Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: hedgeapple on September 10, 2010, 03:18:33 am
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I made this bow for a close friend and hunting companion of 30+ years. Brian has been supporting my bow building addiction for the last 2 years with wood, sinew, cane and feathers and will probably continue to do so for the next 30 years.
I cut this osage from my neighbor's farm. While it was very straight piece, the longest I could get a stave was 62". No problem, I like bows a bit on the shorter side. I chose one stave to make a board from, actually I got two quarter sawn boards from it. I'd had been wanting to try a hickory backed osage, thinking this combination would yeild a bow with the best properties from both woods. One bow I laid out as lazy pyramid, other as parrellel limb design. Then I realized that Brian's draw length was 29" Head scratching time. The bow would be 61" ntn, 7" stiff handle, leaving the working limbs a mere 27" to get a 29" draw. The bow needed to be of hunting weight 50-55#. Did I meantion this would be my 4th bow and my first attempt at a laminate bow. I was optimistic and gave myself a 50/50 chance of pulling it off.
Specs:
61" ntn
29" at 53#
1.6" at fades
stiff handle
hickory backed osage
1/2" tips
cow horn tip overlays
antler combination arrow rest strike plate
rat snake backing (the rat snake took up residence in the wrong cabin. He was tollerated until sheds were found under the pillow of Brian's bed)
Riser is walnut over hickory.
Stain is ebony and red mahogany on the hickory backing; 5 coats of linseed on the osage belly. 2 coats of poly over all of the bow.
1 1/2" inch of glued in reflex, finished 3/4" after unstring with 3/8" of set afte an hour of rest.
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I thought the handle was too pretty to cover with a leather wrap. After much thought I came up with this arrow rest/strike plate design that I thought would accent the bow. Brian is a newby to traditional bows. Shooting off the fist might be inconsistant for him at this point.
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I Love it! Great Job.
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Full draw on tiller tree and Brian pulling the bow. I'm not sure Brian is getting the full 29" at this point
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Thanks NTD
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Beautiful bow,tiller looks great as dose the finish work,he should love that. :)
Pappy
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Dave, the tiller looks very fast on that bow. The bow looks well balanced in the hand even with the bow canted in the full draw picture. The finish work, arrows and pictures all look very nice. Well done. ;)
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He doesn't like rat snakes under his pillow?! The poor guy was probably just looking to cuddle!
Very good looking bow, great work!
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I agree, the tiller looks very good, like you've made the most of the working wood, probably shoots really well...
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Great looking bow with a wonderful tiller. Thanks for sharing!
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Very nicely done! A super bow, all around.
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gorgeous tiller!!
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Very nice bow!I'm sure he'll be happy with that one!
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Thanks everyone for your kind words. The bow shoots well and no handshock. It's really a rewarding experience to give a friend, who is a woodworker and hunter a bow you've poured your sweat and soul into. Brian is quite pleased with it.
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Full Draw Picture looks great....Brian ought to love that Bow!
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this has been said but ..very nice bow tiller is spot on
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Great looking bow, super tiller and will be a very durable hunting bow, I do like hickory and osage.
Jamie
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Nicest bow I have seen in a while, beautiful bow, excellent job!
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Thanks El Destructo, youngbowyer33, Jboyd and Ken 75. I have to admit than when I had it at 26" draw (my draw length) and it was pulling 55# with 3/4" reflex, it was very difficult to continue tillering to Brian's 29" draw. I had to take a nap and think about. I made the right choice. I still have the pyramid HBO to tiller for myself. :)
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That is one nice bow
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Very nice bow especially since it is your first laminate! Tiller and finish work are awesome. :) Bookmarked for Sept Backed Bow of the Month.
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Thanks Yeti and Josh.