Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: brownhillboy on February 01, 2009, 02:33:13 pm

Title: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: brownhillboy on February 01, 2009, 02:33:13 pm
First and foremost, I would like to thank those that helped me with advice, information, and resources to make this bow: knightd, cowboy, Pappy, Pat B. and any others that I may have failed to mention.  This bow includes a lot of "firsts" for me: 1st osage bow, chasing a ring, asymetric bow, making my own string, serving my own string, straightening limbs with heat, and applying snake skins.  The copperhead skins turned out quite a bit darker than I had originally intended, but after I dyed the grip and arrow rest leather black to match, I was very pleased with the "unique" look.  I named the bow "unique" because that was the word that kept coming up whenever I showed it to someone.  The bow is an asymetric recurve, 58"ntn, 57#@27".  It has cocobolo tip overlays and I also added the spurs from the first gobbler I ever killed to the grip laces for some "good medicine".  I also dyed the leg portion of the turkey black to match the color scheme.  I have been working on this bow since Nov. and I'm very happy to have finally completed it.  Tillering was a challenge with it being asymetric, but it shoots so fast and sweet!  No hand shock at all.  The limbs are 1 3/8" wide with a straight taper down to 1/2" at the nocks.  With it's short length and copperhead camo, I'm sure it will be my bow of choice to hunt with this spring and fall.  Thanks for looking, and let me know what you think....Brad

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Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Gordon on February 01, 2009, 02:36:17 pm
Oh my, I think that is a killer bow. Just excellent in all respects!
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Barrage on February 01, 2009, 02:48:37 pm
Great looking boy.  I really like the recurves you did on it.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: adb on February 01, 2009, 02:50:12 pm
WOW!! What a beauty! You've done an excellent job on some first time challenges. You should be very proud of that one!
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Pat B on February 01, 2009, 03:08:38 pm
SWEET!!! that's all I can say! 8)
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: brownhillboy on February 01, 2009, 03:15:47 pm
Thanks guys...this is the best one I've ever made by far.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: bambule on February 01, 2009, 03:23:15 pm
very well done - all details look great on the photos

Greetz
Cord
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: John B. on February 01, 2009, 03:28:18 pm
Wow, that's a pretty bow.  Love the color contrast.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: DanaM on February 01, 2009, 03:29:28 pm
Looks fantastic, not much to criticize on this one :) Only fault I can find
is you have and not me ;) Congrats eh
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: brownhillboy on February 01, 2009, 03:43:47 pm
Thanks for all of the compliments.  I dyed the back of the bow black before putting on the skins, and that is why they turned out that color.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: wvarcher on February 01, 2009, 03:53:20 pm
Wow, a beautiful bow
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Dave 55 on February 01, 2009, 04:06:52 pm
Man do I like that,I bet its a great shooting bow,congradulations.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: bigcountry on February 01, 2009, 04:08:00 pm
One of the finest looking bow I have seen on PA.  Sure it is your first osage? 

I want to learn to recurve the tips like that myself.  Any tips?  What kinda form did you use?  Did you recurve them all at once or several heatings?

Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Sparrow on February 01, 2009, 04:18:21 pm
 The first word into my mind when the picture came up was "Fabulous" (Not a word I ever use) style,shape, tiller,Colors,patterns, That's a beautiful bow man.You nailed it !   Frank
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Badger on February 01, 2009, 04:26:17 pm
Outstanding, very impressive for all those firsts!! Steve
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: brownhillboy on February 01, 2009, 06:17:39 pm
Thanks guys, I appreciate it! ;D 
Bigcountry- Yes it's my 1st osage, and I had to buy the stave...so that's probably why it took me so long to finish...I didn't want to mess it up, so I used no power tools until I got down to shaping the handle and rest...I boiled the end of each limb and then bent it all at once on a form I made from a 2x6.  I bent them while they were still quite thick and used a metal backing strip.  I believe YewArcher did a post on how to do it a while back.  Thanks again, Brad.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: knightd on February 01, 2009, 09:33:28 pm
WOW !!!! Brad you did a outstanding Job on this bow..Congrats !! ;).. I like the color combo the name of the bow say's it all..
David
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: wvarcher on February 01, 2009, 10:30:12 pm
A beautiful bow!  How much longer is the top limb than the bottom limb?
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: ricktrojanowski on February 01, 2009, 10:47:30 pm
What a beauty.  The recurves and tips look great.  I really like those copperhead skins.  Very nice work!!!
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: brownhillboy on February 01, 2009, 11:25:54 pm
Thanks guys!  David, you helped make it possible and I really appreciate your help.
wvarcher I think the top limb is about 2 1/2" longer than the bottom.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: knightd on February 01, 2009, 11:28:18 pm
I didnt do much..But any time you think I might could help feel free to drop me a line.. Again great job !!
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: knightd on February 01, 2009, 11:32:13 pm
P.S. My wife is still sloobbering over the pics....See what you gone and done did.. :o :o
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: bigcountry on February 01, 2009, 11:32:44 pm
I boiled the end of each limb and then bent it all at once on a form I made from a 2x6.  I bent them while they were still quite thick and used a metal backing strip.  I believe YewArcher did a post on how to do it a while back.  Thanks again, Brad.

I went and found his post on using the metal strap.  Seems like the cat's meow.  When you say boil, you mean you actually submersed the tips in water?  Not steam?
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: brownhillboy on February 01, 2009, 11:57:49 pm
Thanks David...We'll have to get together some time and I'll let you and your wife shoot it.
Bigcountry- yes I actually submersed them in the water.  I have a big rectangular ash catcher out of a wood stove that I put on our gas grill.  Here's a pic of what it looks like.

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Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Jesse on February 02, 2009, 12:28:14 am
Wow that bow looks sharp. 8)
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: medicinewheel on February 02, 2009, 04:43:08 am


EXCELLENT!!!

frank
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Cooper on February 02, 2009, 06:02:17 am
WOW, a fantastic bow.
I like this dark copperhead skin.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Keenan on February 02, 2009, 06:25:20 am
 Awesome bow Brad. Especially for all the your first try on so many things. Overall a very well thought out package and excellent craftsmanship. Congratulations.     Keenan
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Pappy on February 02, 2009, 06:27:59 am
Beautiful Bow,I love it.Very well done.
   Pappy
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: brownhillboy on February 02, 2009, 09:18:06 am
Thanks guys!  I definitely put more time and effort into this one than any I have done before.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: GregB on February 02, 2009, 09:18:26 am
That is a beautiful and very well made bow. The copper head skin color is definitely "unique". Really nice job all around! ;)
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: George Tsoukalas on February 02, 2009, 09:28:40 am
You mentioned that this bow represented many firsts for you, brownhillboy. Well this bow is just stunningly beautiful from stem to stern. The tiller, too, is outstanding. Congratulations! Jawge
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Mechslasher on February 02, 2009, 10:19:58 am
a fine effort, one of my all time favorite designs.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: brownhillboy on February 02, 2009, 10:32:55 am
Thanks again guys, you're too kind. :)
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Woodland Roamer on February 02, 2009, 11:04:22 am
That's a great bow, nice job.

Alan
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: OldBow on February 02, 2009, 12:18:34 pm
Ditto everyone, here. You've got to be proud of this one. Bookmarked, of course, for Feb Self Bow of the Month voting.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Okie on February 02, 2009, 01:59:38 pm
Excellent work. I'm liken these recurve bows more and more.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: brownhillboy on February 02, 2009, 06:49:14 pm
Thanks guys...and Okie1, I'm with you, I think they're a little harder to make but worth the effort.  By the way, your osage recurve is very beautiful too.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Dean Marlow on February 02, 2009, 08:15:55 pm
That is a beautiful bow. Conratulations on your first Osage. Gotta love that Osage. Dean
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: PeteC on February 02, 2009, 08:38:59 pm
That's a great bow!!You did good on every part of it .Congrats to you. God Bless
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Bear on February 02, 2009, 08:56:12 pm
Wow! It makes me want to hunt... and shoot.  :)
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: brownhillboy on February 03, 2009, 01:18:16 pm
I wanted to thank everyone for their nice comments.  It makes you feel good when your friends and family compliment you on your work, but it's even better when people that know what they're looking at and can appreciate what you have put into something acknowledge what you have done.  Thanks again, Brad.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: JBL on February 03, 2009, 02:55:48 pm
WOW!!! That is a nice looking bow.  I like the color of the skins.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Ryano on February 03, 2009, 03:25:37 pm
Very nice job on that one! Looks like my kind of bow!  ;D
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: n2everythg on February 03, 2009, 03:50:41 pm
Wow that looks really nice.
I want to do one of those recurves some day. got scared off after cracking several.
Love them though.
Beautiful job.
wade
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: Postman on February 03, 2009, 04:29:08 pm
Awesome bow....just the kind I've been tryin' myself. Great job on the skins!
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: brownhillboy on February 04, 2009, 09:20:16 am
Thanks! ;D
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: FlintWalker on February 04, 2009, 10:14:45 am
Very nice job...especially for your first.  That baby looks like a fast shooter.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: mullet on February 04, 2009, 02:49:55 pm
 Wow!, how did I miss this beauty? I love those curves and the skins look really good dark like that.
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: ballista on February 04, 2009, 03:40:01 pm
  everything on that bow looks spectaculay, you relly outdid youreself man. beautiful, definetly one of the nicest recurves i've seen- especially in a selfbow. great work, keep it up man- jimmy
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: brownhillboy on February 04, 2009, 04:17:56 pm
Thanks for all of the compliments!  I might have to tighten my hat to keep the swelling down! ;) ;D
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: knightd on February 05, 2009, 09:46:53 am
Let her swell !!  ;) ;) 
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: brownhillboy on February 06, 2009, 02:42:55 pm
David, my wife says that's not a good idea!
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: AKAPK on February 07, 2009, 05:52:10 am
manomanoman thats what I like 8)
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: nickf on February 07, 2009, 05:46:05 pm
I just love those lines!
well done!
Title: Re: osage recurve w/ copperhead skins
Post by: brownhillboy on February 07, 2009, 08:52:51 pm
Thanks Philip and Nick.  I'm glad you like it! :)