Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: WhistlingBadger on May 09, 2025, 11:01:29 pm

Title: Juniper/elk sinew/bullsnake 40#@27"
Post by: WhistlingBadger on May 09, 2025, 11:01:29 pm

This was the most complicated bow I’ve ever made, and the most pleasing to my eye. Got lots of good advice from a lot of you guys.  Much appreciated!
Locally harvested Rocky Mountain juniper, backed with elk sinew, covered in a bull snake skin.
All done with hand tools.
Steam bent tips.
Elk hoof tip overlays.
Home-tanned elk leather handle wrap, sewn with sinew.
Decorated with mineral pigment egg tempera.
Finished with lard/beeswax/pine pitch varnish.
Pulls 40 lb at 27”.
I’m not completely thrilled with the handle wrap, and disappointed with the low draw weight (I was going for 55#), but she’s fun to shoot and rather easy on the eyes, if I may say so.

(https://www.fishforums.net/attachments/img_1779-jpeg.366658/)
(https://www.fishforums.net/attachments/img_1780-jpeg.366659/)
(https://www.fishforums.net/attachments/img_1781-jpeg.366660/)
(https://www.fishforums.net/attachments/img_1782-jpeg.366661/)
(https://www.fishforums.net/attachments/img_1783-jpeg.366662/)

Title: Re: Juniper/elk sinew/bullsnake 40#@27"
Post by: WhistlingBadger on May 09, 2025, 11:03:30 pm

(https://www.fishforums.net/attachments/img_1784-jpeg.366668/)
(https://www.fishforums.net/attachments/img_1786-jpeg.366669/)
(https://www.fishforums.net/attachments/img_1787-jpeg.366670/)

Ignore the goofy lookin' guy.  This is about the bow.
(https://www.fishforums.net/attachments/img_1788-jpeg.366671/)

Title: Re: Juniper/elk sinew/bullsnake 40#@27"
Post by: WhistlingBadger on May 09, 2025, 11:24:23 pm

(https://www.fishforums.net/attachments/img_1791-jpeg.366691/)

Title: Re: Juniper/elk sinew/bullsnake 40#@27"
Post by: mmattockx on May 10, 2025, 12:36:03 pm

Very nice, tiller looks excellent. Juniper sure is a beautiful wood.


Mark

Title: Re: Juniper/elk sinew/bullsnake 40#@27"
Post by: WhistlingBadger on May 10, 2025, 01:13:19 pm

Thanks, Mark!  I'm very happy with it, overall.  Juniper is beautiful stuff for sure.  Already have another piece of heartwood in the pipeline...

Title: Re: Juniper/elk sinew/bullsnake 40#@27"
Post by: Pat B on May 11, 2025, 10:27:25 am

Sweet looking bow. I've found tillering to your ultimate weight then adding the sinew will help achieve the weight you are shooting for. You can always drop the weight easily enough with a little scraping after when sinew dries. How long has the sinew been drying?

Title: Re: Juniper/elk sinew/bullsnake 40#@27"
Post by: WhistlingBadger on May 11, 2025, 11:59:46 am

Quote from: Pat B on May 11, 2025, 10:27:25 am

Sweet looking bow. I've found tillering to your ultimate weight then adding the sinew will help achieve the weight you are shooting for. You can always drop the weight easily enough with a little scraping after when sinew dries. How long has the sinew been drying?

Thanks, Pat!

The trouble with tillering first then adding sinew is that juniper doesn't work well by itself--it is really weak in flexion.  So I'd be afraid to bend it much without the sinew.  I think the back would break.  Does that make sense?

I let the sinew dry for three weeks before I started tillering, and it's been a month or so since then.

Title: Re: Juniper/elk sinew/bullsnake 40#@27"
Post by: Pat B on May 11, 2025, 06:16:00 pm

Maybe back it with rawhide while tillering then remove the rawhide and add the sinew. It's only a thought because I've never used western juniper.
As time goes by the sinew will dry more and the weight should go up some.

Title: Re: Juniper/elk sinew/bullsnake 40#@27"
Post by: Pappy on May 11, 2025, 06:24:34 pm

Nice looking bow, should be a sweet shooter. :)
 Pappy

Title: Re: Juniper/elk sinew/bullsnake 40#@27"
Post by: superdav95 on May 11, 2025, 07:51:41 pm

Love the look of this bow!  Well done   

Title: Re: Juniper/elk sinew/bullsnake 40#@27"
Post by: wooddamon1 on May 11, 2025, 10:29:06 pm

Sweet, nice work!

Title: Re: Juniper/elk sinew/bullsnake 40#@27"
Post by: bjrogg on May 12, 2025, 08:03:33 am

Nice bow WB.

Very good job of learning from the advice given by others.

Bjrogg