Howard Hill Longbows

The first manufactured bow to take Africa's Big Five

All Howard Hill longbows are laminated, with fiberglass backing for a maximum of strength and durability. The straight-end longbow gives you speed, stability and cast. It is feather light in the hand and has excellent maneuverability. Our bows will generally shoot a minimum speed of 115 feet per second plus the weight of the bow (i.e. a 65# bow should shoot at least 180 fps and may exceed that minimum).

BIG FIVE "Wesley Special"

Carefully constructed of 5 tempered bamboo laminations for a maximum of smoothness, resilience and cast, wich cannot be equaled by any wood. The Howard Hill bamboo bow is to the serious minded bowhunter what the bamboo flyrod is to the purist fisherman! This bow is named in honor of a good friend of Howard's archery instructor Bob Wesley of Poplarvill, Miss.

BIG FIVE

Truly the top of the line! Designed after Howard's bow, "Sweetheart", it is carefully constructed of 4 tempered bamboo laminations for a maximum of smoothness, resilience, and cast which cannot be equaled in ANY wood. The Howard Hill bamboo bow is to the serious minded bowhunter what the bamboo flyrod is to the purist fisherman! The Big 5 boasts a bubinga riser unless otherwise specified.

TEMBO

In Africa this name means Rogue Elephant. On February 27, 1950, Howard Hill gained the distinction of being the first white man ever to kill an elephant with the bow and arrow. This 3-lam bamboo bow was designed after Howard Hill's world famous "Gran-Ma" that downed three of Africa's Rogues. The Tembo is normally made with a shedua riser.

REDMAN

The historic longbow material, yew was the standard in superior archery equipment for years. It is a fast, smooth wood. Its beautiful red color puts it in a class of its own. Bubinga is the customary riser wood for the Redman.

HALFBREED

Any combination of 4 laminations of bamboo and yew. The halfbreed comes with a bubinga riser unless otherwise specified.

CROCODILE

Made from osage orange and normally with a cocobolo riser, the Crocodile makes a bright yellow bow with a contrasting dark riser. Osage is a wood that was frequently used by the Native American Indians in their bows, as it is a very durable, hard wood.

RHINO

This bow made of honey locust and a bubinga riser, boasts one of the prettiest of the woods. True to its name, this limb material is full of character-grain that reminds one of light, dripping honey.

CHEETAH

The Rocky Mountain Juniper wood of the Cheetah boasts the most diverse character of any of the woods.  Coupled with an inner lam of bamboo and a shedua riser, this is one of the most aesthetically beautiful bows as well as an exceptional performer.

BIGHORN SHEEP

The red elm in the Bighorn Sheep is a light brown color highlighted with beautiful dark brown swirls. A shedua riser is customarily paired with the red elm unless otherwise specified.

WASP

Osage orange & honey locust combination with cocobolo riser.

OWL

Osage orange & bamboo combo with cocobolo riser

RUFFED GROUSE

Red Elm with bamboo & shedua riser.

COUGAR

Honey locust & bamboo combo with a bubinga riser.

TAKEDOWN

Any of the above models can be made with a pull-apart metal sleeve for an additional $125.00 charge.  The sleeve comes in one size only and the bottom portion slips up into the top for weather protection.  The sleeve is then covered with a laced wrap.

BEAR CUB

Our Bear Cub, or Junior Bow, is available in any of our full-size models. This miniature longbow can be ordered at either a 46" length, with any poundage up to 25# and any draw length up to a 20" draw; or a 56" length, with any poundage up to 40# and any draw length up to 26".

BOW BLANK

Partially finished bows may be ordered with a traditional straight handle in any of our longbow models. The blank comes to you fully glued up and already aligned and tillered. You need to cut in the arrow rest, finish sanding nock grooves and limbs -- rounding the edges, then seal it with a finish. A rattail file, flat file, and sanding paper are the only tools you will need.

You can also custom design your own bow.