New Hickory Sapling Bow

[DirtyDan]

My friend, Doug Bell, just completed this nice 68" hickory sapling bow.  This is one of about twenty bows he has made this year.  I unleashed a monster when I showed him a little bit of what I know about bow building.  Anyway, this one is 52 # @ 28".  Unlike many hickory bows, this one has no stack, no string follow, and shoots sweet and fast.  I was very impressed with its performance and beauty.  The sapling was about 4" in diameter.  We cut it about a year ago.

[aero86]

that is just beautiful!

[J05H]

Very nice.

[Rain Man]

Do you know any details?  How wide are the limbs?  I'm getting close starting a hickory sapling myself. 

[DirtyDan]

I would say about 1 1/4" wide down to 1/2" at the tips.  4" handle, 2" fades.  We always start with 3/4" thick at the fades and go down to 1/2" thickness at the tips and then start tillering. Don't worry if the pith channel starts showing up.  It does not affect the strength of the limb in the least.

[Bullitt]

Dirty, that's is a truely, sweet looking bow! Loved to hunt with that one. Do you boys heat treat? Did it have some reflex when you started? How about the orther side, split or sawed?

Definately one for BOM!  Good shootin,
 
Steve

[Dave 55]

Very nice looking bow,with no handschock or set is a very nice bow for sure.

[cracker]

Cool bow.

[david w.]

sapling bows are my favorite stlye of bow.  love it

[Dean Marlow]

That is a very nice Hickory bow. I am surprised you have no string follow. Seems like I get a-lot of set in my Hickory bows for some reason. Thanks for sharing.

[hillbilly61]

Sweet I like the design +1 for BOM

[youngbowyer33]

looks real good

[DirtyDan]

Thanks, guys.  Steve, no, we did not heat treat it, but we always put the bow in the heat box and get it completely dry (10% or less) before we ever start to bend it.  You must keep hickory dry all the time you are working on it, or it will take a set.  We leave the handle area and cut away the fades on a band saw, leaving the rounded back just under the bark.  If it is crooked, we will straighten and clamp the bow on a form to keep it straight while it dries.  Then we put it in the hot box, and generally, when the clamps get loose, it is dry and ready to work.

[Bullitt]

DD, thanks for the response. Made a few oasage sapling bows, my favorite! I cut a pignut hickory sapling back in Feb. just curious. What ya did, split or saw,was the other side rough , knots, cracks, etc.?Any reflex when dried?

The piece I have is a little over 2" in dia. With my osage staves, when sawed, usually release tension, and take reflex.

Thanks and great looking bow!

Steve

[Hillbilly]

Really nice little bow. That's what it's all about there-that's pure primitive archery. Love those sapling bows.