Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: DirtyDan on August 24, 2008, 12:43:24 pm
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Pat suggested that I put this bow on this site. I had it on TradGang and it seemed to create some interest. I cut this sapling over by the railroad tracks and I am not sure whether it is a black or honey locust, but I know from the leaves that it was a locust. I took off the bark and sealed the whole thing with spray shellac and put it in my drying box for a week. I then split it down the middle and left the rounded outer half as the back. I cut off one end, split it, and glued it on as a handle. I have been amazed at how will this arrangement has worked. I think the sapwood makes a good backing for the heartwood. Even though there are several knots, the bow is very solid. 64" long, 54# @ 26". (http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/locust%20sapling%20bow/DSC_0469.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/locust%20sapling%20bow/DSC_0468.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/locust%20sapling%20bow/DSC_0465.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/locust%20sapling%20bow/DSC_0464.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/locust%20sapling%20bow/DSC_0462.jpg)
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Thats a fine looking bow. :)
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That is a good looking bow Dan. Is thier any heartwood? I can't really see anything but white in the pic's - interesting..
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Looks great dan :)
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Glad you took Pat's advice. This is a fine primitive bow and well done. Bookmarked for Aug Self BOM, too :)
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That's a beauty and the handlework is very elegant.
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I told ya'll so! ::) This is a very cool bow and especially because it is made from a "you can't make a bow from that" wood and to top it all, is just a few weeks at most! 8) Very cool, Dan! Thanks for posting this beauty here on PA. Pat.
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That's a heck of a nice loking bow Dan, And I have to agree with Gordon, beautiful job on the handle.
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Very nice Dan. Good for you for pushing through the norm and attempting something new. The handle wrap is especially nice. Congratulations on a fine bow. Keenan
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Great looking bow, Dan. I've wondered if locust sapwood wouldn't even out the tension/compression thing that causes locust to chrysal sometimes. I've got a stave that still has sapwood that I've been thinking about making a sapwood-backed Cherokee bow from. I've read that a lot of the locust native bows still had sapwood on the back. Again, mighty fine looking weapon. 8)
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nice bow!!
frank
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Great bow you have build there. :o
I have read in a german archery forum about Black locust sapling bows,
well when i think, they weren`t all totally out of sapwood -only the back and the results were from good to bad when I remember that the right way.
I gonna get a nice Black locust tree in a couple of weeks -my first one.Then I will see whats the story like with that kind of wood my self
Gruß Acker
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I'm guessing the rounded back and flat belly probally helps too....
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Great bow Dan! Thanks for posting it here. Think I'll try locust with sapwood soon myself.
Alan
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Thanks, guys. Cowboy, there is 1/8 to 1/4 inch of heartwood, thicker, of course, on one limb than on the other, but I think most of it is sapwood. But it is surprisingly strong, takes hardly any set, and retains its strength after many shots.
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really nice looking bow, just goes to show how nice a locust bow can look.
Robb
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Beautiful Bow Dan,another very nice job.The tiller and grip looks great. :)
Pappy
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I'm guessing it was Black, from looking at the heartwood color on the belly. Killer bow, thanks for posting.
~Papa Matt
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Very fine piece of work there Dan.Ron
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10-4 Dan. That does make sense for the primitive's to have used the sap wood - lot less work.