For you archers who know: are the Howard Hill vs Jerry Hill Longbows pretty much the exact same bow? If not how do they differ to you?

Depends on what you are calling a Howard Hill bow.

If it is a modern bow from Eken, and Howard Hill Archery, then no Jerry's bows are not the same.

If it is a bow built by Howard Hill, then Jerry's bows are/were built the same way as Howard built his.

Rick

Same as Howards own.

Bamboo specials and other bamboo models are offset handle, leaf spring construction. Other production bows have a center handle. Wildcat, Safari, Elite etc.

Rooty knows a lot more about it than I do. He's even built one for himself. :-)

Rick

I've shot both, a Howard Hill bow built by Craig Ekin is much smoother to shoot to a bow that used to be built by Jerry. My experience was that Jerry's bow had tremendous hand shock, where as Craig's bows do not.

My opinion, I'm sure others have their own.

Terry Harris

My experience was the same as THarris. Although I shot the HH years after the Jerry Hill. I think the main difference was the JH bow was all actionwood, while the HH was bamboo.

I don't know, I've shot both and I have Jerry Hills bow and I never had the handshock issue some talk about. I had no handshock issue with none of the ASLs actually I've shot - and I am not a 10+gpp arrow. My favorite is in the 8-9gpp.

My experience is the same as Terry's and CStyles.

Not even close. Both shoot, but layout of limbs way different at least on the Jerry Hill custom bow I had made (early 1990’s) to several HHA I’ve had. Jerry’s bow was made with action wood had more hand shock, which I got used to. However it was a good shooter.

Should also add Jerry’s bows were built with more backset.

His bows have that curvy limbs to get the backset, not just the way the limbs leave the handle most of the ASL with backset are made.

No even close.. Jerry sells his bows with a extra set of teeth, and Boy you will need them..

You mean the plywood riser Wildcats? There is a reason they are going for less.

I only ever once had a hand shock problem with one of Jerry's bows, and I've shot probably a dozen or more of them.

I was looking to buy one from a local shop, and indoor range.

It was one of the most beautiful looking longbows I ever laid my eyes on. The shop owner handed it to me along with three arrows, and said "here, go shoot it"

Those arrows rattled me like a jack hammer.

I took it back into the front, and said "man, this things got some kick."

Owner said - "yeah, it's pretty quick."

I said "that's not what I meant. It kicks like a mule when you shoot it. You need to set it up with different/heavier arrows before you let anyone else shoot it."

He let me go through his arrows, find a half dozen that would work with the bow, and get it all tuned up. Shot sweet after that.

I didn't have the dough to buy it right then, but went back the next week to buy it.

Owner said - "Sorry. I didn't think you were coming back, and sold it to another guy a few days after you were here. He fell in love with it immediately. Thanks for fixing it for me."

There's a point in there, "if" you're open minded enough to see it. :-)

Rick

X10 Rick

The one Jerry Hill i shot would buzz yer bow hand like you would not believe, and the handle was about as comfortable as a razor blade. I would quit shooting if thats all i had to shoot

After Gram Pa, backset was Howard's preferred build. Jerry had steel rolled in a circle where he cut 6 forms out of. In Jerry's production all bows were built of these forms. A 69" bow which was the Hill family Amo. They would start out with a 2" backset. Overtime some would settle in less. They leaf spring constructed bows would hold the backset much better.

A Jerry Hill bow is nowhere near the quality of one built by Howard Hill Archery.

Jerry Hill longbows go for very little money, and most everyone that shoot them agree they are terrible.

If the price they go for doesn't clue you in, well......

The couple of guys that praise them here are Jerry's buddies. Keep that in mind.

Yes, Jerry & I are very close friends.

My comments had ZERO to do with that friendship, and what I shared was an accurate analogy.

HH Archery never has built longbows the way Howard Hill preferred, and built them for himself. Jerry did.

Jerry built the more expensive custom bows, and the low expense production bows. He did those productions bow in an effort to make it more affordable for someone to get into it, and he worked very VERY hard toward that end.

My absolute favorite longbow was an HH Wesley Special. I'm sure you know, but just so you know "I" know, the HH WS is built by HH Archery. Not Jerry.

I haven't disparaged other products, or persons. Might keep that in mind before being tempted to bring my integrity into question.

Rick

I should have lead into my last comment with:

"Hey there Chuck"

:-)

Rick

Some know. Most will never know.

When the ASL guys start arguing over who’s ASL has more hand-shock, we’re all in trouble! LOL

HHA... period.....

Well for what is worth. There is a Howard Hill bow and what Craig has produced over the years. I have seen both shot both including some of Jerry’s which my Dad owned and wish I still had my Dads Jerry Hill bow. The limbs were true and straight as were the nocks. I can say otherwise for the ones I have seen and shot from a Craig over the years. If you want a list of bowyers who build perfection I can give you a list. Recurve or Longbows. It is a whole lot more than slapping Fancy woods together and polishing it and getting it out the door.

"Some know. Most will never know"

And some know better.

[[[ "Some know. Most will never know"

And some know better. ]]]

You tell em Chuck. :-D

Rick

Who's Chuck?

LOL. As if you didn't know. :-P

Rick

At least the bows from Howard Hill Archery are made by the owner, Craig Ekin. The others not so much as they are made by others!

What about Northern Mist? Does Steve not make all of his bows? Just asking, as I thought he did.

Yes he does but we are not talking about Northern Mist bows as the title of this thread says Howard Hill vs Jerry Hill longbows.

Man, this went south. I think the question from the OP was answered pretty quickly. Probably no reason to question Rick's integrity, especially when he was only talking about the builds and not singing the praises any bowyer, as far as I could read.

RiverRat, I am not friend of Jerry Hill and I am saying my opinion. You don’t want to hear my opinion on Northern Mist though: Baraga is a very expensive Bear Montana. It is MY OPINION! Just learn the people who have an opinion different than yours are not automatically wrong or have a hidden agenda. This BS attitude brought the woke mentality to power: “if you are not with me, you are against me”.

Flint please share the list of perfection built longbows and recurve bows.

Hi,

Just a further question , if we haven’t argued about on the Leatherwall , is it even worth having an opinion about it ? Did it even happen ?

??????

I wonder where on the list of perfect bows these bows rate?

Schafer silvertip Great Plains Black Widow Tall Tines Bear Great Northern Cascade Wes Wallace Big Jim Howard Hill Robertson Toelke

Perfection is completely subjective in bows just like in.amything else.

Three years ago Mt little Grandson was out in the backyard with a bow He made...a three foot long crooked dead oak limb the size of My thumb. the dead limb wouldn't bend and He snatched up some big industrial rubber bands I had to use for a string. He made some arrows from other sticks and when He drew the bow the rubber bands would shoot the arrows a good distance. His ingenuity is what got Me going after not shooting My Archery gear for more than twenty years. His little bow was as crude as can be but it shot an arrow.

I have owned five Jerry Hill bows and quite a few Howard Hill bows. From the years before Craig, all the Howard Hill bows seemed different from each other depending on who made them. Craig's bows have a better fit and finish than the Jerry Hill bows. Jerry Hill was making a lot of production type bows that were more for hunting than looks and were more affordable. Jerry's bows as a rule are a little more center shot. I have never noticed the hand shock thing except on a very early Howard Hill bow. I like the Jerry Hill bows better because I seem to shoot them better.

Just read through all this and went to the sites. Can’t find Jerry Hill‘s page except a facebook page. Though I remember having visited a true website a while ago.

Maybe give a ASL a try one day ;-)

Rmsgear has 2 Wildcats for sale right now.

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