Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: Sidewinder on October 17, 2007, 01:14:14 pm
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Is there anyone that comes on here thats in Kansas or northern Oklahoma? Would be nice to be able to find some guys that share the passion for wood bows like I do. I intend to begin building my own soon and can see that having that fellowship would be great.
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I'm probably a little far south (Central Oklahoma). I'm new also and now I can't seem to get enough on the subject. I've recently learned of a gathering near Stillwater OK called OJAM that's 20-23 March 2008. Don't know exactly where you are, but Stillwater (Home of the OSU Cowboys) is about 60 miles south of the OK/KS line down I-35 and back east on SH-51. The link to OJAM is:
http://www.ojam.org/
It also has maps showing the location (actually near a little town of Ripley). I've got it on the family calendar, so maybe we can gather there.
Otoe
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Thanks Otoe that sounds like fun. stillwater isn't too far. I'm in Derby which is 6mi SE of Wichita but we go to Ark City every weekend to camp on a lease we have. That will go on the calender for sure.
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Sidewinder - man your in sage country!!! I've driven up and down I-35 for years, and here recently have drooled all over myself in your area ;D. There's so many Bodark hederows out there - anyway I'd love ta bring a trailer and couple of chain saws............
You guys should try to make OJAM if ya get the chance next year! Lot's of experience there and comoraderie - you'll enjoy and learn a lot :).
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Cowboy: You're an animal. How could you possibly need more Osage after that posting a while back where you had a truck load? :o
OJAM is definitely on my "to do" list.
Hey Sidewinder: What about the Flint Hill region northeast of Wichita Any flint? :D
Otoe
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Cowboy, I've got the saw, 2 chains, file to sharpen on site, sledge, 2 wedges and permission to take what appears to be a choice tree to me ( just need the shelac and some help. I may go out there and take some pics and post them to see if everyone agrees that this is an exceptional Osage tree. Ever since I got into this and became convinced that Osage is the all around most durable bow wood I've been scouting out these hedge rows. Most of them are only twisted and gnarly from the stiff Ks wind but this one has been sheltered and is mature and looks like it may be hold many wonderful staves. whats funny about it is I kept saying that I wasn't gonna tackle Osage until I had more experience with easier woods and yet I find myself being drawn to it like a moth to the flame.
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Otoe, Definitely gonna try and make the Ojam sounds great. I havenet gotten into the knapping yet but I imagine that there is some flint out here hence the name flint hills. I might ask around and see what I can find out and get back to ya later.
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Otoe - I can never have too much wood ;D, It's the disease......
Sidewinder: do post some pic's, If ya can't find any good long one's ya could use billets instead. I did take a detour one time to check out the flint hills - stopped at a quarry off in there, they said their wasn't any but i could see some in the rock - didn't look like very good stuff.
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Hey Sidewinder. Check out the video on this post.
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,3756.0.html
The NFL used the same music for one of their commercials. When I first heard it, I thought it was the "Gathering of the Clans" from Braveheart. Same kind of Celtic fiddle. Both will stir your blood.
Otoe
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Hey Otoe, Good stuff. Braveheart is one of my alltime favorites. Just wish "the Bruce " would have grown a pair before they killed William Wallace not after. I think however that song is from Last of the Mohicans when they are chasing down the Hurons just before the best scene in the movie when the last Mohican (Dad) takes the bad guy out with his war ax. The first time I saw that one was in a theater and I lepted out of my seat and screamed " Yeeeeaaahhh" everyone else was just sitting there like bumps on a log....lol
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Sidewinder: You're right on the music, I think it's called "I Shall Return" or something like that. Both are good flicks.
Otoe
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I guess I should watch the credits to the video. "I will find you", Last of the Mohegans. Duhhhh. :-[
Otoe
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Sidewinder, I am in Wichita. I live in the S.E. part of town. How soon are you looking to tackle that tree?
Jeremy
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Hallelujah,.... woodbow1. I dunno when do you want to tackle it? I can get a truck but I think we need a trailer but maybe not. Depends on how many staves and billets we get out of her. I'm gonna go on record and guess that there will be 15 good staves and probably 20 billets. Now not that I have any experience at this but from the way I visualise it on the trunk and the primary mainbeam of the tree. Not saying that some others can't be coaxed from hiding, but the best two sections of the tree look exceptional. We shall see. Why don't you email me at outstandingautos@hotmail.com and I will give you my phone number and we can discuss it further.....Danny
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Oh by the way, I failed to mention that I'm in Derby.
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sent you an email.
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Cowboy...Otoe....we scored. Woodbow and I hooked up this weekend and harvested the most beautiful 18" diameter osage that you have ever seen. What an incredible experience. We will be posting pix and narrative this week as soon as its all formated. It absolutely exceeded our expectations and Woodbow is an awesome dude. I am just getting started in bow building and need to assemble some tools. Would like to trade for them if possible. Draw knife and whatever else I need. These splits are wonderful and I can't wait to get them to the bandsaw (somewhere) and get them into stave size.
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Awesome. Post pic's when you can. I've got my eye on a tree that I'm wanting to harvest as well. Time is what I'm lacking, but I hope I can get it cut before December.
Otoe
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Good deal sidewinder! Yeah, post pic's - I always like the gathering scene :).
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i live in tulsa. butch
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I live in Milford, about 10 miles north of Junction City.
Bish
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Ole Junction City put a 39-10 whoopin on Derby last night for state 6A playoffs in football. Hows things going up there? You guys giot some good woods up that way?
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we have a pretty good team this year, its been awhile...lol...prob since i was playing for them ;D. we do have some good woods up here, i live out here near Milford lake and if i could only learn how to identify trees i would prob be in hog heaven but i have no idea what im looking at.
Bish
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Well it's all a learning process isn't it? I have always been fascinated by plant life and geological formations wherever I go and I don't know very much, but now that I'm getting into bows and bow wood, I'm now motivated to learn to identify trees better. One things for sure I can tell a straight trunk from a crooked one and it seems to me that a guy can make a good bow out of about any wood if he uses the right design.
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That makes plenty of sense and you know ive seen some bows made and where they would put the kind of wood there is a question mark..so maybe one of the tricks is to learn what "kind" of wood makes a good bow, species aside. our county extension agent is a friend of mine so maybe i can go along on one of his bird counts and he can school me a little on trees. but its deff a learning process, i feel like a babe in the woods, literally..lol.
Bish
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Sidewinder, I live in Wichita but grew up in the country south of Mulvane. I make, shoot, and hunt with self bows and arrows. I am new to this chat stuff. I guess I kind of live in a cave. Let's talk. I've got access to good wood and endless amounts of river cane for arrows.
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Replied to your PM. I don't know many guys in this area that are into primitve. It will be good to get hooked up. I run the car lot in Derby next to the McDonalds on K-15. Bet you've been by there a hundred times....Look forward to seeing you. Danny
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I live in Kansas City, KS
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hey all. bishop, osage produces a large green fruit that looks kind of like an lumpy green grapefruit. commonly called a horse apple or hedge apple. you can spot these easily spot these on the tree in the summer and on the ground in the fall and most of winter. the trees themselves have a smooth dark brown to yellowish bark with lots of small knots with short thorns. cut into a branch and the orange colored heartwood will be there. sidewinder- i live in western ok. 80 mi west of okc.