Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: simk on January 07, 2026, 01:39:01 pm
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I got that call from a customer - he needed a new bow for hunting bear in alaska he said. He went on and specified 60" long max and 67# at 28", takedown. Ok I said.
The next days I wasn't sure on how exactly to tackle this. Then I remembered ECHO - the bow made by our honorable member Simson - must have been 2018 or so. But anyways, I remember being deeply impressed by this bow. It's was kinda dream, top edge - unatteinable. But I knew, once when I grew up, I wanna try something like that.
These days I also remembered that osage stave with that deflex in the center - lying around in our archery clubhouse for years - an ugly belly split who nobody has been interested for years. It turned out as a fantastic piece - NOT A SINGLE PINKNOT.
So I had a plan: This will be my ECHO II.
Of course you cannot copy Simson - but I'm glad I tried. Max. width 38 mm.
Cheers
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thx 4 watching
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Beautiful bow! That's one of my favorite profiles to build.
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Incredible bow, Simk. She's a real beauty. :OK
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I remember Echo 1 .
Simson sure posted some awesome bows. He certainly had an influence on a lot of us.
You’re not the only one who kinda tried to copy him.
Beautiful work Simk on ECHO 2 . I’m sure Simson will like it.
Bjrogg
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What a bow! Immaculate! You paid great homage to Simson, and came through with the goods. Your customer is going to be happy. Great hunting bow.
I like how you did the handle. I don't normally like the step down of the male end as it can create weakness. You have paid close attention to detail and avoided the potential weakening of that area by leaving wood above the actual ring that makes the back. Such an important detail that many others don't take into account when making a similar bow.
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Simk that is one nice bow! !!!! January bow of the month candidate for sure!!!!
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That is one beautiful bow. I don’t know how it could get any better than that. I agree with Arvin, definitely a top contender for January bow of the month. Your customer will love it.
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It’s cold where you live!!🤠🤠
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Wow! - That bow came out of the stave you have pictured? That's amazing.
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What an absolute beauty. To my eye, that's about as close to a perfect looking selfbow as I've ever seen.
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Wow! - That bow came out of the stave you have pictured? That's amazing.
Yes, think so, too!
This sure an ultimate design and a thing of beauty!
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Very nice bow!
However, the bow is made in winter, when the air is very dry. What happens when the humidity increases? I have made a few take-down bows of this kind with a wooden male joint, and it tends to swell in more humid conditions (sorry…). Then it becomes difficult - or impossible - to attach or detach the parts.
Do you have a solution to this problem? Or perhaps I should ask: what is your solution?
Here is the original ECHO bow by Simson:
https://primitive-bows.com/osage-bushbow-r-d-77-28-no-113/
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Thanks Guys!
Tuomo: I don't have a solution yet :) These sleeves are made by a lot of bowyers and I have not heard about that specific problem. This was not my first one but there's always things to learn.
Right now its freezing cold and very dry here - however, wehen I made this takdown sleeve it was begin of december and relativly mild and intermediate climate here - so that is my hope, maybe I'm lucky :) Sure you have this effect more extreme in Finland with massive diffferences between summer and winter.
However I have already been thinking of how to improve that system - especially for drawweights like that. Thinking about putting some carbon also onto the male side in the future.
If this one does not work proper over longer period the bow will come back to my clinics and I will redo the handle as described. For now its gathering more experience.
Apart of that I find it a very smart and cool takedown solution, well doable with little material.
Cheers
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Stunning bow.
I don't think any other wood could take the stress of that design.
Del
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So sweet ! very very nice.
waiting for alaska pictures of this bow at the side of a bear :OK
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Now that is 1 beautiful bow, very nice job, that's one of them I would hate to send off. :)
Pappy
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Amazing bow!
On my last takedown with similar sleeves I thought it didn't matter if I violated the ring on the back in the non bending portion of the handle at the end of the sleeve, it did. I actually violated several rings as the picture shows, this was a very special bow for a collector in California, I used a very dense but difficult snaky stave and had matched copperhead skins to back it. After it blew I told him I couldn't complete the order, this failure took the wind out of my sails.
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Eric I understand the wind being sucked out of you! I would have thought that sleeve would have been fine also. What was the weight on the bow?
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52#@27", The handle overlay is a highly figured piece of oak burl as were the tip overlays.
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Echo II is simply a stunning example of the bowyer's art. It's hard to believe that the stave you had pictured ended up as Echo II. That is one beautiful bow. Congratulations on your skill and artistry.
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Eric, it’s hard to tell in your photo, but did you leave the final back ring run full length into the metal sleeve, or was it ended at the outside edge of the metal sleeve. I see Simk left a top ring over the final back ring to flush with his finished handle, not violating the actual bow back if that makes sense.
I’ve made 2 Osage takedowns with the metal sleeves, 1@44# and 1@48#, both 66” long, and so far have had no breakage issue. I left the top final back ring run into the full length of the metal sleeves, but really like the way Simk’s looks. I hope his holds up to the test of time, because I would sure like to give it a go.
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I did not leave the top ring intact, a fatal flaw for sure.
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Thanks Eric. I’ve been contemplating that, but was afraid to gamble it. I want to try the fiberglass sleeve, but will stick with leaving the back ring intact into the sleeve and maybe blend the leather wrap into the wood for looks.