Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: M-P on January 07, 2008, 09:49:13 pm
-
Hi Folks, I got this stave of mountain juniper from Geo. Newman last year. George collected this stave from the Mnt Lassen area, where he goes to teach bow making on one of the reservations. I like the look of the bows historically used here along the Pacific coast, but am not interested in learning to shoot a 20 inch draw. So, this is my interpetation of what the local tribes may have come up with if they had wanted to shoot a 28" draw.
The bow is 62” nock to nock before recurving, has 2 inch long static recurves and a mild reflex. The handle is 1.5 inches wide. the limbs are 2 inches wide just above the fades narrowing to 1.5 inches wide at the recurves. Draw weight is 49 pounds at 28”. I haven’t chrono’d the bow yet, but it seems pretty fast.
The recurves were put in by the bent tab method. A 45º notch was cut ~ 2/3 of the way through the bow on the back. The tips were then steamed and bent to close the notch. The bow was fairly heavily sinewed after the tips were bent. Rawhide was wrapped over the sinew on the tips to keep the sinew from lifting and to reduce the chances of the wood splitting around the pin nocks. The back was painted, a handle wrap of braintanned moosehide was sewn on and mink fur “silencers” were slipped onto the tips.
George Newman has the black triangles painted on the back of one of his bows. He says its called “deer tracks” and I liked it well enough to include it in my painting.(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc270/May-Pumphrey/Benttabtip.jpg)
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc270/May-Pumphrey/bestsidefulldrawedited-1.jpg)
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc270/May-Pumphrey/westernbowdrawnedited.jpg)
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc270/May-Pumphrey/westernbowpaintingedited.jpg)
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc270/May-Pumphrey/benttabtipJPG.jpg)(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc270/May-Pumphrey/unstrungprofileedited.jpg)(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc270/May-Pumphrey/bellyedited.jpg)
-
very nice, excellent job
-
Very nice and very primitive - just the way we like them. Indeed, got you bookmarked for Juniper Self Bow of the Month. Thanks for the interest.
-
Sweet!,really primal looking.
-
......Nice work...........bob
-
Nice bow, great color. Justin
-
looks good, where's the full draw pic?
-
That is really a cool bow. I love your interpretation of the original design. Just excellent!
-
Someone got inspired :)
-
Beautiful bow M-P,very nice job. :)
Pappy
-
Very,very nice I'm really starting to like the replica bows. Mt. Lassen would be Ishi's home area if I'm not mistaken.
Congrats on a great bow.
-
Very cool bow MP, nice job.
Alan
-
Nice bow , real pretty.
How far down the tabs do the pin nocks go ?
Ralph
-
Very nice.tradrick
-
Hi,
VERY NICE!!
-
I like replica bows, and you sure just made a nice'un. Good job!
-
My thanks to everyone for the encouraging comments. I had lots of fun trying to make this one special. Dave, the photos on the tillering stick are nearly full draw (26".) My wife was out of town the day I was taking these pictures, so I didn't have a photographer. I'll get a photo of me bringing it to full draw today. Ron
-
Very neat looking bow, and good tiller, too.
Sean
-
Hi,
Dana, Yes Mt Lassen is the area where Ishi was from and the general area where his remains were interred. I believe Mountain Juniper was his favorite bow wood.
Dave asked for more full draw photos so here they are. Ron
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc270/May-Pumphrey/kneelingfulldraw.jpg)
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc270/May-Pumphrey/fulldrawbellyveiw.jpg)
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc270/May-Pumphrey/Meatfulldraw.jpg)
-
That's a nice one.
-
Great job on a challenging bow to make! Tiller looks really good as well.
-
Beautiful! i love the hair at the tips!
well done.
Phil
-
Most excellent job mp! Looks like you nailed the tiller.