Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Dean Marlow on March 27, 2010, 07:29:21 pm

Title: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Dean Marlow on March 27, 2010, 07:29:21 pm
Here is a bow I just about have finished. I got to put a finish on it pluss give the tips one more coat of paint and it will be done. I had this bow pretty well tillered out at Mojam last year and thought it was just a little light so I took a couple of inches off of it and got it pretty well where I wanted it. It is 70" long from tip to tip. It is 1/1/4" wide at the handle and tapers down to  a little less than 1/2" at the tips. The top limb is an inch longer than the bottom. It is 55 lbs. at 29". The tips are deer horn and I painted them black. I may take the paint off of them and just leave them normal before I get done. It has no backing. These ELB'S are fun to shoot. Will try a few  more of these in the future. Dean

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Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Dean Marlow on March 27, 2010, 07:32:54 pm
Here is the money shot.

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Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: RyanY on March 27, 2010, 07:34:19 pm
Sweetness man. I'd say leave the horns without the paint but whatever you like best. Its funny because I made a bendy handle osage bow last year at mojam too! Never got around to posting pics though. Great work.
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Del the cat on March 27, 2010, 07:52:07 pm
Hey, that's a propper bow...none of that arrow rest nonsense! >:D
Del
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: DanaM on March 27, 2010, 08:03:39 pm
Looks good Dean, I also say lose the paint:)
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Dean Marlow on March 27, 2010, 08:24:43 pm
After looking at the pictures I believe the paint on the tips has to go. Dean
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: mullet on March 27, 2010, 09:00:06 pm
 Great looking bow. I'd lose the paint, also.
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Justin Snyder on March 27, 2010, 11:45:51 pm
Nice looking bow Dean. It looks like it should draw and shoot smooth.
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Timo on March 28, 2010, 12:05:20 am
Tiller looks swell! Nice job. How come I don't remember you from Mojam?
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Rich Saffold on March 28, 2010, 12:20:03 am
Looks real good Dean, and I'd scrape off the paint too.
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: NTD on March 28, 2010, 02:08:59 am
Beautiful Bow!  Not crazy about the paint but otherwise I really like it.  Really makes me want to try that style.
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Lombard on March 28, 2010, 05:09:22 am
That looks really nice, you have yourself a fine bow there.
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Del the cat on March 28, 2010, 05:45:34 am
Oh, yeah, I missed the paint thing...Leave natural materials well alone as much as possible is my philosophy...I mean, Do you paint your wife's gold jewelery black too?   ::)  >:D

BTW, From a historical perspective, Antler or Cow horn is probably more authenic than the black Waterbuffallo horn we usually see, or just good old self nocks.
Del
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Jude on March 28, 2010, 08:20:41 am
That's a nice looking bow, and the tiller looks right on.  I'm with everyone else in regards to the paint though; antler looks better.
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Dean Marlow on March 28, 2010, 09:58:02 am
Timo I have been to Mojam the last 2 years. And planning on this year also. I will look you up this time. Dean
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Pat B on March 28, 2010, 12:56:47 pm
Nice work on your osage ELB, Dean. I have built a few and osage seems to make a pretty good ELB.
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: OldBow on March 28, 2010, 12:59:10 pm
Got your fine weapon all bookmarked for March Self BOM fun. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Scowler on March 28, 2010, 01:40:44 pm
Nice looking bow.
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 28, 2010, 03:08:59 pm
Awesome bow, Dean! Very nice work. Jawge
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: tetaxidermy on March 28, 2010, 09:46:37 pm
Nice bow, I like the black. It's all about personal preference.
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: riarcher on March 29, 2010, 02:14:24 am
I really, really like that.

I have a piece of 3 inch diameter about 80" lg that I'd like to do that with.
Reading the TBB in the first book it said Osage is better flat. So it's scared me off (at least for a bit).
Not looking for speed. Looking for a nice shooting, forgiving bow and really want a ELB.
I'll study up some more and since yours is proof it can be done. It may be a ELB yet.  ;D

Thanks.
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: xin on March 29, 2010, 05:02:36 am
Never made an Osage ELB, but this one makes me want to try it.  Looks like a smooth shooter..  Very nice  work.
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Pappy on March 29, 2010, 07:34:07 am
Beautiful bow,very nice work. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Dean Marlow on March 29, 2010, 08:49:33 am
Thanks guys for all the nice compliments on the bow. This was a real good piece of Osage that came from a large diameter tree. It was really straight grained and was knot free which  helped. I got a piece of high priced Yew I want to try someday but want to do a couple more of these before I work on the good Yew stave. Dean
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Rod on March 29, 2010, 12:54:32 pm
Why black anyway? Only relatively recent LB's (of the last couple of centuries, lawn archery and sporting bows would have black buffalo horn tips).
The traditional bow would have used cow horn which can be variegated, half and half, streaked or plain, brown cream, grey, white, transparent, most anything except plain black.
Nothing wrong with using deer horn if that's what you have, the bow after all is osage not yew, so why worry about faking the appearance of black buffalo nocks?

Bit stiff in the lower limb, better at full draw than at brace?

Rod.

Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: VenomBOWslinger on March 30, 2010, 01:59:13 am
Good bow man ELB are fun and simple to make but I have had a few that have gave me a pain in the neck...maybe due to them exploding..lol  Nice bow!

Russ
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: shamus on March 31, 2010, 09:03:57 am
sweet!
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: PeteC on March 31, 2010, 08:59:40 pm
Nice bow Dean.I'll bet it is a sweet shooter. God Bless
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: venisonburger on April 01, 2010, 06:58:00 pm
Nice bow, I've never shot an english longbow, do they shoot smooth? I guess I'll have to do a little research on these and try one.
VB
Title: Re: Osage Orange English Longbow
Post by: Dean Marlow on April 01, 2010, 08:17:43 pm
Venisonburger this one shoots real smooth. I am not used to bows this long which probably helps as far as smoothness. Also it seems I am more accurate which probably has something to do with the length also.The bottom limb was taking some set on me so I put a little heat to the bottom limb and it has gotten rid of the set so far. I think it will come in pretty even when I shoot it a few more times. Dean