Author Topic: Overbuilt?  (Read 290 times)

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Offline simk

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Overbuilt?
« on: February 15, 2026, 01:42:59 pm »
That ist my recent 77# @ 34 paddle bow. I had a hard time deciding what length would be appropriate for this project and went with 73" ntn. Better safe than sorry  :) what ya think? Overbuilt?

Btw: Extremly orange, heavy and dense Osage Orange we have here, from Hungary. Comes from a sapling, maybe 15yrs old - maybe this one comes from the same tree as my 2021 bow of the year. plenty of thorn clusters all over the belly but none visible on the back.   
« Last Edit: February 15, 2026, 02:00:21 pm by simk »
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Offline simk

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Re: Overbuilt?
« Reply #1 on: February 15, 2026, 01:45:21 pm »
...
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Offline simk

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Re: Overbuilt?
« Reply #2 on: February 15, 2026, 01:46:56 pm »
thanks for watching!
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Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: Overbuilt?
« Reply #3 on: February 15, 2026, 01:57:50 pm »
It certainly exhibits all of your usual elements of graceful flowing lines and attention to finishing detail. Tiller, as usual, so close to perfect that I couldnt say what - if anything - is wrong with it. That just leaves performance and "feel". I can't shoot it and feel how it reacts in the hand, so that's up to you to report, but I doubt there is any problem with this bow in that department.

While I may not comment on every bow you post, I NEVER skip anything you offer us. I'd even admit to taking notes if I am being honest. Thank you for sharing, brother. Always appreciate your work.
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline Badger

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Re: Overbuilt?
« Reply #4 on: February 15, 2026, 03:43:20 pm »
  I wonder how far that can shoot with a 34" draw? Looks great and not overbuilt at all. I would have been at about 78".

Offline Robert Pougnier

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Re: Overbuilt?
« Reply #5 on: February 15, 2026, 03:56:23 pm »
That's a really beautiful bow. I've never built a paddle bow or a bow that long but it does not look overbuilt to me. That looks like a serious shooter.
It's pretty cool to see the paddle bow built on something this long in any case.

Offline sleek

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Re: Overbuilt?
« Reply #6 on: February 15, 2026, 04:09:15 pm »
There is almost no such thing as overbuilt. To qualify for that, the bow will firstly take absolutely no set, it will shoot slower than it should, and likely have some hand shock.

Almost all bows are underbuilt. I made a program to tell you how much to build your bow based on density and draw weight. As soon as I am able it will be attached to this site as a feature.

That is a beautiful bow too, your craftsmanship is superb. Did it take any set?
Tread softly and carry a bent stick.

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Offline superdav95

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Re: Overbuilt?
« Reply #7 on: February 15, 2026, 04:57:53 pm »
There is almost no such thing as overbuilt. To qualify for that, the bow will firstly take absolutely no set, it will shoot slower than it should, and likely have some hand shock.

Almost all bows are underbuilt. I made a program to tell you how much to build your bow based on density and draw weight. As soon as I am able it will be attached to this site as a feature.

That is a beautiful bow too, your craftsmanship is superb. Did it take any set?

Well said.  +1.  Looks very well built. 
Sticks and stones and other poky stabby things.

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Offline Hamish

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Re: Overbuilt?
« Reply #8 on: February 15, 2026, 06:57:01 pm »
Well executed bow. Looks really good. 34" is a long draw, so its unlikely to be overbuilt at 73" btn. The real test is how it performs and whether it has too much hand shock. I bet it shoots just fine.

Offline bjrogg

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Re: Overbuilt?
« Reply #9 on: February 15, 2026, 07:09:09 pm »
That is a really nice bend. I agree. At 34” draw it doesn’t look overbuilt

Bjrogg
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Offline Jim Davis

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Re: Overbuilt?
« Reply #10 on: February 15, 2026, 08:03:21 pm »
Very nice job, but I beg to differ on the type.

The following definition is how I have always seen a "paddle bow" described:

A paddle bow is a short (typically), wide-limbed, and, or sinew-backed bow historically used by Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest for hunting in dense brush. Characterized by wide limbs (often) that resemble paddles, these bows are designed for short draw lengths and high efficiency at close range, frequently featuring short, stiff recurves.
Jim Davis

Kentucky--formerly Maine

Offline Selfbowman

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Re: Overbuilt?
« Reply #11 on: February 15, 2026, 11:57:43 pm »
Nice bow and no on overbuilt. If I would have built it it would have been about 2-1/2” wide at the fades and about 74-76” long on that draw length.
Well I'll say!!  Osage is king!!

Offline Pat B

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Re: Overbuilt?
« Reply #12 on: Today at 12:47:48 am »
Very nice bow and well executed.  :OK
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline medicinewheel

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Re: Overbuilt?
« Reply #13 on: Today at 04:37:48 am »
Very nice bow and well executed.  :OK

+1

:BB
Frank from Germany...