Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: blackhawk on December 11, 2013, 06:48:32 pm

Title: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: blackhawk on December 11, 2013, 06:48:32 pm
Ive got a bad case of longbowitis  8) Heres one I finished up and made over thanksgiving weekend(one of two made)...its rawhide backed ERC...74" ntn...19.6 ounces...horn tips...it has the same décor on the back of the rawhide as the one I made for my daughter...its exactly the same as that bow except in a daddy version  ;)  8) ..I never measured the weight on this one..but it feels like its in the mid to upper fifties at 27"....a lovely smooth,quiet,hard hitting,and accurate bow .....thanks for looking....the lighting outside was dismal(sorry),but the weather hasn't been very cooperative as of late here ...sorry bout the grey fuzzy dark pics  :-\

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1464.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1464.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1471.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1471.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1472.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1472.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1473.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1473.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1482.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1482.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1485.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1485.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1487.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1487.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1491.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1491.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1493.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1493.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: IdahoMatt on December 11, 2013, 06:58:14 pm
That looks great man.  Looks like a smooth accurate shooter.  It should be fun to shoot the daddy version for with your daughter.  I can't wait to shoot with my son.  I have a couple of nephews that I get to shoot with.  But my own should be just great.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Mohawk13 on December 11, 2013, 07:00:59 pm
Nice looking bow. Dig the red cedar bows..
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Hillbilly on December 11, 2013, 07:21:28 pm
That's a fine looking bow.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: bow101 on December 11, 2013, 07:30:14 pm
Very nice Black as usual,  is eastern cedar much harder than western.  I don't recall ever seeing any eastern cedar here in the west coast.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: SLIMBOB on December 11, 2013, 07:30:34 pm
Very nice Sir.  Looks silky smooth.  I like the wintery background BTW.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: osage outlaw on December 11, 2013, 07:35:32 pm
Very nice BH.  Our weather is about the same as yours.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Danzn Bar on December 11, 2013, 07:46:43 pm
Very nice bow Chris............didn't you guys cut some cedar at Moontree?  is that some of it?
DBar
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Sasquatch on December 11, 2013, 08:01:11 pm
Very nice bow!  This post gives me hope for all the ERC I have in the garage.  I was getting discouraged about ERC because my last rawhide backed ERC broke last week.  But Yours is tillered much better. Great job I learned a little from this post about the width of the outer limbs. Thanks Blackhawk.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: PatM on December 11, 2013, 08:02:13 pm
 BH,
Great cedar longbow. Rawhide really looks nice on it too.

 Bow101. The western counterpart of ERC is Rocky Mountain or Ashe Juniper depending on if you are North or South on the West Coast.
 They will all hybridize at mid-range where they overlap.
 You may be thinking of the more well known Western Red Cedar which isn't the same family.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Badger on December 11, 2013, 08:05:01 pm
 Classy looking bow, you have a great eye for tiller.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: blackhawk on December 11, 2013, 08:29:06 pm
Thanks for the compliments guys...it means alot coming from my peers and elders,and its always appreciated :)

Matt that's the plan ;) when she shoots with me we will shoot our erc longbows together ;)

Bill we didn't cut any but Greg brought a bunch that he traded with me,and this bow is from that batch....some of the best ERC I've ever seen....excellent wood


Sasquatch ERC needs to be tillered very carefully...and its not about just achieving a perfect full draw,and its everything you do before that...the rules of tillering need to be strictly and faithfully followed with lots of exercising teaching it how to bend
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: nclonghunter on December 11, 2013, 08:30:17 pm
Goregeous!
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: adb on December 11, 2013, 08:33:03 pm
Nicely done, as usual!
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Badly Bent on December 11, 2013, 08:48:31 pm
Real nice and that rawhide looks as natural as a sapwood back on that bow. Smooth bender too,







Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Buckeye Guy on December 11, 2013, 09:06:30 pm
Since I gave you such a hard time on the last one I will let Chief Pappy decide on this one !
Good to see ya playing and explosive wood as well !!
Fun stuff right there
Guy
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Arrowind on December 11, 2013, 09:26:27 pm
Duuuuuuude.....that is so sweet!   Great job on the construction.  Tiller looks excellent and what beautiful wood!   The rawhide looks cool and I like the design you drew on it!  Top notch as always man!
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Carson (CMB) on December 11, 2013, 09:27:00 pm
That looks like a real nice piece of ERC! Nice bend.  You have are going to spread that longbowitis all over this place if you keep it up ;)
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: rps3 on December 11, 2013, 09:30:05 pm
That's a pretty bow, and looks to be bending just right.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: okie64 on December 11, 2013, 09:33:33 pm
Great lookin bow and tiller bh! Did you have to thin the sapwood? Ive cut erc with super thin sapwood and some that had sapwood halfway through the tree. It seems to have more sapwood/heartwood variance than any other tree species Ive cut.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: blackhawk on December 11, 2013, 09:49:55 pm
Thanks amigos :)

Longbowitis is a good thing Carson ;)

Okie I did thin the sapwood down quite a bit and pretty much followed one ring....the sapwood is about ~1- 1 1/4" thick on this stuff
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Will H on December 11, 2013, 09:51:15 pm
Man o man! That's a classic right there! You pulled that off nicely!!
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: burn em up chuck on December 11, 2013, 10:19:51 pm
    wow, well done, from what i here hard to do w/touchy wood

                                                             chuck
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: DuBois on December 11, 2013, 10:27:35 pm
Man that is really nice! In a weekend!!  :o
I don't know how you do it and probably never will. Never saw the little bow but it must be awesome as well.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Bryce on December 11, 2013, 10:32:08 pm
(Hides his longbow)

Very nice bluebeak ;D
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Pat B on December 11, 2013, 10:53:33 pm
Nice Chris. Very classic indeed.  8)
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: wapiti1997 on December 11, 2013, 11:00:50 pm
Nice looking bow Chris! Cedar is a beautiful wood!
 
I have roughed out a couple of cedar staves but not touched them since.  I don't want to back mine..

I think you ended up with a few of the cedar staves I brought to moontree as well, mine was really tight ringed.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: TimBo on December 12, 2013, 12:12:46 am
Mmmmm...nice.  Some day I am going to make one like that.  I need to get a lot better first though. 
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: hedgeapple on December 12, 2013, 12:28:45 am
Great bow there, my friend.  Man, I gotta get in the shop and make a stick bend.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Josh B on December 12, 2013, 12:53:36 am
Bout time you posted this!  I been chompin' at the bit to see this one.  I reckon it was worth the wait.  Lol!  Josh
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: chamookman on December 12, 2013, 06:06:55 am
Great lookin' Bow Chris ! Bob
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on December 12, 2013, 07:29:03 am
Cool bow. And yah, it is a big version of your daughters bow! Pretty cool for her I bet.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Pappy on December 12, 2013, 07:29:13 am
Beautiful bow Chris,very nice work. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Gsulfridge on December 12, 2013, 07:48:55 am
Man, that's purdy!!!!  I may be able to "acquire" more of that same stuff, but it will be a little more difficult now.  Bring that bow to the Classic or Moontree so we can get an up close look at it.  Nice job man!!
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: TRACY on December 12, 2013, 07:58:53 am
Real nice work Chris! What , no shorts? >:D


Tracy
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: paulsemp on December 12, 2013, 08:01:31 am
That's a beauty for sure!
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Parnell on December 12, 2013, 08:57:33 am
Chris, that is a standout.  It's always good to ERC bows and I like your take on it...leaving it long and giving it legs.  It looks REALLY healthy.  Classy girl right there.  Super job.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: RyanR on December 12, 2013, 09:03:03 am
Beautiful bow. I like the color contrast. You should bring that bow to Marshall. I have my eye on some erc I may cut this spring.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: blackhawk on December 12, 2013, 09:21:35 am
Thanks guys  :D

Greg I wont say no if ya got more  ;D I'm sure this thing will be going around to the shoots next year as its a good target design

It is cold Tracy,altho I do enjoy it from time to time

Will do Ryan cus the FAM will be there with me as always shooting too ;)

Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Gsulfridge on December 12, 2013, 10:09:39 am
Hey 'hawk, how do you store and season your ERC?  Do you go ahead and split it out into staves, or leave it whole or halved?  It is such beautiful wood, I have to try it.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: sweeney3 on December 12, 2013, 11:08:13 am
Awesome work.  Definitely my favorite wood.  All my deer the past three years have been with ERC.  And squirrels and rabbits and the odd dove... Great lookin' bow!
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: blackhawk on December 12, 2013, 12:26:20 pm
Greg it either sits in my outdoor enclosed shop,or in my basement/garage/shop....on the stuff I harvested myself before I just ripped it with a saw...the stuff I got from you was so nice I just split em in half and most of em are still in halves...I did rip a couple halves on the saw already and debarked most of it...you can slow season it or quick season as long as you do it right either way,and I've done both ways with good results

Thanks Sweeney
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Gsulfridge on December 12, 2013, 12:30:37 pm
Greg it either sits in my outdoor enclosed shop,or in my basement/garage/shop....on the stuff I harvested myself before I just ripped it with a saw...the stuff I got from you was so nice I just split em in half and most of em are still in halves...I did rip a couple halves on the saw already and debarked most of it...you can slow season it or quick season as long as you do it right either way,and I've done both ways with good results

:)
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: missilemaster on December 12, 2013, 12:52:43 pm
me likes! :)
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: paoliguy on December 12, 2013, 01:09:20 pm
Gotta love that one!
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Onebowonder on December 12, 2013, 02:10:18 pm
What happened?  Did you run out of Red Oak trim moulding boards???

OneBow
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: richardzane on December 12, 2013, 06:40:56 pm
really fine looking bow!!
I keep my eye out for the right ERC, but sure haven't seen anything growing thats
not full of knots
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: soy on December 12, 2013, 07:06:26 pm
Very nice looking stick !!!
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Pago on December 12, 2013, 07:26:55 pm
Purdy!
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: seabass on December 12, 2013, 08:02:56 pm
that was some of the cleanest erc that I have ever laid eyes on.you did it justice my friend.nice bow indeed.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: bushboy on December 12, 2013, 08:18:58 pm
nice looking bow BH!tiller looks great!
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: danny f on December 13, 2013, 04:00:41 am
that a nice bow, i like the look of that cedar.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: blackhawk on December 13, 2013, 07:54:33 am
Thanks amigos  :)

Onebo I'll take a clean tight ringed ERC stave any day of the year over a red oak board of its equal

Richard bow worthy wood can be hard to find...any ERC that grows in the open in fields and such is usually junk most the time....they grow too many branches out instead of a trunk growing up and are more bushy in nature....look for stuff under a forest canopy and ones that have a clean to semi clean side....

It sure was/is lil Stevie Wonder ;)  :laugh:

Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Blackcoyote on December 13, 2013, 09:20:25 am
Another sweet bow! like the matching pair with your daughter that is damn cool....
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: mje on January 08, 2014, 08:06:39 pm
Very nice. Great detail on the tips. I'm inspired to hunt down some cedar.

BTW, overcast days like that are better for photography than sunny ones. More diffuse light and no shadows makes everything clearer.
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: Cameroo on January 08, 2014, 09:11:59 pm
It's a beauty, eh?  ;D
Title: Re: Eastern Red Cedar American Longbow
Post by: gobbler716 on January 09, 2014, 02:35:24 pm
super looking bow, I love the cedar....