Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: osage outlaw on July 05, 2012, 09:36:07 pm

Title: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: osage outlaw on July 05, 2012, 09:36:07 pm

Here is my first try at a short bow.  It is 49 1/2" long and 50# @ 24".  It is one of the short pieces from the monster osage tree.  This bow started out as a joint effort between myself and JW Halverson.  We were going to sinew back it at the Classic, but since he was unable to make it, I backed it and finished it up myself.  I used 2 full layers and one strip down the center.  The sinew is elk that I got from Chris Koenieiisonfolstjtopt, aka Pearl Drums  ;D    I covered the sinew up with a roadkill blacksnake belly skin.  This is the first time I have tried that.  I spent a lot of time scraping it and removing the scales after it dried.  I had to remove them one at a time using a razor blade to lift them free of the skin.  The belly skin is fairly thick and I think it would add a small bit of protection to the back of a bow.  The handle wrap is from a roadkill beaver, also a first.  I burnished the bow with a piece of deer antler and finished it up with tru-oil.  The bow weighed a little over 12 oz  before finishing.

(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC14879.jpg)

(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC14881.jpg)

(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC14883.jpg)

(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC14885.jpg)

(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC14886.jpg)

(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC14887.jpg)

(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC14890.jpg)

(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC14892.jpg)


The scales

(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC14893.jpg)

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: coaster500 on July 05, 2012, 10:12:10 pm

As well as that one turned out I hope it's not your last!!!

Very cool backing ;)

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: SA on July 05, 2012, 11:04:26 pm

thats a cool little bow , i have some shorty's in the works still have not tried one that short.

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: Badly Bent on July 05, 2012, 11:21:36 pm

That looks really nice outlaw. Never seen belly skin used before , it looks great. Also have to say that the braced profile and full draw look perfect to me, very nice work. Glad to see this post as I recently roughed in a BL stave that exact length and I'm not to confident I can pull off that short of a bow. Now I can use your bow as inspiration.
Greg

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: lesken2011 on July 05, 2012, 11:23:43 pm

Looks good, OO. Belly skin? hmmm? :P

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: Ifrit617 on July 05, 2012, 11:29:14 pm

absolutely gorgeous little bow.. Love the look of those skins..

Jon

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: gstoneberg on July 05, 2012, 11:47:46 pm

Very nice work!!  Love the belly skin too. :)

George

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: Will H on July 05, 2012, 11:59:24 pm

Very cool! That's one sweet looking little bow :) I like the way those belly scales turned out

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: criveraville on July 06, 2012, 12:17:09 am

That's a keeper Clint  ;) I have been keeping the belly scales of lots of snakes because I thought it would look cool. That little bow has some major bend..

Cipriano

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: criveraville on July 06, 2012, 12:32:33 am

PS... To save the belly scales it takes about 50 tacks per foot. A lot of time and pushing using your pincher grip, but well worth it to salvage as much as possible from a critter that has been killed.

Cipriano

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 06, 2012, 12:56:25 am

Awesome idea and nice job on the bow buddy.

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: JonW on July 06, 2012, 01:04:17 am

Nice little bow Clint. You gotta like the bend on that one.

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: hedgeapple on July 06, 2012, 01:24:22 am

sweet bow.

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: mikekeswick on July 06, 2012, 02:28:02 am

NICE!

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: osage outlaw on July 06, 2012, 02:46:44 am

Thanks for the kind comments guys.  This bow was a blast to make.  It sure won't be my last short bow.  I already have some ideas for another one. 

You are right about the belly scales taking extra work Cipriano.  I have a couple of other skins for future projects.

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: soy on July 06, 2012, 03:29:08 am

That is very nice double o ;)

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: Pappy on July 06, 2012, 06:32:53 am

Now that is sweet,love the skin and tiller looks great,very well done. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: dwardo on July 06, 2012, 07:27:43 am

Stunner is that.
Once you start building shorties there is no way back ;)

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: blackhawk on July 06, 2012, 08:01:28 am

She finished off purtty..... ;)

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: Buckeye Guy on July 06, 2012, 08:44:59 am

Good job Clint!!!
I got word there are a couple of osage trees down from the storm ,I hope they are not as big as the one you tackled !
I may need some help !!
Guy

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: osage outlaw on July 06, 2012, 09:03:58 pm

Guy, good luck getting those osage trees.  The big ones are worth it  ;)

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: Josh B on July 09, 2012, 05:48:25 am

Great job on that bow Clint!  The belly scales are pretty cool!  Josh

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: Jodocus on July 09, 2012, 06:43:52 am

SNAP!  >:D

Yeah, this one looks real fast. And it's a beauty, too!

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: JW_Halverson on July 09, 2012, 02:21:27 pm

Clint has been keeping me in the loop on this build from the very start.  And from the very start I have disapproved of every decision he made.  Ultimately I am very disaproving of the whole bow, every  last  detail.  If I had half a chance I would take that bow out of his hands and shoot it until it failed!  I don't care if it took the rest of my life, I would dedicate myself to shooting that bow to DEATH!

Nuff said.  I'm going to sit in the corner in a pile of osage shavings and suck my thumb.  *mutter*mutter*grumble*grumble*

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: H Rhodes on July 09, 2012, 06:41:32 pm

sweet!  i love that snake belly!  Looks like a fast shooter.  ;)

Title: Re: Sinew and snake belly backed shorty
Post by: seabass on July 09, 2012, 08:38:30 pm

great job Clint.i love everything about it.you did good my friend.