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Bow & Arrow Hunting | November 2000
INSIDE GEAR
Bowmaster: A Must-Have Tool
Ultra-portable and light, the Bowmaster is an ideal take-along bow press, yet
it’s plenty durable for regular bow maintenance chores. Every bowhunter should
have one.
Several seasons back I vividly recall a disaster that
occurred on a weekend pig hunting trip with my good friend Tom. Upon arriving at
our camping location, Tom and I quickly set up camp and got ready to do some
target shooting. This is when my friend noticed that his bow's bowstring had
been badly damaged. In short, 17 of the 18 Fast Flight strands had been snapped
clean! Evidently, a loose camping chair had rubbed against the string while in
travel, leaving it in shreds. I thought the hunt was over for him, but Tom, an
equipment fanatic, whipped out a small pulley mechanism, complete with a long
wire cable and limb braces (that he had days ago purchased) and began
compressing the bow's limbs. Only a few minutes afterward, my friend popped on a
brand-new backup bowstring, affixed a nockset, his old string silencers and
peep, and he was back in business. I couldn't believe my eyes as Tom began
plunking arrows into the IO-ring only minutes later!
From that day onward, I realized how
important a portable bow press can be, and I rushed out and bought my own
Bowmaster bow press a few days after we returned. This handy tool goes wherever
I go, and I consider it an absolute must for any bow hunter, especially for
those who travel a lot.
Although there are several different portable bow presses on
the market, I'm still most impressed with this product's size, weight and
reliability. It simply works, and it will continue to do so for several years.
I've had my old Bowmaster press for close to 10 years now, and for several years
I relied solely on it to compress bows, to change strings, adjust wheel timing
and rotate string peeps. Although I use a full-size press at home now, my
Bowmaster remains in my bow case at all times. The primary reason why this press
is so simple to use is due to its heavy-duty jackscrew that turns easily. The
jackscrew cranks via a T-handle, but a 5/8-inch hex head permits the use of a
wrench or socket driver for easier cranking ability. The press is also fully
adjustable to compress various axle-to-axle length bows-even today's super-short
models-and special limb brackets are also available for split-limb bows. To use
the press, simply affix the cable ends through the "Y" in the end of each limb
(by adjusting the multiple stop cable end on one end to fit the length of the
bow), make sure the cable stop is in position and turn the jackscrew clockwise
until the bow is compressed.
A hand-crafted leather pouch is also available for the
Bowmaster for easy storage and added protection. The Bowmaster, including the
leather storage pouch, retails for less than $50.
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