Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: smokeu on August 21, 2009, 05:11:02 pm
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I am in the process of building a new hunting weapon and would like to go sans arrow rest, but dont have much clue how to shoot properly without one. The few times i tried seemed a bit awkward, and my flethching seemed like it wanted to cut as it passed my knuckles. If you could share tips or techniques I would be very grateful.
Thanks<
Mike
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Mike, I make my bows without arrow rest but I use a "floppy rest" and that protects my hand from the fletching. I also wrap the forward end of the fletching so the quill doesn't cut or skewer my hand.
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I like to stack leather and build a rest, the floppy is too inconsistent for my bad form.
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I glue a little piece of antler on most of my bows.
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I glued antelope horn on my last bow and it seems that my fletching catches on it >:( ....I think on the next bow Im gonna try stacking leather to build one...or cut one in the wood itself
-Ky
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I think shooting off the knuckle inproves your fletching ;D
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Can you elaborate on that yazoo?
thanks,
Mike
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just wear a thin leather glove and make an arrow pass mark on the correct side of the bow...your hand placement being the same each time gives consistency and the fletching won't cut ur hand so badly...been there done that...
on the other hand...
you can wrap the handle with hemp or jute and build an arrow rest out of that. just add a ton of layers in the right spot. epoxy it and ur good to go
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i like a rest i cut some of my bows with a shelf and sight window. some of them i use harness leather to make a shelf. if i had to count on hand placement the same every time i would be screwed.
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LOL, yazoo. smokeu, skive the leading edges of your fletching. You could also wrap your fletching with art. sinew or any thread really. Wrap the leading edges as well. More info on my site including handle info. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/
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I like some of my bows without rests, in that case I stop the wrap where I want the arrow to ''rest" that way I put it on the same spot consistently. Also like George said. Make sure you shave the leading edge of the feather down and wrap with sinew. Your finger will get a little raw at first, but you will build up a callous and you won't even notice after a while.
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I've built several bows without a rest and I shoot them just fine. I burnish the front of my fletching and then apply a drop of glue. I've never had a problem with fletching cutting my hand.
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I have made one bow with out an arrow rest. Shoots fine, but I prefer to put a piece of bone or antler or leather there. Just for consistnecy.
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just wear a thin leather glove and make an arrow pass mark on the correct side of the bow...your hand placement being the same each time gives consistency and the fletching won't cut ur hand so badly...been there done that...
That's exactly what I was going to say...having the nocking point slightly higher on the string is also meant to stop it cutting your knuckles.
Mind I quite like the scars I have on that knuckle :P
Del
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I usually glue a small leather rest on most of mine unless it's a ELB or Native American style bow. An arrow rest certainly isn't necessary, but it's nice to have on a hunting bow where you might be wearing gloves when you shoot-that can change your point of contact and throw off your shot big time if you're shooting off the knuckle. Like everybody else said, wrap those fletchings.
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No need to wrap the leading edge. Like Gordon says burnish or smooth down the leading part of the quill! When I started shooting selfbows in 1988, Gary Davis told me about this technique. Works great. As far a a shelf, use a piece of wood or heavy sole leather and shape or trim, and wrap over with whatever you prefer. If you've every seen or shot any of Gary's bows, you will see he doubles over the leather at the shelf.
Smokeu, how's that Black Locust bow shootin? Good shootin, Steve
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You can build a really small arrow rest
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/003-35.jpg)
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/001-40.jpg)
It doesn't really make a difference in how the bow shoots, but it's nice if you hunt with and arrow on the string to have it in the right place in case of a quick shot opportunity
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/002-39.jpg)
and of course it's nice if you have tho hang your bow on a branch while in ambush, to have your weapon at the ready immediatly ;)
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/004-40-1.jpg)
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manny, that's a wicked crack!
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I found this in my picture folder, thought some might like it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/dlgren/Archery/Ferretbowrest-2.jpg)
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Thanks for posting Mickey's floppy rest Dano. Mind if I put it in the archives...or better yet do you think Mickey would mind?