Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: 1/2primitive on December 25, 2008, 09:42:35 pm

Title: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: 1/2primitive on December 25, 2008, 09:42:35 pm
I had been looking at the West Coast bows in the Traditional Bowyer's Bible Vol 1, and wanted to try my hand at one. In my browsing and planning, I saw a bow that was about 54" long; this being about the normal length of my bows, I decided to go ahead and replicate that one.
It was Oak, so I got a 1" by 3" Red Oak board and copied the front view as well as I could. This is what I ended up with.
It has a 1-1/2" handle, swelling to 2-1/2" at the widest point. The tips are a little narrower than the original's, at about 3/4", and it was 56" before the recurves, 54-1/2" afterwards (the original was 54-1/4" long). The tips are the same style as the one in the book, as well as the recurves. The original had no handle wrapping, but I liked the look of a combination leather/cordage handle (also shown in TBB 1), so I added that as well as a stain to darken the wood, and finished it with Tung oil.
It pulls 60lb@25" and shoots a 700 grain arrow very fast, hard, and accurately.
     Sean

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Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: 1/2primitive on December 25, 2008, 09:43:49 pm
Here are some more.
     Sean

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Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: brian melton on December 25, 2008, 10:03:04 pm

      Nice looking bow! ;D I have worked with a lot of different woods, but always ignored red oak. I am quite suprised it took recurves that well.....were they steamed, or direct heat????


Brian
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: Kegan on December 25, 2008, 10:03:41 pm
I love it :)!!! What's the thickness on that one?
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: ricktrojanowski on December 25, 2008, 10:27:41 pm
Really nice job on that bow.  The tiller looks spot on.  I like those nocks.  Sweet bow.
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: bcbull on December 25, 2008, 11:24:18 pm
MAN,,, GOOD JOB I RELLY LIKE !!THAT MAKE SURE IT S ENTERD IN BOW OF MONTH  !!! ::)  BROCK
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: adb on December 26, 2008, 12:06:00 am
Very well done, young man!!
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: koan on December 26, 2008, 02:18:13 am
Wow!!! Dont think we can call you 1/2 primitive anymore...your all primitive ;D. There aint nothin bad about this bow...how did you get that oak to take that bend?? OUTSTANDING!! Great work Sean!....Brian
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: DanaM on December 26, 2008, 06:59:01 am
Very nicely executed Sean, you sure have a gift :)
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: cheapshot on December 26, 2008, 08:19:32 am
Wow, that's a purty bow. Tiller looks great. Very nice quiver as well.
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: RidgeRunner on December 26, 2008, 09:24:22 am
Very Well Done Sean!!!!
That is a very good looking bow
I like it.

David
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: 1/2primitive on December 26, 2008, 09:53:26 am
Thanks guys. I really like this one also. ;D   At first, I was looking to make it about 50lb or so, but with it being 2-1/2" wide, I figured that I could get away with more. So I did. :D
I recurved it by boiling the wood for about 40-45min.
     Sean
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: Okie on December 26, 2008, 10:00:50 am
I never seen red oak look so good. Great job sean.
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: PeteC on December 26, 2008, 10:05:22 am
Sean,that is beautiful.I like everything about it,and those nocks are cool!! I received the whole set of TBB's for Christmas,and pumped to use the ideas within. God Bless
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 26, 2008, 10:22:36 am
Wow! That is a beautiful bow with a great tiller. Well done! Jawge
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: burn em up chuck on December 26, 2008, 10:25:05 am
       nicely done,beutiful profile

                                                 chuck
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: juniper junkie on December 26, 2008, 10:59:43 am
excellent! are you going to paint it?
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: Keenan on December 26, 2008, 11:25:19 am
Absolutely awesome Sean. You hit it out of the ball park with that one.  Profile, tiller and tips are spectacular. Congratulations   Keenan
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: Jesse on December 26, 2008, 12:01:19 pm
Wow that is a cool bow. Its bows like these that make you stop and stare for a bit. Great work.
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: 1/2primitive on December 26, 2008, 12:27:50 pm
Thanks again, it's nice to have you guys here being so encouraging. Makes me want to make more bows just to post 'em. ;D

Kegan, The thickness is about 3/8" at the thinest point.

PeteC, I got the set for Christmas also a couple of years ago. :)
Look on page 178 of Vol 1, the one I was replicating is the farthest right on that page.

Juniper, I might paint it later (that's the plan), but for right now, I want the inconspicuous earth tones for camo when hunting.
     Sean
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: Pat B on December 26, 2008, 12:30:48 pm
Great bow, Sean and a good example of what can be done with a red oak board for the newby to see. Tiller is right on!!!     Pat
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: 330bull on December 26, 2008, 12:33:28 pm
I know you have heard this over and over but....that's an awesome bow!!!
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: Gordon on December 26, 2008, 12:44:32 pm
I would have never thought you could pull of a design like that with red oak, but you really nailed it. Excellent!
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: OldBow on December 26, 2008, 01:14:22 pm
This is a dandy - primitive and well made. Great candidate for Dec Self BOM
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: sailordad on December 26, 2008, 01:52:58 pm
very nice bow,and from an oak board to boot  WOW :o
i have came back to look at this several times before i decided to post,just couldnt think straight about it after first seeing it,incredible curves.
i have seen a couple of others i thought would make great BOM candidates,however this could be the winner right here.
very nice,tiller looks dead on,love the design.
i would leave it just like that,no paint.the grain orientation makes like you said great natural camo.


                                                                                  peace,
                                                                                         tim

 
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: Denham Archer on December 26, 2008, 02:45:51 pm
I like oak bows.  Red or white, they are my favorite.  You've shown what can be done with red oak.  Truely great work, young man!  The future of primitve archery/bowyery is in good hands.  Do you come from a family of archers/bowyers?  Are you self taught?
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: 1/2primitive on December 26, 2008, 02:52:38 pm
Wow, can I ever thank y'all enough? This is why I like it here at PA, you guys are awsome. ;D
Denham, I'm self taught. With lots of help from the Bowyer's Bibles and everyone here on the forum. :)
     Sean
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: dragonman on December 26, 2008, 03:04:24 pm
amazing looking bow, congratulations on your workmanship, I would not have believed that was possible with oak if i hadn't seen the pics, with that length and those recurves!! This has changed my understanding of what is possible. Thanks.
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: Badger on December 26, 2008, 03:07:36 pm
Ditto what everyone else said, really an exceptional job, those recurves were great! Steve
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: AKAPK on December 26, 2008, 06:32:24 pm
Sweet Bow , make a video and show us the grouping please or a pic, curious.Pk
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: koan on December 27, 2008, 01:43:59 am
Just keep comin back to this one...cant believe you got that out of an oak board :o....Brian
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: 1/2primitive on December 27, 2008, 11:41:31 pm
I forgot to post pictures of the recurves and the string grooves running along them. I'm slow on pictures, so yes, it took this long for me to get them. :P :D
The grooves are also on the original.
     Sean

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Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: koan on December 27, 2008, 11:45:25 pm
Sean, what kinda string is that? Dont look like B-50...Brian
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: 1/2primitive on December 27, 2008, 11:49:21 pm
It is B-50, but it's a little old. It fits better with the bow. ;D

PK, I've been feeling a bit under the weather recently, so I've not been shooting. I'll get some up when I get back to it.
     Sean
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: AKAPK on December 28, 2008, 01:10:59 am
Thats Ok, get feeling better, real nice bow, its enough work just to show pictures.Phillip
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: Auggie on December 28, 2008, 06:47:31 pm
Thats the coolest boiled oak board Ive ever seen! Congrats,you rock!
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: CutNShoot on December 31, 2008, 05:14:25 pm
Shoot that one could rate # 1 in the 8 coolest bows I've ever seen. Way COOL! Thanks for showin it.
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: billy on January 01, 2009, 12:51:40 am
HEy Sean,

I definitely agree with everyone, that bow is sweet!!  I really like the look of that red oak, man, well done.  Is that thing backed or no?  It sure doesn't look like it is.  I'll have to start looking at making a red oak bow of my own after seeing that one.  Great job!  Now take that bad boy out and kill something with it!
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: Ryano on January 01, 2009, 04:02:11 am
Wow, your pushing the limits of that board right there.....Great job. Would'nt have thought it would have made it with no backing.... ;D Again, Great job Sean.  ;)
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: JackCrafty on January 01, 2009, 01:19:25 pm
For some reason I missed this one.....until I saw it on the BOM list.  Great Bow!
(I will not admit that I voted for your bow.....besides, I don't want to sway anyone else's vote...so don't ask....I will never admit it... ;D)
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: Dustybaer on January 02, 2009, 07:55:35 am
same here.  just found it and i'm deeply impressed.  beautiful bow.  love the lines.
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: Woodbear on January 02, 2009, 04:40:35 pm
Sean,

Congratulations on a very nice oak "paddle" bow. I love this style bow. I am particularly impressed with the boiled & bent recurves, nock & string groove.

How thick is the handle? The diagram in TBB1 (p178) shows 15/16" thick, but all the 1x3 oak boards I have seen are only 3/4" thick.

Dave
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: tdog on January 03, 2009, 11:51:53 pm
Great looking bow! I am new to bow building, but that is one of the nicer bows that I have seen. Hard to believe it started out as an oak board. Beautiful.
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: 1/2primitive on January 04, 2009, 11:36:16 pm
Thanks again guys. ;D

Billy- no, I didn't back it, I don't like to wait for any glue to dry, so that inclines me to be more creative with my self bows. :D

Woodbear- I made it thinner at the handle, just enough to get it to bend some. I couldn't see making the handle that wide and not having it bend at all, lol.
      Sean
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: Canoe on January 05, 2009, 03:42:41 pm
Howdy Mr. 1/2Prim.,

Many congrats on this eye catching weapon - Cool.  (I can imagine you watching mouths drop open when you walk into a local archery shop with that!!)

Thanks for the close up shots of the recurved tips and the string grove.  I'm wondering if you would post a picture or two of the form you used.  And/or, could you include a few more words (details) on how you went about making the recurses?

Did you have the bow nearly completed (tillered) before you bent the tips?  (If so, what was the draw weight at full draw before recurving?)  Or, at what stage of the game were you when you did the re-curving? 

Thank you for sharing,
Canoe

IMO, you should darken that thing up a bunch for more camo, it'll make a great brush bow for some up-close and personal bowhuntin'!
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: roofus on January 05, 2009, 07:18:32 pm
Coolest thing I ever saw.
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: kayakfisher on January 05, 2009, 11:34:07 pm
Yep ! Thats bow of the month right there , That is after you send it up here to Missourri and let me try it out. Nice job ,really a good lookin bow.
                                                      Dennis
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: koan on January 05, 2009, 11:39:02 pm
Hey, hey! If its comin to Mo....its comin my way ::)....Brian
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: kayakfisher on January 05, 2009, 11:41:56 pm
Yep your second in line Koan ! Alright half primitve your out voted two to one send us the bow.
                                                                      Dennis
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: koan on January 05, 2009, 11:48:45 pm
I dont know Dennis..after all it was me who cleared out the stinging nettle in front of Sean and Knapperderg on the 3D at Mojam....Eeouch!!! :D
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: 1/2primitive on January 06, 2009, 12:09:04 am
I've never heard of a person voted out of his own bow! :o :D

Thanks for wanting it, lol. ;D
Maybe you'll see it at Mojam this coming year. Then we'll talk. :)
      Sean
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: PaulN/KS on January 06, 2009, 11:16:11 am
Great work Sean... It sure is fun to see how far you have come with your bow making skills.
I'd like to see it at Mojam this year too... maybe we can have a shoot off and the winner gets it . ;D
(That way you have a chance to keep it... :) )
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: Rich Saffold on January 06, 2009, 06:14:43 pm
Sean is one of the best bowyers still in high school. He probably just made Red Oak a lot more popular in Texas ;D Nice work bro, see you next summer.

Rich
Title: Re: West coast replica flatbow
Post by: ratty on January 07, 2009, 03:19:24 pm
nice bow  8)