Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Dustinhill on June 03, 2016, 10:19:36 am

Title: Hickory shortbow
Post by: Dustinhill on June 03, 2016, 10:19:36 am

Hi guys,
Here's my first stave bow. It was a very satisfying experience to make a bow from a tree I felled and split myself from the woods behind my house.  It's 37 3/4" tip to tip, 36 1/4" nock to nock. It's so short because I hacked up the extra 16" or so with an drawknife when I was de barking it. The handle started to check a little so I sinew wrapped it and made a deer leg bone arrow pass from a deer that died in my yard. its holding together so far. As far as draw weight goes I don't have a scale so I put 40lbs in a bucket and that pulled it to 12". I didn't want to over stress it with the hanging weight so I would guess that at my 16" draw it pulls between #40-50. Thanks to Parnell, springbuck, dc, dark star and anyone else who helped me getting the tiller together. It's not perfect but I learned a lot, thanks everyone!

Title: Re: Hickory shortbow
Post by: Dustinhill on June 03, 2016, 10:20:37 am

More pics

Title: Re: Hickory shortbow
Post by: JonW on June 03, 2016, 11:43:07 am

Neat little bow!

Title: Re: Hickory shortbow
Post by: Parnell on June 03, 2016, 12:10:34 pm

There ya go, good for you.  Looks like you could maybe get more bend in the handle area, especially through the handle and with a bow that short.  Good for you.  Keep 'em coming!

Title: Re: Hickory shortbow
Post by: Aaron H on June 03, 2016, 12:13:45 pm

Looks great

Title: Re: Hickory shortbow
Post by: wizardgoat on June 03, 2016, 12:17:50 pm

Nice work on your first stave

Title: Re: Hickory shortbow
Post by: Stick Bender on June 03, 2016, 07:35:52 pm

Nice shortie !

Title: Re: Hickory shortbow
Post by: Knotty on June 03, 2016, 08:09:13 pm

Always thought such a short bow wouldn't have enough strength to support a decent proportional drawlength , I guess it can! Nice job 😊

Title: Re: Hickory shortbow
Post by: JW_Halverson on June 03, 2016, 09:24:22 pm

I agree with what has been said about allowing a hint more flex in the handle.  If you can bring it round to a more circular tiller, you will get up to 18 inches of draw from that hickory splinter!  Or leave it as it stands and shoot it until your fingers bleed!!!

Title: Re: Hickory shortbow
Post by: Dustinhill on June 03, 2016, 11:00:14 pm

Thanks guys! I really appreciate all the advice and support you've given me! I agree that the handle is too stiff, I heat treated it alot because it looked like it was bending too much. but I don't feel like rensinewing it so I'm going to leave it as is and keep the suggestions in mind for the next one! I already have three started!
Thanks again,
Dustin