Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Stickhead on January 19, 2013, 02:07:40 pm

Title: Osage branch bow
Post by: Stickhead on January 19, 2013, 02:07:40 pm
There's nothing fancy about this one, it's about a simple as they come.  The challenge was that this came from the skinny half of a 3" diameter branch with some bends in it, so I didn't have much wood to work with.  I'd been passing the stave over for years, figuring I couldn't find a bow in it.  I finally started carving, chased the outermost heartwood ring and had just enough wood to work.  However, the handle area was only about 3/4" thick, which made it slightly bendy, so I couldn't build it up with solid wood without it popping off.  I got the idea to use cork from a helpful suggestion here on the site, and that worked out just fine.

It's 65 lbs @ 26", 61" nock-to-nock, 1 3/4" wide tapering down to 3/8".  I put on a simple jute wrap, leather rest and a turtle scale for a strike plate.  I died it with red mahogany, which gives it sort of a pre-aged look.

It's my new best shooter, so I started hunting with it right away.  Low and behold, it's already put meat on the table, thanks to our late deer season, so I'm happy as a clam.


Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: Stickhead on January 19, 2013, 02:08:52 pm
money shots here...
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: ionicmuffin on January 19, 2013, 02:24:28 pm
what a beautiful bow! i like how its not really complex, simple design, simple look. Makes it look elegant!
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: SLIMBOB on January 19, 2013, 02:30:29 pm
Very nice!  Love the bow!
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: bubby on January 19, 2013, 02:36:43 pm
the last pic is the real money shot, nice bow, bub
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: DGF on January 19, 2013, 02:39:08 pm
Great bow and congrats on making meat with it so quickly!

-Dan
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: lesken2011 on January 19, 2013, 02:40:29 pm
Congrats on the harvest. Nice looking bow....and apparently a nice shooting one too!! ;)
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: burchett.donald on January 19, 2013, 02:55:39 pm
  Stickhead,
                     You say your as happy as a clam? You should be cause that's a pearl of a bow. I think that scale is from a box turtle?
                                                 Don         
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: Zion on January 19, 2013, 02:59:33 pm
thats a great bow in every way, an obviously you put it to good use  :D
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: dragonman on January 19, 2013, 04:30:06 pm
thats a beautifull bow....nice work
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: blackhawk on January 19, 2013, 05:04:47 pm
Nice meatmaker..literally..... congrats
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: osage outlaw on January 19, 2013, 05:31:06 pm
Nice bow.  I like the color of it.
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: StickMan47 on January 19, 2013, 07:11:51 pm
Very nice. If I manage to make my first Osage bow half that nice I'd be happy!!
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: ionicmuffin on January 19, 2013, 07:15:20 pm
i know what you mean stick man! plus for me i only have one osage stave, so i have a low likelihood of making an epic bow with my current skillz, i think ill wait a bit before digging it ><
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: toomanyknots on January 19, 2013, 07:41:56 pm
Thats really a nice bow.
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: Will H on January 19, 2013, 08:57:56 pm
That is just great fella! Nice bow, nice doe! Well done ;)
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: TRACY on January 19, 2013, 09:42:05 pm
Dandy bow and broke in to boot! Well done!


Tracy
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: seabass on January 19, 2013, 10:09:45 pm
great job all the way around.
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: Badly Bent on January 20, 2013, 12:34:33 am
Nice bow Stickhead and it proved its self in the field already which makes it doubly nice and a keeper for sure. ;)
Greg
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: Bowman on January 20, 2013, 05:32:15 am
Nice and simple. Clean and elegant. Nice tiller and great craftmanship. Like it. :-)
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: simson on January 20, 2013, 05:41:01 am
Great bow! Simple and nice. great stain job too, I never could do this with fresh osage for som reason ...

Simon
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: PaulN/KS on January 20, 2013, 07:53:59 am
Great looking bow. You really got the most out of your material and did a fine job with the finish.
Congratulations on the doe too.
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: H Rhodes on January 20, 2013, 09:19:11 am
Outstanding!  That's the way to break in a new one!! :D
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: Stickhead on January 20, 2013, 12:06:21 pm
Thanks for all the kind words, y'all.  By the way, you can't tell from the pic, but that's actually a large buck that had just shed his antlers.  Freezer's full.  The wall can wait.
Title: Re: Osage branch bow
Post by: Sidewinder on January 20, 2013, 06:50:49 pm
Nice bow and good job on the meat making.   Danny