Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: The Singing Bowyer on June 19, 2008, 12:02:20 pm
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I was fortunate enough to get to play some shows in Germany, as well as teach a couple of bowbuilding classes and attend a large traditional rendezvous. I thought I would share some photos and stories with y'all..... Ed and Sarah, I promise to get a proper piece written and sent your way. ;)
I arrived in Munich after an 8 and 1/2 hour ride across the ocean, and was picked up at the airport by my buddy Martin. Martin is an internation Bear bow dealer and has a beautiful archery shop in Prien, a village in southern Bavaria that lies at the base of the Swiss Alps. Here are some pics from Prien....
Martin's store...
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Pics of the village...
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I taught one bowbuilding class in Prien during my first week their. Most of the staves were Robine(not sure of the spelling). It reminded me mostly of Black Locust-- tends to have a bit of twist, but is harder than nails. I was told that they would have some roughed out staves ready for me when I got there for a weekend class. The 'staves" were about the size of a 4x4, so with no bandsaw available, I got plenty of axe time in to get them down for my students. I also put Martin to work on his table saw getting a few tillering trees together. I brought a tool box full of draw knives, scrapers, and rasps with me on the plane, and then put together what we could find to make it all work. It actually worked out pretty well...
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(http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g249/slaglesound/Picture021.jpg)
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I did a few shows in and around Prien that week. One gig was a primitive Bavarian guesthouse that had been there over 800 years.
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Still no pictures just big red x's
Pappy
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One picture at the end,looks like a polka band. :)
Pappy
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The second class was at at the Traditional Rendezvous 2008 Sankt Ötzen. Here we had a bit more tools to work with, and I found German folks to be excellent craftsman---which made my job much easier!
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Looks like a great experience ! Thanks for sharring....
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Their was lots to do at the rendevzous...including axe sharpening, making wool felt, and falconry.
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That wood you were working on was black locust. The name for black locust in German is Robinie http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/wood/english/papropse.htm , which refers to the genus name "Robinia" which in turn refers to the French scientist-herbalist Jean Robin http://www.allbusiness.com/furniture-related/office-furniture-including/687404-1.html . The tree has been widely transplanted around Europe, and I've read that it's easier to find borer-free, quality wood over there vs. over here in the US.
Will
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Is that a Virginia Hunter Safety Course patch on that jacket in the last photo?
Will
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Pics from the rendezvous...
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Yes, that is a VA Hunter Patch.... Many of the fellas who put this together are with the German Bowhunting Alliance, and most have traveled here to the US to hunt since bowhunting is illegal in Germany. They also hunt in Hungry and France.
Well, the Black Locust thing makes sense! It was a lot lighter in color and much cleaner than what I was use to here, but it worked and felt just like Black Locust.... :D
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This is a castle that could be seen from the rendezvous. Near the end of the rendezvous, I took some time to tour it and a concentration camp that was in the same town. We were right near the Czech border...
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I cant see any pictures Chad.
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That's weird...I see them just fine when I bring up the page. Any techies have an idea why some can see and some can't??
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Hi,
I can see all the pics too.
Seems you had a great time over here.
Btw. most archers and bowbuilders here have no intention to go hunting.
We very much enjoy 3D shoots ;D
Greetings
Radon
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Actually, members of state came to the rendezvous and were very positive about the opportunity to legalize bowhunting in Germany. Many of the folks who have been working toward that for years were very excited about it. We discussed archery tackle and it's effectiveness as a hunting tool. A group from the event are going to try and come over here to hunt in the Fall of 2010.
It was fun to shoot at 3D targets with broadheads, though!
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yes, robinie is black locust that has been introduced to europe a loooong time ago!
two bad i didn't know you were here, would have tried to join in!
frank
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That is pretty cool Chad. Lots of really cool pictures. Thanks for sharing. Justin
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This is my personal favorite.....I call it Bavarian Grocery Shopping ;D
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Chad, thanks for posting those pictures. I miss Germany! one day, I need to go back as a civilian. The bier especially looked good. The brand we drank was Hausenbrau (I think I spelled it incorrectly, means rabbit's brew, made near Augsburg).
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I can see the pictures now! Looks like y'all had a good time. Was there much of a language barrier? I guess they all spoke english?
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Now I can see them also,great pictures,looks like all had a good time. :)
Pappy
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Ryano,
The language barrier wasn't bad. Most Germans have had several years of English in school. I also found that many German words and English words were similar, so by the end of the trip, I could understand quite a bit of German (speaking would another matter entirely) :)
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Awesome ;D
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Wow! Looks like a great trip. Did you notice the cannon ports on the castle? Looks like it must have been either modified or built durring the time of cannon. The Archery loopholes usually angle from the small outside slits toward wider on the inside. Cannon ports where oppossite so when loaded with shot it could spread out more quickly and you could traverse the cannon more since you need less room to move it in.
David T
PS: Miss that German beer! Have you ever had the stuff made in Ruthenberg? Like drinking honey!
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Chad great Pics!!
looks like those guyes are really into it
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Thanks, Bear. Yep, they got the fever as bad as the rest of us... ;D One thing I can say is that no matter where you go, folks involved in primitive archery are some of the finest folks you will ever meet. Period.
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how the heck could i miss this thread?
chad, i'm glad you had such a good time over here. i wish i could have been there.
One thing I can say is that no matter where you go, folks involved in primitive archery are some of the finest folks you will ever meet. Period.
wait a second, didn't i say that after my trip to tennessee? ;D
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Dusty, you going to make the 12th Classic? Looking forward to meeting you there!
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Great pictures and looks like a great time Chad. Thanks for sharing!
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tiller, i'll try my very best. in fact, after my article and the stories i told at our annual gathering this year, a few german fellow archers expressed interest to come along.
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Dusty, just one request! PLEASE....bring beer!!!! Don't get me wrong Miller is great once in a while, but....
A nice German Ale or Lager is like a piece of heaven in a glass! ;D
David T
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tiller, i would love to, but the customs folks won't let me. last time i picked up a few 6-packs in rout to twin oaks, in a cigar an liqueur store, ron happened to know.
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Dusty,
If you can make it next year, I will do my best to get something as close to good German beer as possible. We can shoot a few Millers in between.... ;)
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Marius,
I was able to bring some wine as a carry on a few years back, is beer different? You could carry a case on each shoulder and your hand bag strung around your neck...I fail to see the problem here! ;D
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greg, they told me it's a (1) bottle of whatever you want to bring, be it wine, booze or wine. now what in the world would i bring a bottle of beer for? it wouldn't survive long enough to even get to customs ;D
chad, i appreciate it, my friend. i hear PBR is THE american beer and as close to german beer as it gets ;D
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Dusty you trying to kill me! PBR???? Ohk das ist nicht gut!!!! ;)
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Nice work Chad. Thanks for sharing. You still living in Shawnee?
Mike
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Yea! PBR!!! ;) 8) 8)
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Mike,
Yep, I am in Shawnee for the duration, I think. We like living on the lake, especially with the 10 nieces and nephews who come over to stay all the time. They all live in the city, so we have been teaching them strange things like running trot lines, planting gardens, and scraping bows. Poor kids will never be the same.... ;)
We will have to get together. There is a trad shoot coming up in July I thought about going to. A couple fellas from Tulsa that I hunted in Texas with last year gave me an invite.
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Dusty we sell German beer,just tell me what you want,If it is beer we sell it as long as it don't have Eagles on it. ;D ;D
Pappy
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pappy, you saved my life (and please don't tell pat ;D )
chad, i apologize. didn't mean to hijack your thread.
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Dusty you trying to kill me! PBR???? Ohk das ist nicht gut!!!! ;)
WAS!!! PBR ist gut ;D
i personaly am a milwaukees best light drinker but will take a pbr anyday. now if i could just get some of that haake beck pills ;D ;D ;D
singingbower.....i like the pic's thanks for sharing......it's been 11 years since my last vist,got one planned for april/may sometime.
my dad meet my mom in the when he was stationed there. visited when i was less then a year old then again when i was in the 1st grade and my last time was when i was 14! it is such a awsome place to see. i'm going to riterhude, it's right by bremerhaven. i got a bunch of relitaves over there (1/2 my family) so i'm going for at least two weeks.
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i like the way your friend made tillering sticks on the table saw...good thinking...
also, it was nice to see some women involved with the trip...nothing worse than a two-week-long sausage party!
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Yep, plenty of women getting primitive.... I think it's the beer that does it! ;D Although, if you count all the brats, it was still a bit of a sausage party....
Dustybaer, how can one speak of primitive archery and Germany without mentioning beer...it goes together like peanut butter and jelly!!...or brats and potatoes...
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Chad: Good to see you're teaching the city kiddies how life goes on even when there's no on/off switch involved. ::) Let me know when the Trad shoot is. I'd like to get together if possible. July might be hit or miss, but it's worth a shot.
Oh by the way, don't let the weather we're having fool you. It does get hot here, believe me. ;D
Mike
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Here are a few more pics from the trip. These are from the selfbow class I did in Prien...
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A beautiful sight.....
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And my wife said I have too many bows....
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The smiles say it all...
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New bows in action....
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Rockin' it in Bavaria....
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Amazing what you can still get on an airplane.... ;D
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Nice ,that had to be a blast. :)
Pappy
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I just found this thread too, but I can't see the pictures either. Chad, missed you at the Classic, I had to leave early, and Pappy said you couldn't make Cloverdale, so Will you make it next year to one or both. I tell you, we missed you at Cloverdale only Ron singing at the campfire and no crowd. You got any room out there, maybe I'll just come to you. Are you going to be teaching out there, and did you sell you house in Nashville. You still need a roadie for your tours I'm your man. talk to you later
Dustybear, Your welcome to my campfire anytime and we'll find your brand of beer for sure, also got the mason jar.
Brother Dan