Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: PEARL DRUMS on June 09, 2012, 03:01:02 pm

Title: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 09, 2012, 03:01:02 pm
This bow was built from a 3" HHB sapling I cut April 31st. Its 63" ntn, 1 1/4" wide straight tapering to 7/16" tips of bloodwood. The grip is deer skin a friend gave me. I had to build the back of the handle up with leather and glue to get a grip formed. The bow was tempered and holds about 1 1/4" reflex after several hundred shots now. It was a bit challenging to tiller with the bottom limb being highly crowned while the upper was virtually flat. You can see the lower took about 1/8-1/4" more set as a result, but thats sapling bows for ya'! It finished at 51# @ 27" and flat spits my boo shafts. I went with an 8 strand D97 string. Blackhawk has the other half of the sapling......but I have the "Better Half".... :P

Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: osage outlaw on June 09, 2012, 03:07:14 pm
I like it.  When I first read your title, I thought you made a bow for the wife  ;D
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: Bevan R. on June 09, 2012, 03:12:05 pm
Sweet looking stick. I hope mine comes out halfway as good! :laugh:
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: coaster500 on June 09, 2012, 03:52:24 pm
Nice Drums!! My favorite design long and lean :) They seem to be the most shooter friendly for me...  what do you need so I can trade ya out of a chunk of HHB ...  I'd like to try some :)
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: lesken2011 on June 09, 2012, 04:43:09 pm
That does it. I'm going to the lumber store on Monday morning for some Bloodwood. Nice bow Pearl. I really like those tips!!
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: ErictheViking on June 09, 2012, 07:14:46 pm
I like it.  When I first read your title, I thought you made a bow for the wife  ;D
I thought the same thing. sweet bow there PD.


Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: criveraville on June 09, 2012, 07:35:57 pm
Ditto about thinking it was for the wife... Looks like a fine shooter Pearly..

Cipriano
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: wvarcher on June 09, 2012, 09:53:40 pm
Sweet bow.  It's always exciting to see a sapling bow.  Nice looking handle. 
thanks for the pics.
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: George Tsoukalas on June 09, 2012, 11:41:02 pm
Wow! You do good work! You are turning them out fast. Jawge
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: Will H on June 10, 2012, 12:20:49 am
Nice one pearly ;)
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 10, 2012, 10:34:54 am
Thanks for all the comments guys. This is one of my recent favorites. Its a great shooter and really zips.

Wifey bought me a NEW camera last night! Hopefully my pics get better. My last was 3.5 mp, this one is 14 mp! WOW does it take clear, colorful pics. Even my camera was primitive.........Im hardcore......
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: mikekeswick on June 10, 2012, 01:32:00 pm
Nice. I like! :)
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: blackhawk on June 10, 2012, 06:54:06 pm
Ya just couldnt wait for me to finish mine to post yours(its ok tho,i had fun in the wilderness)  :P...give me a few days n ill have the lesser half done cus you do have the better half ;)
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: osage outlaw on June 10, 2012, 07:36:37 pm
If your bow look as good as they do at 3.5 mp, I can't wait to see what they look like at 14  :o
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: TRACY on June 10, 2012, 08:06:48 pm
Love the white woods! Well done!

Tracy
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: frankherk on June 10, 2012, 08:07:37 pm
Very nice! How did you get dried so fast?
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 10, 2012, 08:18:27 pm
I roughed it out two days after it was cut. The sat in outside in the sun and wind every day I could for three weeks. Then it rode around in my truck for 3 days or so. Tempering drives out moisture as well.
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: Arrowind on June 10, 2012, 08:24:02 pm
Very nice bow!  Good work!
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: Judo Point on June 11, 2012, 03:14:25 am
Nice job as usual Pearlie!!! And that's amazing how quick ya got it done too! Looking forward to seeing Blackhawks as well.
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: gstoneberg on June 11, 2012, 04:21:42 am
Very nice!  Someday I'm gonna try HHB, must be very good stuff.

George
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: Pappy on June 11, 2012, 07:42:45 am
Good looking bow,very nice job. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: Josh B on June 11, 2012, 10:57:17 am
That's a beauty Pearly!  Those tips give it just the right splash of color.  Josh
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: Sidewinder on June 11, 2012, 11:02:35 am
Nice. Your a bow making machine Pearl drums. I have one HHB I got from Marc Stlouis. It is very good bow wood.  Danny
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 11, 2012, 11:16:53 am
Very nice!  Someday I'm gonna try HHB, must be very good stuff.

George

George I made the most of what I had with this small sapling. It turned out the same size I would lay out an osage bow. It performs similarly and works almost the same. I love it and it has taken second place away from hackberyy for me. King Osage and his Queen HHB are tops for me.
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: Carson (CMB) on June 11, 2012, 11:28:53 am
Nice bow.  I love seeing hunting weight bows from saplings.  And now i want to try the queen HHB. 
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: Buckeye Guy on June 11, 2012, 03:39:19 pm
Carefull Pearly
One good bow does not make it the Queen of woods
She is a little to expolsive to get my vote !
Nice job on this one anyway !
Take care and have fun !
Guy
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 11, 2012, 03:40:18 pm
Guy I will make you three osage bows of your chosing when this one explodes buddy! Dont let me forget!
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: gstoneberg on June 11, 2012, 03:54:12 pm
George I made the most of what I had with this small sapling. It turned out the same size I would lay out an osage bow. It performs similarly and works almost the same. I love it and it has taken second place away from hackberyy for me. King Osage and his Queen HHB are tops for me.

I agree.  Sadly, I'm embarassed to say I've only made bows of mulberry, osage and yew (and only a couple of the latter).  I have no idea how many bows that represents, but almost all were osage.  I've never seen a need to use any other wood.  I only have a King of bow woods...no queen. :-[  However, now I'm beginning to want to try some other woods.  Unfortunately my new addiction, flint knapping, has really, really impacted my bow making time.  I have nice staves of English yew, crepe myrtle, elm, ash and honey locust sitting there waiting for me to start on them and I walk right by them and pick up an old rock.  Who'd a thunk...??

George
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 11, 2012, 04:07:49 pm
George the way I see it if I can make a 50# plus whitewood bow 66" long and 1 1/4" wide, its got to be very good wood.
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: Buckeye Guy on June 11, 2012, 05:36:12 pm
I ain't holding my breath on that one Pearl
it looks like a good one to me !
I will soon forget anyway !
Guy
my wife says its been over 20 years since I have had one explode on me so how wood I remember anyway wich wood is what !
Carry on !
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: KHalverson on June 11, 2012, 10:51:26 pm
pearl

looks great
I'm amazed at how ya can turn out a bow in what seems like no time
Title: Re: HHB American longbow - "Better Half"
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 12, 2012, 11:18:00 am
Thanks Kevin. I get accused of being a speedster, Im far from that. For me its simple. I make a plan, stick to it and dont second guess every sliver I remove. I dont get caught up in the "if's, "and's" or "but's" that we get bombed with all day. Just build a bow buddy! Its really a VERY simpple thing to do if we dont let it get over complicated. Its simply evenly bending wood. Thats it!