Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: mikekeswick on December 20, 2013, 08:51:18 am
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Whilst i'm in the mood! Here is another bow I finished up recently. It's made from a small diameter 1 3/4 max elder sapling. I was mildly worried about the back on this bow due to the very high crown and quite large 'cluster' knots that you always seem to get in this wood. I've made a few bows from elder now and I really rate it as bow wood :) So far i've found you need to make the back work and give the belly a light heat treat to get the best out of it. It's quite stiff stuff but fairly low density - a good combo!
It is 46# @ 27 and 69 inches long. It's taken virtually no set and even after being strung for hours if jumps straight back when un-strung :) even with the stave being naturally set back in the handle.
http://s492.photobucket.com/user/mikekeswick/media/011-12.jpg.html
http://s492.photobucket.com/user/mikekeswick/media/012-6.jpg.html
http://s492.photobucket.com/user/mikekeswick/media/013-5.jpg.html
http://s492.photobucket.com/user/mikekeswick/media/008-6.jpg.html
http://s492.photobucket.com/user/mikekeswick/media/009-7.jpg.html
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(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/013-5.jpg) (http://s492.photobucket.com/user/mikekeswick/media/013-5.jpg.html)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/012-6.jpg) (http://s492.photobucket.com/user/mikekeswick/media/012-6.jpg.html)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/011-12.jpg) (http://s492.photobucket.com/user/mikekeswick/media/011-12.jpg.html)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/010-4.jpg) (http://s492.photobucket.com/user/mikekeswick/media/010-4.jpg.html)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/008-6.jpg) (http://s492.photobucket.com/user/mikekeswick/media/008-6.jpg.html)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/009-7.jpg) (http://s492.photobucket.com/user/mikekeswick/media/009-7.jpg.html)
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Awesome bow. I wonder if the elder that we have in the southern states has the density to make a bow? I will have to give it a try. I bet that one is light in the hand. Looks like a sweet shooter.
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Another good looking bow,you been busy. :)
Pappy
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yer bow has a stash hole in it! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:, sweet bow man
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Very nice! Thanks for sharing :)
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I like that bow Mike.
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I dig that one Mike. Lots of character. Great tiller.
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Nice work.
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Very nicely done! Jawge
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Another nice bow mate. 8)
I do keep my eye out for elder and cut a few but all had horrible prop twist.
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Excellent post, I have some Elder seasoned, and I've just bought a couple of pencils :laugh: so I need somewhere to stow them.
Maybe I'll pick one of my the staves during the hol'
Del
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Awesome bow!!! Really like that one!
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I like it too. Definetly would add some variety to any bow collection with that.
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Absolutely Pithy - GREAT Bow ! Bob
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Very nice! Did the elder have red or blue berries?
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Sweet! Very nicely fitting handle as well. And the bend is lovely. You know what species of elder it is?
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Nice bow mike, I remember seeing it, like how its partially hollow on the middle.
Get in touch, fancy making a longbow and don't know where to start, have flatbows coming out of my ears! Want to make my first white wood longbow.
Dean
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Cool bow!
Really have that "primitive" look.
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Sweet looking bow, looks nice and authentic. Couple of thousand years ago that would have made folks drool - then and now.
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Very cool, sapling bows are the best. :)
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That is a very nice bow. I like how the pith provides a little natural hollow limb design.
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Another great tiller and interesting bow. I enjoy looking at these out of the ordinary bows! Great work 8)
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That's sweet man! Looks like a shooter
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Very cool bow Mike. Looks like you got a serious shooter there. That pith center is cool too. Danny
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I would still like to know if it had red or blue/black berries. All that grows here is the red berry and I've heard that red is no good for bows. I love the bow and would like to try one.
Thanks
Don
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Cool looking sapling bow. Nice work keeping that side profile so straight at rest, must be some strong wood and skillful
tillering to get those results.
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Cool looking bow.
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Thanks guys :)
Don the only elder we have here is sambucus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus
The berries will stain you red at a moments notice! I shoot them at my mates with a catty now and then and it actually looks like they have been shot!
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Thanks guys :)
Don the only elder we have here is sambucus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus
The berries will stain you red at a moments notice! I shoot them at my mates with a catty now and then and it actually looks like they have been shot!
Mike, I think for our transatlantic cousins you may need to translate 'catty' (catpult) as 'slingshot' ;) ;D
I'm sure I've never been involved in propelling Elderberries at folk O:)
Del
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Thanks guys :)
Don the only elder we have here is sambucus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus
The berries will stain you red at a moments notice! I shoot them at my mates with a catty now and then and it actually looks like they have been shot!
I'm a little slow on the uptake. You're in Europe!! Over here in B.C. we have at least two sambucus, berries go from red to almost black. I have red in my area and have heard that it doesn't make good bows whereas the interior has blue/black and makes good bows. I find it hard to believe that berry color would affect bow quality but I guess I'll just have to try it.
Thanks
Don
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Nice bow Mike, hope to get a look/shot if you've still got it when Butsfield resumes in spring (assuming you're there),
Rgds, Berny
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I like this a lot.
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Don, saw this on Paleoplanet awhile back http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/55798/Red-elder-stave-finishedfull-draw-pics#.Us9g6f3FnwI nice bow there mikekeswick!
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Mike very nice! I made an elder bow a while back and really like the wood, though finding a piece which isn't twisted and long enough is always difficult. That being said it grows everywhere here where I am in Germany, and I am currently trying to make a molly-type bow out of half of it and have the other half waiting. We will see but at the moment it is looking pretty good.
Don the elder we have here is I think Sambucus Nigra also known as black elder. But Peacebows link is like wow!!!
Peter
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Thanks guys. :)
Elder is really great bow wood and no mistake! I've got some more premium staves now :)
Hi Berny - Yes I should be up there for the shoot.
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love the simplicity ,and that arc -- is right on
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very very cool, I've always enjoyed seeing your sapling bows
chuck
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Nice and interesting bow. I'm currently also working on an elder, but only 59" long. Will be finished soon.
I'm with you Mike, elder is very flexibel and good bow wood.
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i like no. 8 so i will vote for it.