Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Tuomo on January 26, 2026, 05:24:15 am
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My newest bow, just for me. Madake backing (from Jaap), sugar maple, ipe, and a horn belly. Osage power lam, with ipe and bulletwood in the handle. The handle is wrapped in green vegetable-tanned leather.
Draw weight is 57 pounds at a 28-inch draw (about 54# at my 27-inch draw). Length is 1720 mm (67.7") nock to nock. Width is 33 mm at the widest point, 24 mm at the handle, and 9.3 mm at the nocks. Physical weight is 766 grams. Taper rate is 0.007.
I like this bow; I am close to what I really want. The next one will be a bit lighter—about 45–50# would be just right. I will also make the handle differently, using a more modern method: two short belly laminates and gluing a one-piece handle between the back and the belly laminates (like "simk" makes his bows). I like the traditional look of this kind of glued handle, but it is very difficult to do correctly, and there is always a risk of it popping off, especially when using woods like ipe or bulletwood.
However, I like the shape of the bow, the materials are good (I think that madake backing is the best backing material and horn belly is the best for belly), and there are many nice details. Even so, it is almost impossible to make a bow I would be perfectly satisfied with!
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More images. Sorry, no outdoor photos for now – too much snow and too cold.
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Now that's another beauty, nice work for sure. :)
Pappy
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That is a gorgeous bow Tuomo, very nice work!
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Another beauty. I really enjoy seeing your work.
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That’s a beauty!
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Beautiful bow, Toumo. :OK
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Very nice. How long a run is the horn?
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The belly slat consists of five pieces: bulletwood in the middle, horn on either side, and black cherry at the tips. The horn slat is 59 cm long, and the last 18 cm of the belly slat is black cherry.