Author Topic: Basilisk 45@28 - Wiggly yew longbow backed with boa constrictor  (Read 8859 times)

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Offline ravenbeak

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So three is a bit of a story to this one.
Recently I taught a bow making workshop and I had a nice fella named Ron attend. I always have a collection of staves picked out ahead of time for the participants to choose from. After we had looked through the collection Ron asks if I have anything with a bit more bumps and character to it. So I took him out to my collection of crazy wood that I wasn't so sure what I was going to do with. He went through the whole pile and found this beauty. At first I was a bit nervous but definitely open to the challenge if he was.
He was aiming for a english longbow style about 45 pounds at a 28 inch draw.   The bow ended up exactly on those numbers.  We left it a little longer than I normally would on account of the bumps,  I think the stave was about 74 inches long before the horns went on.
It took a lot of rasping to bring it down to size as this piece did not want to be touched with a draw knife or spoke shave.
The tips are yak horn and match the color of the boys skins really well. The arrow pass is burned in as the Greek symbol for serpent and the bow was named Basilisk. 
There is still a few finishing touches to be done such as the leather handle wrap and a final sanding on the nocks. But i was very excited to show this one.  It really is a one of a kind and i am very pleased with the way it all came together.

Pics to follow shortly

« Last Edit: June 24, 2018, 12:16:54 pm by ravenbeak »
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Offline ravenbeak

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Re: Basilisk. - Wiggly yew longbow backed with boa constrictor
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2018, 11:52:32 pm »
Few photos of the stave early on..
Custom Yew Bows,  and bow making workshops
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Offline ravenbeak

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Re: Basilisk. - Wiggly yew longbow backed with boa constrictor
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2018, 11:54:37 pm »
Roughing out and early stringing...
Custom Yew Bows,  and bow making workshops
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Offline ravenbeak

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Re: Basilisk. - Wiggly yew longbow backed with boa constrictor
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2018, 11:57:07 pm »
Snakeskins on and signing...
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Offline ravenbeak

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Re: Basilisk. - Wiggly yew longbow backed with boa constrictor
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2018, 11:59:21 pm »
Nice wiggle shots,  plus the yak horn caps
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Offline ravenbeak

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Re: Basilisk. - Wiggly yew longbow backed with boa constrictor
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2018, 12:01:40 am »
Braced and full draw...
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Offline penderbender

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Re: Basilisk. - Wiggly yew longbow backed with boa constrictor
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2018, 12:34:58 am »
That turned out really nice Jamie. I always love wiggly yew. Cheers- Brendan

Offline Hamish

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Re: Basilisk. - Wiggly yew longbow backed with boa constrictor
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2018, 01:53:18 am »
A real work of art. It looks alive.

Offline FilipT

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Re: Basilisk. - Wiggly yew longbow backed with boa constrictor
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2018, 02:32:18 am »
One of the most amazing bows I have ever seen. Just don't look it in the eyes if you know what I mean! :D Am I wrong to assume that this design wouldn't work with other woods? I tried wiggly bows once with other woods and it was impossible, too many weak spots.

Offline chamookman

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Re: Basilisk. - Wiggly yew longbow backed with boa constrictor
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2018, 02:44:35 am »
Way cool - love it  :OK ! Bob
"May the Gods give Us the strength to draw the string to the cheek, the arrow to the barb and loose the flying shaft, so long as life may last." Saxon Pope - 1923.

Online bjrogg

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Re: Basilisk. - Wiggly yew longbow backed with boa constrictor
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2018, 08:02:18 am »
Wow very very nice Ravenbeak. I'd say Ron gets a A++.
Bjrogg
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Offline PaSteve

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Re: Basilisk. - Wiggly yew longbow backed with boa constrictor
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2018, 09:01:33 am »
Unique bow. Great work.
"It seems so much more obvious with bows than with other matters, that we are the guardians of the prize we seek." Dean Torges

Offline DC

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Re: Basilisk. - Wiggly yew longbow backed with boa constrictor
« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2018, 09:19:40 am »
I love those wiggly ones. Very cool Jamie. Must have been a bear to get the skins smooth.

Offline Shawn Rackley

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Re: Basilisk 45@28 - Wiggly yew longbow backed with boa constrictor
« Reply #13 on: June 24, 2018, 05:41:46 pm »
Wow, that is pretty wild. I love it though. I'm a sucker for an elb. Hope someday to make one. It's a goal for sure.

Offline BowEd

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Re: Basilisk 45@28 - Wiggly yew longbow backed with boa constrictor
« Reply #14 on: June 24, 2018, 05:49:32 pm »
Very nice patient work on that paticular bow.Excellent work getting the skin on good too.It really does look like a snake!!!!
BowEd
You got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Ed