Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: broad_head on October 22, 2008, 10:37:25 am

Title: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: broad_head on October 22, 2008, 10:37:25 am

Hi all
          I was prompted by my friend Mark to post this bow, so here it is.
It is made from a hawthorn branch that had had a challenging profile. I had to steam bend the handle to get the string aligned, although it crosses the handle at an angle? I have not seen this on other bows, but it shoots OK. The tiller was very difficult for me to judge, and I am still not sure if I have got it right, as in addition to the snake front view profile it has a pronounced propeller twist. I have shot the bow several times and it is still in one piece! The draw weight is about 50lb at 28 inches. Nock to nock it is 67 inches. It has about 1 1/2 inches of set, but most of that was natural. I have made a number of bows from hawthorn and have come to the conclusion it is an excellent bow wood.
Any constructive criticism on the bow would be welcome.
                                                                                                Peter (UK)

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll140/broad-head/SL370363.jpg
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll140/broad-head/SL370358.jpg
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll140/broad-head/SL370357.jpg
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll140/broad-head/SL370346.jpg
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll140/broad-head/SL370344.jpg
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll140/broad-head/SL370342.jpg
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll140/broad-head/SL370338.jpg

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: OldBow on October 22, 2008, 12:12:53 pm

I've had good luck with hawthorne, too. Not as good a wood as osage but respectable. Got your fine primitive weapon bookmarked for Oct Self Bow of the Month, too.

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: Bowbound on October 22, 2008, 12:14:07 pm

Very nice bow, Inspires me to find some hawthorn

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: Hillbilly on October 22, 2008, 12:14:57 pm

Man, that's one gnarly bow. I bet those whoop-te-doos were fun to tiller through. Good job.

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: Keenan on October 22, 2008, 12:38:08 pm

 Good job on a serious challenge.  The dips and dives always make it harder to tiller and while sometimes it looks like the tiller is off. The main thing is to get the whole limb bending the same amount. Great job, congratulations

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: jamie on October 22, 2008, 12:41:48 pm

very cool

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: Gordon on October 22, 2008, 12:54:55 pm

Very nice, very nice indeed!

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: DanaM on October 22, 2008, 01:00:53 pm

I'm impressed, ya knocked the ball out of the park :)

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: John K on October 22, 2008, 01:07:48 pm

WOW ! Very nice bow indeed !!

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on October 22, 2008, 01:25:21 pm

Very nice  job! Jawge

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: Pat B on October 22, 2008, 01:37:38 pm

Cool bow!!!     Pat

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: GregB on October 22, 2008, 02:40:58 pm

Good work on a challenging piece of wood! Turned out nice!  :)

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: JW_Halverson on October 22, 2008, 05:04:31 pm

Hey, I make arrows that would match that bow!  We should talk.

Seriously, that is a beautiful piece of work. 

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: Mattco on October 22, 2008, 05:54:13 pm

THAT'S a bow of the month !!!!!!!

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: The Burnt Hill Archer on October 22, 2008, 06:17:23 pm

wow very well done! ive got a couple of hawthorn staves curing in my shop. i cant wait to get to it now!

Phil

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: redwasp on October 22, 2008, 07:54:14 pm

 :o freakin awsome. i love character bows. very nice job!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: PeteC on October 22, 2008, 08:12:17 pm

Good job on a very crooked piece of wood.Hope it stays in one piece  for you.Are you going to hunt with this bow?  God Bless

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: koan on October 22, 2008, 08:49:31 pm

SWEEET!!!!......Brian

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: cracker on October 22, 2008, 09:48:02 pm

Thats really wild. I like it a lot. Ron

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: Ryano on October 22, 2008, 10:49:30 pm

I'm becoming a fan of hawthorne myself. My hunting bow for this year is made of it. Good job.

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: ahawi stick on October 22, 2008, 11:06:46 pm

Really cool looking bow, bet those curves were quite a challenge to tiller, great job! 8)

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: medicinewheel on October 23, 2008, 02:46:26 am

challenging piece of wood!
very well done!!
frank

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: Pappy on October 23, 2008, 06:00:37 am

Very nice ,great job on a challenging piece of wood. I love character bows. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: armymedic.2 on October 23, 2008, 08:32:43 am

wow, talk about character, what a bow!

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: Postman on October 23, 2008, 10:50:00 pm

wow-crazy curves, man... Nice work. That hawthorn must be pretty tough stuff.

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: Gordon on October 24, 2008, 01:45:39 am

I'm working on a hawthorne stave right now - I hope it turns out half as nice as  yours.

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: markinengland on October 24, 2008, 02:58:22 pm

The bows is a lot more wild than it looks in the photos. Peter has many great bows he has made - if only he would show them here!
Mark in England

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: Sidewinder on October 27, 2008, 12:56:12 am

I would say you are either a gluteon for punishment or hard up for bow wood I don't know which.
Great job on that one. Your craftsmanship and care are in evidence, thanks for sharing. Why don't you go ahead and bring on the other ones Mark mentioned. Your in good company, you can't post too much of your work. We look forward to it.  Danny

Title: Re: Hawthorn character bow
Post by: broad_head on October 27, 2008, 11:05:27 am

Thanks everybody for your complementary comments.
If wasn't for the inspiration from this website and all the excellent bows shown I would never have attempted anything like this.
                                                                                                                                                                                  Peter (UK)