Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: JW_Halverson on August 07, 2012, 08:19:34 pm

Title: Plain Jane
Post by: JW_Halverson on August 07, 2012, 08:19:34 pm
Since I reorganized the photobucket account I realized that a prior thread with this bow in the unfinished state wouldn't show the photos, so I thought I'd start a new thread with the finished photos added. 

Here's Plain Jane:

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/Bows/Jane/BirdsNBows014.jpg)
Doesn't she just look grape?

I left an extra growthring over the grip area because I had very little spare depth and I was worried it would not have a comfortable feel.(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/Bows/Jane/Hudsonsbayknives003.jpg)

Now with the deerskin wrap and the usual glass trade bead:
(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/Bows/Jane/BirdsNBows015.jpg)

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/Bows/Jane/BirdsNBows017.jpg)

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/Bows/Jane/BirdsNBows016.jpg)

Jane's got a little kink:
(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/Bows/Jane/Hudsonsbayknives002.jpg)

On the tillering stick with about 20" of draw
(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/Bows/Jane/BirdsNBows018.jpg)

And for some reason I don't have a full draw pic...gotta rectify that I suppose.


And now for some background on why I put those trade beads on all my bows.  The bead is what is called a "flat watermelon bead".  It's obvious from the outside, but on the inside the bead has stripes of white and red as well.  These beads were made on the island of Murano, part of the city of Venice, Italy.  Only one family of glassblowers made this style of bead for the trade.  These beads are almost 200 yrs old and have not been made for 140 years.  Some made their way over to North America as part of the fur trade, but a vast majority went to Africa as part of the Slave Trade.  This particular bead was part of a collection purchased from West Africa some time back and was very likely part of a transaction involving the purchase of human beings.  I tie one of these beads to every bow I make and explain the source to the new owner.  It's a lesson in true value, it is there to remind us that no matter what we sell our freedoms for it isn't enough.  Freedoms are too expensive to buy back once sold, and often once sold you will soon realize you have nothing but a handful of cheap beads. 
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 07, 2012, 09:12:52 pm
Slick bow J-dub
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: xin on August 07, 2012, 09:29:55 pm
Beautiful bow and great craftsmanship on  a difficult piece of wood.  Thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: Carson (CMB) on August 07, 2012, 09:30:44 pm
Jane looks nice in Plain.  Thanks for providing the background on those beads. 

How long is Jane?
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: lesken2011 on August 07, 2012, 09:47:43 pm
Plain is good!! Jane looks mighty good to me! :laugh:
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: jmshaust on August 07, 2012, 10:03:08 pm
Plain Jane is great bow, nice tiller built to shoot.
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: KHalverson on August 07, 2012, 10:10:08 pm
thats really nice!
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: johnston on August 07, 2012, 10:11:29 pm
Really like your work,sir. And might I add that it is great to see you posting them.

Deep on the beads, but I have come to expect no less from you. Thanks.

Lane
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: Arrowind on August 07, 2012, 11:24:41 pm
Sweet bow.  The simplicity is beautiful.
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: blackhawk on August 07, 2012, 11:51:03 pm
For some reason I got the lyrics from Velvet Undergrounds song "sweet jane" singing thru my head  8)
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: KellyG on August 08, 2012, 12:01:11 am
well I see nothing plane about that one.
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: Badly Bent on August 08, 2012, 12:10:10 am
I like that slightly kinky jane, knew some like her in the seventies. Sorry got sidetracked, oh yeah the bow is nice too, nice work, good tiller and I really like the handle work. Good lesson in the story behind the beads also.
Greg
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: Shaun on August 08, 2012, 12:29:51 am
Know what's wrong with that bow?    Nothing, absolutely nothing. Just my kinda bow, all function and nothing extra - well, the bead and story behind it maybe extra but in the good way. You can make my hunting bow any day!

PS - nice work around that clump of pin knots.
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: Oglala Bowyer on August 08, 2012, 12:44:38 am
Ain't nothing wrong with plain Jane's.  She's a beauty!  BTW, PM me your digits; might just stop by next time i'm in your neck of the woods.
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: okie64 on August 08, 2012, 01:33:00 am
Nice bow JW. Your handle work looks awesome. Never thought of leaving an extra ring on the back of the handle for thickness, might have to try that sometime.
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: coaster500 on August 08, 2012, 01:35:17 am
Nice JW :) 

Good lookin bend there ....
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: criveraville on August 08, 2012, 02:58:02 am
A real beauty. Well stated and thank you for the history lesson. Sad what freedom comes to represent for some. Even today.

Cipriano
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: H Rhodes on August 08, 2012, 03:09:08 am
Fine looking bow - nothing plain about her!    Thanks for posting - you build a fine bow JW.
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: Josh B on August 08, 2012, 03:22:15 am
Plain is good!   There's more to a bow than glueing on some exotic foo-fer-all.  Tiller, design  and execution count way higher by my standards.  This bow is top shelf in all those aspects.  Of course , I would expect no less from you JW.  Well done Sir!  Josh
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: bubby on August 08, 2012, 06:44:13 am
For some reason I got the lyrics from Velvet Undergrounds song "sweet jane" singing thru my head  8)
I was thinkin' of the lines of the Van Zant song, plain jane, she drive's me insane, i know i don't have to tell ya JW, but you build a fine bow, Bub
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: soy on August 08, 2012, 06:56:16 am
It is good to see your work dub...and the background story is worthy of praise ...fly free brother, fly free :D
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: JonW on August 08, 2012, 08:24:01 am
Nice work JW. Plain girls are more fun anyway ;)
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: Pappy on August 08, 2012, 08:42:16 am
Very nice bow well done,and very good story,so true. :) thanks for sharing. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: Steve Milbocker on August 08, 2012, 09:31:34 am
Beautiful!
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: country on August 08, 2012, 10:52:48 am
Very NICE!    Plain janes usually perform the best   ....  the beads are a good reminder for all!
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: Stringman on August 08, 2012, 11:16:15 am
Good lookin bow there Jdub! Sometimes the simple black dress is the belle of the ball. Way to knock it out of the park!!

Scott
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: ErictheViking on August 08, 2012, 12:30:42 pm
Great looking classic bow. simple, elegant.  nice story on the beads as well.
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: ken75 on August 08, 2012, 01:32:43 pm
very nice bow jw ! good to see your work finally
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: osage outlaw on August 08, 2012, 05:19:07 pm
Very nice bow Mr. JW.  Thanks for posting some of your work.  And thanks for the explanation of the bead.
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: JW_Halverson on August 08, 2012, 10:26:46 pm
Thanks everyone for the kind comments.  The stave came from Osage Outlaw, so he has to take some of the blame.

When I first started 10 years ago I wanted to splice siyas, do horn bellies, sinewed everything in sight, the wilder the better.  Eventually all that settled down and I decided to go back to the simple designs and work on better tillering, better design, better execution. 

I love chasing rings, finding the bow design in the wood, and the finish work of sanding and stitching handles.  Tillering still hangs me up, though.
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: osage outlaw on August 08, 2012, 11:30:59 pm
Was that the belly split you got off of that stave?
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: JW_Halverson on August 08, 2012, 11:38:03 pm
Nope, this was a stave I got a while back from you, was originally meant to be an ELB. 
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: JW_Halverson on August 24, 2012, 07:08:38 pm
Finally full draw photos got taken.  Isaac stopped by and willingly posed with the bow. 

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/Bows/Jane/Picture008.jpg)

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/Bows/Jane/Picture009.jpg)
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: bubby on August 24, 2012, 07:12:08 pm
about time, nice bend jdub, Bub
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: osage outlaw on August 24, 2012, 07:17:22 pm
That tiller is nice  :o
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: SLIMBOB on August 24, 2012, 07:55:02 pm
Really nice!  Love the bend and the beads.
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: spyder1958 on September 08, 2012, 11:42:21 am
Looks great John, can't wait to do some osage.
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: SA on September 08, 2012, 03:02:40 pm
looks real good , nothin wrong with plain especially with a good tiller like that.
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: Ifrit617 on September 08, 2012, 03:08:51 pm
Looks great JW, you grouping any better with her yet?  ;D ;D Beautiful bend.

Jon
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: Sidewinder on September 08, 2012, 04:10:30 pm
Hey JW,
I am in and out on the site and missed this when you posted it. Nice job. I don't remember seeing very many of your bows, so it was nice to see some of your work. Danny
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: Del the cat on September 08, 2012, 05:34:57 pm
Sweet bow, clean and simple.
I bet that spits out an arra.
Del
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: k-hat on September 08, 2012, 07:10:11 pm
Good on ya JW!  i really like a girl who looks that good without all the makeup ;)  Simple is a better word than plain I think, cause she's a beauty!
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: iowabow on September 08, 2012, 11:34:30 pm
Great bow love the story on the beads
Title: Re: Plain Jane
Post by: BowEd on September 09, 2012, 12:44:58 pm
Sweet looking bow J dub.Very fine job.I should be the one putting beads on my bows with the name beadman.The reason I gave myself the name is because of all of the beadwork I've done on brain tan leather.Good talk about the history of beads.That has to be coming from a buckskinner to know that.Just goes to show beauty is more than skin deep on this bow.