Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bow of the Month Contest => Topic started by: OldBow on May 05, 2007, 01:29:10 pm

Title: April Backed Bow of the Month Winner
Post by: OldBow on May 05, 2007, 01:29:10 pm
Congratulations to Gordon Ferlitsch of Tigard, Oregon for His Distinctive
Backed Bow of the Month for April
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(This is Gordon's Fourth Bow of the Month)
Here is how he made this fine weapon:
A year ago a friend, Terry, gave me set of sister yew billets.  Even though I had had no experience working with yew I could see that the wood was top rate – high ring count, thin sapwood, and clean. Unfortunately, the billets were cut such that the surface that would form the bow’s back was angled sharply. Over the course of several months I came back to the billets frequently trying to figure out how I could get a self-bow out of them – but I just couldn’t see a way. Recently Terry inquired how I was coming along with the billets. I was a little embarrassed to admit that crafting a bow out of the fabulous wood he gave me had eluded me. I explained why and added that perhaps a more experienced bowyer could accomplish it, but that I would need to back the wood in order to be successful. Terry then graciously offered me a bamboo slat for the job.

I had never made a bamboo backed bow before (or, for that matter, a laminated bow) so I read everything on the process that I could get my hands on. I also ordered Dean Torges’ video and found it quite helpful. Despite my research there were some surprises. Before the glue-up I floor tillered the bow to about 70# which gave me a limb thickness of about 1” at the fades. When I took the bow out of the form it was about as flexible as an iron frying pan. By the time I had finished tillering the bow the thickness of the yew at the fades had been reduced from 1” to ½”. The amount of strength that bamboo adds is simply amazing! I am also pleasantly surprised how snappy the bow is. It seems just as powerful as my glass longbow which has the same weight rating. Did I mention that bamboo is amazing stuff?

I should also mention the reason for the thread wrappings on the limbs. During tillering a fret developed on the upper limb at a knot that passed through the belly. I used a technique I learned from John Strunk where he laminates a patch of raw hide over the belly area that is fretting and then wraps the whole works with thread. I did the same and it seems to have worked perfectly.

Here are the bow’s specifications. Yew backed with bamboo, 65” ntn, 55# @ 27”,  1 ¼” wide at the fades tapering to ½” at the tips, tips are black water buffalo horn. The handle is elk hide dyed with a combination of red and brown leather dye and a Strunk style handle lacing. The bow is finished with 9 coats of Tru-Oil. The bow holds 2” of reflex even after shooting – did I mention that bamboo is amazing stuff?
 

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Title: Re: April Backed Bow of the Month Winner
Post by: Jbell on May 05, 2007, 01:58:29 pm
Congratulations Gordon! Will we be seeing more bamboo backed bows in the future?
Title: Re: April Backed Bow of the Month Winner
Post by: AndrewS on May 05, 2007, 07:35:02 pm
Congratulations Gordon. You got it with your first bobacked bow - great! Your bow is an outstanding artwork and have I said that bo is amazing stuff ;D?
Title: Re: April Backed Bow of the Month Winner
Post by: ber643 on May 05, 2007, 09:50:36 pm
Congratulations, gordon. I knew that bow was a winner from the git-go and I was surprised and pleased just to be any where's close to it in the running.
Title: Re: April Backed Bow of the Month Winner
Post by: portlandfire on May 06, 2007, 03:27:16 am
Congratulations on a well deserved award.  The bow is awesome and shoots like a dream

Dave
Title: Re: April Backed Bow of the Month Winner
Post by: medicinewheel on May 06, 2007, 05:02:21 am

hey gorden!  -  congratulations! ...nice first try on boobacked bows i'd say  8)

frank

ps: bamboo is amazing stuff, isn't it....
Title: Re: April Backed Bow of the Month Winner
Post by: 1/2primitive on May 06, 2007, 09:51:07 am
Great job, great bow, it was a well deserved win....again. ;D
       Sean
Title: Re: April Backed Bow of the Month Winner
Post by: Gordon on May 06, 2007, 11:49:51 am
Thank you all so much. I am humbled by this honor.
Title: Re: April Backed Bow of the Month Winner
Post by: Mickey on May 06, 2007, 12:28:44 pm
There is a history of great bows coming out of Gordons woodshop. It doesn't suprise me when he gets acknowledged by his peers for his talent. Congrats Gordon.
Title: Re: April Backed Bow of the Month Winner
Post by: tpoof on May 06, 2007, 01:22:27 pm
Gordon sir!  ;D Every bow you get your hands on turns out to be a work of art!
Just another example of your talent!  Very well done! A beautiful bow!!! ;D
Title: Re: April Backed Bow of the Month Winner
Post by: DanaM on May 07, 2007, 05:33:11 am
congrats Gordon, well done

Dana
Title: Re: April Backed Bow of the Month Winner
Post by: tradbowr on May 07, 2007, 08:08:07 am
Congrats Gordon !!!    Very good job on the first boo backed bow  .
                                                        Pete
                                         
Title: Re: April Backed Bow of the Month Winner
Post by: GregB on May 07, 2007, 02:09:38 pm
Congrats on a beautiful bow! :)
Title: Re: April Backed Bow of the Month Winner
Post by: koan on May 09, 2007, 07:46:51 pm
Congrats Gordan, great bow.....Brian
Title: Re: April Backed Bow of the Month Winner
Post by: Marc St Louis on May 10, 2007, 10:59:07 am
Well done Gordon. You seem to be a frequent winner, which is not surprising