Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: richardzane on June 02, 2013, 06:26:14 pm

Title: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: richardzane on June 02, 2013, 06:26:14 pm
my latest hackberry, 48#, selfnocks, 65 1/2" ntn,  2 1/8" at the widest. Was dryheat reflexed, tips were steam bent.
yeah, it took a little set, but its also been very HUMID here in OKL, even as its been cooler than normal.
Just working on getting the basics down, trying to make both bows and arrows from foraging materials on the property here.
thanks for letting me share. My wife was standing just slightly off center when she took the profile shot,but i hope it reads ok.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: Don on June 02, 2013, 06:39:18 pm
I think it looks good. Nice job.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: TRACY on June 02, 2013, 06:56:19 pm
Man, that's a dandy looking bow! Very nicely done and well tillered.

Tracy
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: k-hat on June 02, 2013, 07:19:01 pm
Nothin wrong with that!  Spot-on tiller and lovely curves ;)
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: CORIUS on June 02, 2013, 07:24:07 pm
Thats one beautiful bow!!!
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: ssgtchad on June 02, 2013, 07:38:33 pm
You did your ancestors proud :laugh:
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: Squirrelslayer on June 02, 2013, 08:12:57 pm
Love the shape of the tips and the contours of the handle.  SS
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: blackhawk on June 02, 2013, 08:13:51 pm
winner winner chicken dinner.....perfect for ole hackberry  ;)  :)
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: richardzane on June 02, 2013, 08:31:21 pm
hey , thanks for the comments! forgot to mention its a 28" draw.
i'm enjoying breaking it in with recent made shoot arrows.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: Pat B on June 02, 2013, 08:52:39 pm
Sweet bow. Full draw tells it all.  8)
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 02, 2013, 09:26:00 pm
Nice stick!
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: CherokeeKC on June 02, 2013, 09:35:10 pm
Looks a touch better than "basic" ;)
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: HickoryBill on June 02, 2013, 10:34:59 pm
Awesome bow..I love them simple basic bows!
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: PeteC on June 02, 2013, 10:43:15 pm
That's a very nice bow. When you live in places with high humidity,even with a great tiller,you're still liable to have a little set,but you know what? It does'nt make enough difference to worry about. I live in east Texas,and I still enjoy building and hunting with whitewoods,(that set a little because of moisture),but they still kill game just as dead as my osage bows do. ;) Good job on that hackberry. God bless
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: osage outlaw on June 02, 2013, 10:58:20 pm
That's one of the nicest looking hackberry bows I have ever seen.  Great job on it.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: richardzane on June 02, 2013, 11:00:27 pm
thanks for the comments!
this one came from a large windfall hackberry. felt good bow staves could be cut from it and it "lives on"
Some people might roll their eyes and shake their heads, but us traditionalists will talk to the tree in our native languages.
We'll often use the term brother (he'eye'an in Wyandot) .It can come with us and be made into something that might last generations.
its not hard to point to others(trees) around that died before they even reached maturity,and at times it helps us a little too as well as we approach
cutting down a healthy tree for our use. We always say "tizhameh!"  (Thanks) , because in many cases there is a kind of sacrifice.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: BowEd on June 02, 2013, 11:01:22 pm
Rreally nice hackberry there Richard.I like it.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: lostarrow on June 02, 2013, 11:11:47 pm
 Good stuff!  I feel that, if what we make from a tree lasts as long or longer than that tree took to grow, then we're doing alright. Helps to slow you down  and think about what you are doing. Sustainable resources.  I just found a bunch of Hackberry at a friend's inlaws.  Might have to try some one day.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: Hrothgar on June 02, 2013, 11:17:18 pm
Very nice, looks like a sweeeet shooter.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: okie64 on June 02, 2013, 11:43:54 pm
Great looking hackberry bow! Its great bow wood.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: Badly Bent on June 02, 2013, 11:58:45 pm
Thats one clean and smooth looking bow. I think you must have taken great care in the shaping, tillering and finishing of that hackberry bow, sure looks like it. Real fine bow there. :)
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: mwosborn on June 03, 2013, 12:46:36 am
I like the looks of that one!
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: H Rhodes on June 03, 2013, 04:09:41 am
Very nice.  That makes me want to cut some hackberry!  How does it shoot?
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: Pappy on June 03, 2013, 07:42:25 am
Good looking bow,very nice job. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: PaulN/KS on June 03, 2013, 08:44:40 am
An elegant bow Sir. Hackberry is a great bow wood for us folks out here in the middle of the mid-west.
Nice looking dog in the background too... :D
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: SLIMBOB on June 03, 2013, 09:03:45 am
Nice one.  Love Hackberry.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: richardzane on June 03, 2013, 09:25:24 am
hrhodes,
it's a good shooter and seems snappier than my earlier attempts w/ hackberry, maybe as a result of heat treating?
as i'm shooting over fist, the handle maybe COULD be a little narrower in width, for "aim" , seems i'm aiming "lower" to get tight patterns.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: dwardo on June 03, 2013, 09:47:10 am
Great stuff Dell  8) Looks very fast.

Keep meaning to go grab some more hazel but it seems tricky to find something substantial without branches or damage.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: Buffalogobbler on June 03, 2013, 11:05:58 am
Nice lookin' bow, the tiller looks great!

Kevin
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: coaster500 on June 03, 2013, 12:11:44 pm
I like it sweet and simply....  very well done!!!
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: ohma2 on June 03, 2013, 12:42:40 pm
man what a great lookin bow that is in all respects, just eye candy.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: Carson (CMB) on June 03, 2013, 01:58:32 pm
That is sweet! I really like that design.   8)
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: rps3 on June 03, 2013, 02:11:49 pm
Looks good.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: danny f on June 03, 2013, 04:28:20 pm
thats a beautiful bow. full draw says it all nice job.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: BowJunkie on June 03, 2013, 09:06:25 pm
Another fine looking bow there Mr. Zane
If I may ask,, what radius did you use to flip those tips?
The reason I ask, I have 24 staves of hack berry from a tree I cut down back in November.
All are in roughed out dimensions " wide / thick", and have taken very small amounts of twist, if any. I am just taking notes, so when I start making bows again. Any input working with hack berry would be greatly appreciated.
Keep up the good work.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: toomanyknots on June 03, 2013, 10:12:14 pm
Wow, really fine bow. I like the nocks.
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: richardzane on June 03, 2013, 11:03:24 pm
appreciate the comments, everyone, they encourage alot.

BowJunkie,
I wasn't very scientific at all. :)
here is a pic of the form i bent it on it. no geometric measurements
just bent a long steel ruler to get a penciled curve that seemed "good enough"

mine have ALL had some twists too. I straighten those using dry heat some days after steam bending of the tips. I made a wooden wrench-like tool, heat the limb till it finally bends further than i want it, and just hold it there till its cool. so far thats been enough to fix the twist, but i've only made about 15 bows so i'm still learnin in the school of hardknots!
Title: Re: 48#basic no-frills hackberry
Post by: Josh B on June 04, 2013, 01:05:10 am
Nicely done sir!  That is very nicely done!  Josh