>>>-------> Ken

Thanks Ken, this shows your persistence and dedication you use in repairing bows, when I sent it to you I was figuring it would be trashed, but you made it work and I can't thank you enough.

I am going to put it up until I can get a string for it.

There is a lot here to get excited about, first you saved a bow, second, I shoot pretty good with it,. third, I get to use all my very old arrows. I can draw and hold solidly a 53 pound bow at my age....WOW!!!!! When it was 59 lbs at my draw that was asking too much. You worked a miracle.

As far as straightening, I figured I could run over it a few times with my truck, that should do it. Enough kidding, yes I would be grateful for some teaching on how to straighten the limb, it's not really off by enough to cause a problem, wait till I get a good string and I will see how it does at the correct Brace Height.

Thank you for the compliments, but it is difficult to miss with a good bow.

Ron, you have a winner there with Ken's professional help! Enjoy it!

Well its hard telling how long those limbs might last, but like I said she sure seems to agree with you another fine group.

Ken I built a special tool may years ago for trapping limbs. its was a carbide router blade for a CNC machine that I put into a handle so I could pivot the blade to the angle I wanted and lock it down. Then I would scrape my trap into the limbs keeping the handle square to the belly side of the limb. it was a very accurate way to trap a limb and I rarely had a twist issue. Nice job fixing that ASL

Thanks. So the blade is held stationary and the limb slid along it? The cutter is not turning? You don't have trouble with it chipping the fiberglass? I am not sure I have it pictured right.>>>>-----> Ken

No Ken it was a hand tool.. Kind of like a little draw knife that I could set an angle too. It basically shaved the limb like a draw knife. You moved the tool not the limb. I'd post a picture of the damn thing but I've moved so many times since I was building bows full time that's its managed to vanish. My guess is its somewhere in a crevice of my stuff that's collecting dust. If it ever turns up I'll post it

O.K. I got it now. thanks. >>>>-----> Ken

Gentlemen, I installed a new FF string on this bow and set the brace height to 7.75" and it is totally silent, it is perfect I couldn't want a better shooting bow, I just hope it lasts.

I draw the string, anchor my thumb under my ear (this gives me my 27" draw), tilt my head over the arrow and actually point the arrow at the target and that is where it goes, before with my other bows I had to calculate the angle because the arrows did not go where I directly pointed them.

I tied an artificial piece of sinew on the string just to get my arrow in the ball park and did my first shot of the day at 22 yards, the old arrows have found a new home also. I nock my arrows above the arrow locator.......Hill method!

I am surprisingly drawing this bow as easily as I was my 40 pound one and this one is 53.

I just hope there is no surprise around the corner, I am having no after soreness or pain, I feel like a youngster again.

My first shot this morning at 22 yards, I shot 20 more times with similar results.

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