Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Tradslinger on February 05, 2021, 07:16:23 pm
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I have a couple of 50" Osage staves, I wonder what my options for bows. That seems too short for a tixed handle bow ( draw length of 26" and 40#). but I am ignorant of a bendy handle bow. obviously the bendy handle has to be thinner in thickness in order to bend but how much? should it be like a flat bow in limb design? thanks
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Depends on width also. If you make a more complex design like a reflex/deflex or recurve you could squeeze out a few more inches of draw without stacking. Just need that width to make the draw weight with thinner limbs.
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How wide are they?
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I should be able to get 2" for width, maybe a little bit more.
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Then you can go 26.
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Splice em into a 90 inch bow ;D
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bendy handle bows are typically very simple stick bows, widest at the handle tapering towards the tips.
you could also splice stiff tips into the ends for more length.
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bendy handle bows are typically very simple stick bows, widest at the handle tapering towards the tips.
you could also splice stiff tips into the ends for more length.
Many bendy handle bows have waisted handles with wide limbs. West coast tribes in the US made bows like this.
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just draw the bow 25 inches,, if you think you cant, then make it heavier, so 25 is all you can pull,, it will shoot fine,, the heavier weight will compress your arm a bit, and you will be ok with one inch shorter,, no problem,, if you think you cant ,, practice for a week and you will see you can shoot 25 inches no problem,,sinew back and recurve the tips a bit and it will draw longer,, you have lots of options,, as suggested above,,
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Splice em into a 90 inch bow ;D
This is a better idea
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Yep, that's what I do. Splice them into something I'll actually use. The cutoffs can be used for all sorts of other things.
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Make it wide and flip the tips a little and you’ll be surprised how far you can pull it. Think of the paddle bow. 1 3/8” dide handle that just flexes, 2” wide limbs. The limbs will get very thin and be difficult to tiller. Finger pinch becomes the major issue going short. Or flip tips and sinew back and you can go with a narrower designs. Without the waisted handle. Like 1 1/4 - 1 3/8” wide.
Kyle
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I've made a couple of 47" to 50" sinew backed osage bows with reflexed tips that bent to the bulbous handle that I pulled to 26" or maybe a little more. I could feel the handle give just barely as I hit full draw that's why I said bent to the handle and not through the handle. They pulled 56#@26".
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thanks Pat for posting that,, I think not too many make the short bows, so not as much info about them,,they are under rated,,
they shoot great and hard,, oh yes accuracy,, I will agree it takes a bit more skill and practice to master, but sometimes I think if I had started as a young person shooting them, that might not be the case,,make what you like,, but a bow that will draw 25 or 26 inches is very nice to shoot,, (SH) even through the chrono,,,they will surprise you,, :)
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It certainly is long enough for a bend through handle bow. And sinew backed is a good fit. Or glue them together and make one longer one.
Decisions decisions
Bjrogg
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I think two bows are better than one,,then you have a back up,, ;D
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Yep, 50 inches would likely work if you bend through the handle, the draw would likely end up at 24 inches which is plenty for a pony bow, Native American style. There have been several posted recently. Depending on the width of the stave, you might try the flat bow style, like the west coast Native Americans made. There is plenty of wood for either style, imho. Good luck with the staves.
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I have a 50 inch nock to nock white oak self bow that pulls 40 lbs at 25 inches with a quarter inch deep cut shelf. One, and a quarter at the fades to half inch at the tips in width. Straight taper. It holds two inches of reflex un strung. It tapers from the middle of the handle both ways clean to the tips on the belly, and the handle works to a degree in the last 2 inches of draw. Bow shoots good. That is another option. Making the handle work in the last couple inches of draw.
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Say you make it 49”ntn. 24.5” draw is totally doable without stacking. Add a slight recurve and you could get back to 26.5”ish. Add some deflex and you could make it back to 28”. It’ll be a challenge but I think it’s in the realm of possibility with Osage and no backing.
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I have the option of backing with bamboo. am also intrigued by adding stiff tips but am ignorant on how to do this. I didn't think that a splice in a bending area would work. splicing can really add options to me. I guess it is in the how the splicing is done. I love the various answers, they give a person something to chew on. Jerry
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If you splice them, no need to bend through the handle. :)
Pappy
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I'm working on a very dry slim 1 1/4 wide 54" osage bow now..just shaved it down last night to one ring.. wood is 12 years since cut... I made a 3 inch handle with 1 " fades.. has some snake on bottom limb... going to air back it since so dry afraid sinew would pull apart.. thick rings including early wood thick too... shooting for mid to high 50"s at 26"... wish me luck... gonna need it I'm sure... gut
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Gut, 1 1/4" isn't wide enough for a 54 inch bow to make mid 50s in weight. 40 pounds is probably the highest you can go before you start getting into significant set. But, if you shoot for mid 50s for the fun of it, id sure like to watch your Build! Have you started a thread on ut?
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no I haven't here.. I have pics on my mewe page ( primitive life )... we will see what we can get out of it,I know its pushing the limits but thats what we do.. it started out wider.. but wood is super dry.. had a ring chased and my vice crushed my back and popped a chunk off ring.. had to chase another .. then a small pin knot violation caused me to go another ring.. fat rings brother.. by the time I got a clean back I lost my width... she is starting to bend on floor.. hands got blisters from chasing the rings haha... when I try to load pics here from my phone they get rejected... so I give up on posting my pics here... not going to back it either.. back is clean now... afraid sinew would possibly de laminate the wood.. I have some boo backed 1 1/4 wide that is over 50 lbs. and only 58".... just trying to see what I can get out of it now... gut
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Ive attempted to post pics here yet again.. I give up.. gut
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gut try emailing from your phone to computer,, put the email setting on medium, then it will post here.. or text or email to me, I will post for you,,,
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I dont want to hijack this thread.. I just tried it that and still didn't work... no big deal.. I just cant post pics here anymore .. I dropped Facebook so Im on mewe ( primitive life) and gab.. they are there if you guys look my up.. Kirk Hollums both accounts... aka gut