Primitive Archer

Gorgeous bow, lovely tiller.
Del

Dropping them in the freezer for extended time isn't a bad idea. The freezing for longer periods of time dessicates the insects and even their larvae/eggs. It will also dry out the feathers in the long run and I have found that the feathers will strip better if they get steamed before attempting. I just set up the teakettle on the burner and get a good stream of steam blasting from the spout. By running the feather through the steam it plumps the barbules/web of the feather AND moisturizes the central spine.

I strip 99% of my feathers for arrows and find that steaming them takes some of the brittleness out of the feather. Fewer feathers break off early and I almost always get a full strip from tip of the feather all the way down to the sip of the quill.

I picked up some PRIMO Michigan hop hornbeam "ironwood" at the Tennessee Classic. One of them will be a tribute bow to Rich Rousseau/half-eye, a shorter bendy handle sorta thing. This bow of yours just confirms that plan.

Thanks for sharing this sweet darling!

Suh-WEET jumpin' Jehosephat! Wouldja just take a gander with yer own peeled eyeballs at that slice of toxophilic craftsmanship and artistry.

Virtually the whole bow looks as if it were laid out by a draftsman with an uncommonly straight ruler until you get to the last third of that limb! And at that point, to quote the philosopher of Beverly Hills (our friend Jed Clampett) "WHOOOOO-EEEEY! Don't that beat all!?!?!"

All bets are off and the whole dang pack of dogs has the scent and a bone in their teeth!

Ok, I would have probably taken it too far, as I often do, and put snake skins or something on it. But your eye for aesthetics is perfect. Here you have let the glorious grain of the wood speak for itself, stayed virtually Spartan in self-denial of lipstick for the pig. Pure elegance in the execution.

Nobody could fault the tiller profile, and with the front profile and all I would have to say this looks like it would send an arrow with some serious authority. She checks off all my boxes, sir, all of them!

Nice.