Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Marc St Louis on March 18, 2008, 11:28:22 pm

Title: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 18, 2008, 11:28:22 pm

The title should say it all. This is a backed bow.

I started this bow 2 or 3 years ago, been awhile so I forgot :), but it was giving me trouble so I shelved it for awhile. It was, at the time, mostly tillered but the bow had lateral stability problems that were aggravating. To fix it I cut 2" off the tips and this took the reflex down to a more manageable level.  After I cut it down finish tillering the bow out was fairly easy.

Anyway the bow is, as the title say a hickory backed quarter sawn Osage that's 55" N to N. The limbs are 1 1/4" wide tapering to 3/8" nocks. The deflex was glued in and the recurves steam bent. The reflex was glued in with the Hickory backing.  The bow finished up at 62# @ 28" and has good string tension so I expect the performance to be very good. After tillering the bow retains about 1/2" of reflex which goes up to 1" after sitting for a little while. The tip overlays are made of Brazilian Ironwood. Here's a few pictures

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Composite%20Bows/Hickory%20backed%20Osage%20Recurve/100_0346.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Composite%20Bows/Hickory%20backed%20Osage%20Recurve/100_0353.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Composite%20Bows/Hickory%20backed%20Osage%20Recurve/100_0352.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Composite%20Bows/Hickory%20backed%20Osage%20Recurve/FullDraw.jpg)

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: david w. on March 18, 2008, 11:29:24 pm

dats beautiful :)
can you make me one ;D

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 18, 2008, 11:33:05 pm

Thanks David. The amount of work that goes into one of these does not make it worthwhile selling and I refuse to sell them for peanuts. Hmm on the other hand I do like peanuts  :) 

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Justin Snyder on March 18, 2008, 11:53:14 pm

That is an impressive bow Marc.  Ill bet it really launches an arrow.  I can see how much time it would take to make one. Maybe not 2 years, but a lot of time for sure.  ;D Justin

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Gordon on March 19, 2008, 12:29:56 am

Oh wow, that's what I want to be able to build when I grow up :o

Fantastic!

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Keenan on March 19, 2008, 01:19:54 am

 Wow you are really getting those little roket launchers down Mark.  That is a serious D/R  profile. Looks like the curves a being very well utilized on the one. ;)  If you know anything about building bows you would know that there is alot of time there, Definately worth more then peanuts. ;D  I thought I was the only working for peanuts ;D   Keenan

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: PatM on March 19, 2008, 01:33:59 am

 Nice bow. Looks like another "Dream Weaver".
 Pat

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Pat B on March 19, 2008, 01:41:05 am

Very nice bow, Marc. The side views remind me of the early 60's short Bear Recurves. I have "saved" a few butt kickers by putting them up for a while and coming back with a clear mind. ;) 8)    Pat

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Pappy on March 19, 2008, 07:27:41 am

Nice job Marc,You really know how to turn um out.Just Beautiful. :)
    Pappy

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: DanaM on March 19, 2008, 08:36:07 am

Looks like a screamer Marc :)

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: GregB on March 19, 2008, 09:15:30 am

Really a good looking bow, and would be great in a tree stand hunting. :)

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Woodland Roamer on March 19, 2008, 09:19:03 am

Great looking bow Marc.

Alan

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 19, 2008, 09:44:44 am

Thanks guys.

It does look a bit like the Dream Weaver I built several years ago Pat but this bow is more compact and weighs much less. Quite light in the hand.

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: OldBow on March 19, 2008, 01:29:34 pm

Is this the same as a "laminate bow"? :D ;) :P
Really nice. I remember Dream Weaver, too. So this fine bow is all bookmarked for Laminate Bow of the Month!!

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Badger on March 19, 2008, 02:04:50 pm

     I don't think a non bowyer could ever appreciate the kind of skill that goes into building a bow like that. Mark, you will proably be like those famous artists whose work goes for more after there gone LOL, There are more folks cropping up that are looking for work like that. I just sent a guy your way yesterday, not sure if he has e emailed you or not. Steve

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: AndrewS on March 19, 2008, 04:25:21 pm

Simply one word: GREAT!!!

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: D. Tiller on March 19, 2008, 05:53:42 pm

How does it shoot! That is one amaizing little bow. I WANT ONE!!!!  ;D

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 19, 2008, 06:28:46 pm

Thanks Guys

Could be Steve :). Haven't heard anything yet

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: david w. on March 20, 2008, 01:02:18 am

i really really like dat bow

good job

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Slivershooter on March 20, 2008, 03:02:29 am

Another nice one!

Walt Francis

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 20, 2008, 10:36:47 pm

Thank you guys.

For anyone wanting to build a bow like this. It is best not to try and glue in more than 3" of reflex into a bow like this. More than this and you start to get lateral stability issues.

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: david w. on March 20, 2008, 10:42:49 pm

I WANT ONE!!

i need to build one now

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 20, 2008, 10:49:09 pm

Go for it David.

This bow had one small problem with it. If you look at the top limb you will see on the belly a line that runs to the left of the string. This is from an early wood ring separation that started from the fades nearly to the end of the limb. Generally this won't cause a problem, besides being a pain to apply the finish, but for insurance I ran some crazy glue into the crack.

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Mechslasher on March 20, 2008, 11:00:45 pm

love short and curvy!

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 21, 2008, 12:26:32 pm

Thanks Chris. That's some of your Osage

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: snedeker on March 21, 2008, 12:56:44 pm

Darn it man, something is wrong today and all I see is empty boxes with little red x's in the upper left corner instead of the photos.

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Dustybaer on March 21, 2008, 06:05:42 pm

same here, snedeker.   >:(

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 21, 2008, 06:11:14 pm

So I see. I guess my website is down. I will give it a little while and if it's still down I'll upload them here

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Ryano on March 22, 2008, 01:54:18 am

Sweet bow as usual Marc. Very impressive.  8)

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: hammertime on March 22, 2008, 01:13:12 pm

Marc..Great looking bow love the profile and tips.Hanmmertime

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 22, 2008, 02:33:58 pm

Thanks guys.

This bow could probably handle a 30" draw but it would take more set

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: david w. on March 22, 2008, 02:44:50 pm

now im am not a master bowyer like you so if i was going to try to make one should i make it a little longer?

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 22, 2008, 02:58:51 pm

If your draw length is the same as mine you could go a bit longer but still keep it under 60" long

Title: Re: Hickory Backed Osage
Post by: Dustybaer on March 26, 2008, 09:11:56 am

now that i can see the pictures, what beautiful lines!!!  it has performance written all over it.  truly, a masterpiece.