Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Bryce on May 09, 2014, 04:33:59 pm

Title: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: Bryce on May 09, 2014, 04:33:59 pm
i know there isnt much love on PA for the hard backed bows but id like to share this one with you guys.

a few months back my wife had bought some pine needle baskets from a man here in town, very will made. well they got to talking and it turns out Paul (the man that makes the baskets) is, or rather, WAS a traditional bow hunter. But do to his severe war related injuries he was no longer able to shoot the draw weight required by Oregon Law to hunt elk or deer.
He continued to talk archery when the subject of a stave was brought about, he claimed he had no idea what kind of wood it was. He knew it wasnt yew, osage, or hickory, but he knew his grandfather would not buy a bow blank that wouldnt make a good bow.
so i agreed to come over to his house and check out the blank.
As it would turn out his grandfather whom he was very close to, bought a lemonwood bow blank back in 1934 and though the blank had a slight lateral warp in one limb, the stave was in excellent condition!
I agreed to finish his grandfathers bow
would have made an excellent self bow, but due to the age of the wood i decided to take the safe route and put some bamboo on it. After all i only had one shot at this bow.

ive read articles about lemonwoon(degame) where its described as an excellent bow wood.
But have also read books where it says "its nothing special"

turns out, its an EXCELLENT bow wood. has the most fruity sweet smell. works like a piece of soap but is still relatively hard and dense. also refuses to take set.

from talking with Paul it sounds like he is going to try and make it out for one last season of elk hunting, carrying this bow. I hope he gets a nice Bull.


what an enjoyable build this bow was. Very good trade.


70" NTN
55#@30"
Western Rattle Snake Skins
Elk leather handle
bison horn nocks



(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p696/Bryce_Ott/thestart_zps4527da19.jpg) (http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/Bryce_Ott/media/thestart_zps4527da19.jpg.html)

(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p696/Bryce_Ott/DSCN0856_zps8a1bfecc.jpg) (http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/Bryce_Ott/media/DSCN0856_zps8a1bfecc.jpg.html)

(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p696/Bryce_Ott/DSCN0855_zpsc24a4b9c.jpg) (http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/Bryce_Ott/media/DSCN0855_zpsc24a4b9c.jpg.html)

(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p696/Bryce_Ott/DSCN0857_zps474c72d5.jpg) (http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/Bryce_Ott/media/DSCN0857_zps474c72d5.jpg.html)

(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p696/Bryce_Ott/DSCN0858_zps639ec5c1.jpg) (http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/Bryce_Ott/media/DSCN0858_zps639ec5c1.jpg.html)

(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p696/Bryce_Ott/DSCN0864_zps56075d59.jpg) (http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/Bryce_Ott/media/DSCN0864_zps56075d59.jpg.html)

(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p696/Bryce_Ott/DSCN0862_zps7efdff52.jpg) (http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/Bryce_Ott/media/DSCN0862_zps7efdff52.jpg.html)

(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p696/Bryce_Ott/DSCN0865_zps6d6e3f2f.jpg) (http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/Bryce_Ott/media/DSCN0865_zps6d6e3f2f.jpg.html)



this picture makes me laugh, i caught him right after he had taken his medication :D



(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p696/Bryce_Ott/P1130044_zps1cf2c513.jpg) (http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/Bryce_Ott/media/P1130044_zps1cf2c513.jpg.html)





Thanks for looking.
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: missilemaster on May 09, 2014, 04:40:21 pm
Great looking bow man!
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: Dan K on May 09, 2014, 04:44:26 pm
Another home run!
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: Gsulfridge on May 09, 2014, 04:45:42 pm
Its a looker!!
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: lesken2011 on May 09, 2014, 04:45:51 pm
She is a real sweet one, Bryce! Nice job!! :P
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: ajooter on May 09, 2014, 05:27:17 pm
I like the story bryce.  You did great honor to that stave.  Always enjoy your work.
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: Carson (CMB) on May 09, 2014, 05:38:10 pm
Another beauty Bryce.  Top notch work on some top notch wood.  Nicely done in all respects.
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: zenart on May 09, 2014, 05:44:05 pm
Can feel the love and see it in that one Bryce. Very cool man. Tiller itself is a thing of beauty. How wide at the fades/tips?
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 09, 2014, 06:38:21 pm
Hard backed bows are for girly bowyers.....

Looks good man!
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: Pat B on May 09, 2014, 07:03:45 pm
Very cool bow. I had the privilege to work an old piece of lemonwood with the hickory backed lemonwood ALB that I donated to the Tennessee Classic. I heard the horror stories over the years about lemonwood but found it to be a very nice bow wood. Maybe the long term aging has positive affects on lemonwood.
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: bow101 on May 09, 2014, 07:23:45 pm
You are turning out some really great bows Pinenut.  Wonderfull stick. 
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: Dvshunter on May 09, 2014, 08:31:10 pm
Beautiful bow man. I like your style
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: Weylin on May 09, 2014, 08:54:46 pm
I think you're getting the hang of this bowmaking thing...  >:D ;) You are turning out some really fine bows. This one is no exception.
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: wizardgoat on May 09, 2014, 08:59:30 pm
Nice bow and cool story
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: Badly Bent on May 09, 2014, 09:41:55 pm
Great story and a stellar bow Bryce, I'd say that piece of lemonwood fell into the right hands at the right time. One look at that beauty and it is obvious that you took a lot of care crafting a bow from his dads piece of history.
Nicely done!
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: JW_Halverson on May 09, 2014, 09:56:22 pm
Only thing nicer than the look of that bow is the story that goes with it!
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: SLIMBOB on May 09, 2014, 10:06:08 pm
Very neat story and hell of a nice bow!
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: kleinpm on May 09, 2014, 10:30:37 pm
Great story, great bow! I always like to here stories about generosity.

Patrick
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: Josh B on May 10, 2014, 12:13:11 am
Great story and awesome bow!  I love a bow with history!  Even if it was just made. Josh
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: lebhuntfish on May 10, 2014, 12:48:33 am
Amazing bow and amazing story buddy!  I love the color combo, it just flows nicely!
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: dbb on May 10, 2014, 01:44:26 am
Another "droolworty" bow from you and with a good story on the side!
Nice!
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: Bryce on May 10, 2014, 01:49:18 am
Thanks guys:)

It was really my pleasure to make this bow for such a gentleman as Paul.



Can feel the love and see it in that one Bryce. Very cool man. Tiller itself is a thing of beauty. How wide at the fades/tips?

1"@fades

Very cool bow. I had the privilege to work an old piece of lemonwood with the hickory backed lemonwood ALB that I donated to the Tennessee Classic. I heard the horror stories over the years about lemonwood but found it to be a very nice bow wood. Maybe the long term aging has positive affects on lemonwood.

I watched that build wet closely pat. That's a nice bow to boot


Great story and a stellar bow Bryce, I'd say that piece of lemonwood fell into the right hands at the right time. One look at that beauty and it is obvious that you took a lot of care crafting a bow from his dads piece of history.
Nicely done!

Thank you:) I'm not a big fan of letting ppl down, this bow took me twice as long as any other even though it's a simple design.



Thanks again guys. Really appreciate it:)




-Pinecone
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: Gordon on May 10, 2014, 02:19:19 am
She's a beautiful bow Bryce. The owner has to be really happy with that one. Lemonwood is a pleasure to work with, it scraps better than just about any other wood out there.
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: dmc on May 10, 2014, 02:20:42 am
Very nice! Have always been a fan of your bows. Great story too!
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: Arrowind on May 10, 2014, 02:31:35 am
Very nice! Have always been a fan of your bows. Great story too!

That's just what I was thinking.
Title: Re: Bamboo backed Lemonwood ALB
Post by: rps3 on May 10, 2014, 10:02:45 am
80 years gathering dust waiting for the right hands to work magic. Great job.