Who is this?

[Vagrant]

Can anyone possibly tell me who this guy is, and, if possible, what sort of bow he's holding?  It looks like a newspaper or magazine clipping and, simply judging from the way the captions were written, it seems like he may have just been some random bowyer who liked to build and hunt with extremely short bows.  However, I don't know nearly as much about archery/bowhunting history as you guys do so perhaps you folks here can give me some more information.  Heck, for all I know it could be one of the bowhunting legends and I just don't recognize his face.  I figured if anyone would know it would be the tradgangers.  That really is a very short bow but I like it, it's interesting.  Wonder how much handshock that would have and what the brace height would be on it...also wonder what the maximum bow weight would be for something that small too.  It sort of tickles my fancy, I've got a couple of hickory staves my boss gave me before he moved to Wyoming and that could make for an interesting bow building project.  Just wondering what you guys have to say about that and any information you could give me on that man and his bows.  Thanks
Paul
 

[Osagetree]

:confused:

[kennym]

There was an ad in TBM a LONG time ago with short bows,can't remember the guys name but seems like the bow was called KT44 or somethin like that........

[Ga.boy]

I'm not sure, byt I think his name was Kiko Tarbell or something like that. I think the company still makes those short bows in one piece and takedown. Now my curosity is working overtime.

[kennym]

Me too,I was thinkin Kiko Tovar???

[Marblesonac]

You guys are good...go down about halfway to the Tovar Hunting Recurve

http://www.krackow.com/html/default_bows.html

[kennym]

Thanks,I haven't gone nuts after all,well,maybe........  :D

[Vagrant]

Ah, you guys are awesome! It says there Kiko Tovar died in 1995 and, apparently from some other stuff I was reading on another site, the bows aren't produced anymore?  I'm not sure if that's true or not, anymore information as to these short little things would be really appreciated, I'm quite fascinated.

[Ga.boy]

I think the bows are built by Little Suckling Recurves.  I found two different addresses and numbers:

Little Suckling Recurves
591 James Street
Chicopee
MA 01020
Phone: 413- 533- 9264
John P. Tlusez  

105 Poole St.
Ludlow, MA. 01056
Phone:413-583-8276
(littlesuckling@aol.com)


The second addy. is from an ad in the Aug. / Sept. 2005 Traditional Bowhunter.

Let us know if you locate them.

[Charlie Lamb]

That picture is from around 1963. The guy in the pic is Neal Tarbell. He made an ultra short hunting bow back then. He also manufactured an adjustable draw weight bow he called the Vari Bow.

Not sure whatever happened to him.

[Vagrant]

Thanks Charlie, any idea as to how long that bow was and if there are any still in existence?

And I contacted Little Suckling with an email, we'll see how that goes.

[Ga.boy]

Kiko Tovars bows were 44". One of his personal take downs recently sold on ebay for $750.00. You can do an ebay search for item # 330012075105 and see the bow.

[Vagrant]

Aye I saw that when looking around for his stuff on google.

[Zbone]

I remember the add.

Anyone ever shot one of these bows?

[dachba]

Neil Tarbell is (I was told) 81 years old and still occasionally makes a bow and sells it through an aquaintance, on Ebay.  I just won an auction for one (item# 180076539253).  It is a fine looking bow and I can't wait to shoot it.  According to the person who sold it, he values his privacy and won't give out his phone number.

Dave in Ft. Collins, CO

[ZaneD]

i was going to suggest little suckling recurves also, but i was beat to it. the only time i have heard of them was an ad in TBM but i never looked into them

[Shawn Leonard]

Charlie and Dave have it right. I bought one on e-bay for around $180. It was a sweet bow and quick as most any out there. I, like a dummy traded it off. Shawn

[Charlie Lamb]

Should mention that the picture is taken from a copy of Bow and Arrow Magazine.