Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Slackbunny on May 21, 2012, 06:26:14 pm

Title: Knotty Birch Bow (Better pics added, plus squirrel fur grip)
Post by: Slackbunny on May 21, 2012, 06:26:14 pm
This bow was... a process. Its been several months in the making. It snapped once on the tillering board close to the tip and sent a few pieces flying, but I was able to salvage a shorter bow out of it. Good thing I left it really long to start. I heat treated for string alignment and for limb twist. It still has a good deal of twist but it seems to really want to be a bow. The tiller isn't perfect, but thats mainly due to having to work around all the knots.

I was a little lazy removing the bark and cambium, but it actually gave it kind of a cool naturual camo look, so I decided to keep it.

It finished out to 56 pounds at 28". Its 65" tip to tip, and 1 3/4" wide at the fades. I have to say I am shocked that this turned into a bow, I thought for sure it was going to blow up. I've put a couple dozen arrows through it and it shoots nice, buts its no screamer. Still, it might be my favorite one so far.


(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/DSC00173.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/DSC00168.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/DSC00175.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/DSC00169.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/DSC00170.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/DSC00171.jpg)
Title: Re: Knotty Birch Bow
Post by: dwardo on May 22, 2012, 06:58:18 am
Cool looking bow. Looks like its taken a bit of follow?. Lets have a full draw shot from a more side on view ;)
Title: Re: Knotty Birch Bow
Post by: Pappy on May 22, 2012, 07:37:16 am
Nice job on a challenging piece of wood,good save.  :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Knotty Birch Bow
Post by: tattoo dave on May 22, 2012, 08:23:54 am
Way cool stick! That looks like a real tough one. Nothin wrong with a little set, or string follow on a piece of wood like that. I'd be happy with it. Keep up the good work.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: Knotty Birch Bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on May 22, 2012, 09:55:54 am
Very  nice! Nice job on a challenging stave. Jawge
Title: Re: Knotty Birch Bow
Post by: Del the cat on May 22, 2012, 01:23:59 pm
Ain't pretty, but it's cool.
Del
Title: Re: Knotty Birch Bow
Post by: Slackbunny on May 22, 2012, 03:48:23 pm
It has definitely taken a bit of set, but I'm totally cool with that given what I had to work with. I'm just happy it didn't blow up on me. I plan on wrapping the handle with a squirrel hide that I'm in the middle of tanning.

Sorry for the poor angle at full draw, my girlfriend was in a mood and didn't want to stand around taking pictures of me :'( . I'll try to get a better one up soon, but I'm without a camera at the moment.
Title: Re: Knotty Birch Bow
Post by: Slackbunny on May 28, 2012, 03:19:20 pm
Here are some much better pictures, and I added a few full draws to make sure I got all angles covered. Plus I added squirel fur to the riser. I tanned the hides myself and I am quite pleased with the look.

(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/Birch%20Bow/IMG_0094.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/Birch%20Bow/IMG_0095.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/Birch%20Bow/IMG_0099.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/Birch%20Bow/IMG_0096.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/Birch%20Bow/IMG_0102.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/Birch%20Bow/IMG_0101.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/Birch%20Bow/IMG_0100.jpg)
Title: Re: Knotty Birch Bow (Better pics added, plus squirrel fur grip)
Post by: gstoneberg on May 28, 2012, 03:28:31 pm
Pretty impressive! I'm afraid I'd have made firewood of that one. Good work.

George