Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Justin Snyder on June 12, 2007, 08:40:34 pm
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My wife is the leader for a group of about 30 girls from 12-17 and they are at girls camp this week. I figured this was the perfect time for Cody to build his bow.
I told you guys I was going to post a build along when Cody made his first bow. The bow is 68" mulberry that Cody helped me to cut last fall. He even split the log himself. A lot of work for a 10 year old. It had a lot of sapwood on it so we used the band saw to remove the sapwood. I let him do all the cutting, I just didn't get far from the kill switch. ;) I did spell him off for a while when he was using the draw knife to remove the rest of the sapwood and chase a ring. I even gave him one of the pieces of banding that Pappy let me have. He filed and sharpened it and made himself a scraper. He then sealed the back with glue. I helped him with the dimensions, and he laid out the bow. I helped him cut out the profile so he didn't loose all his hard work.
That took up all day Monday, so we cooled off before bed. ;D Justin
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thats friggin cool
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Ah yes ! Indroctinate the children ! ;D ;D Good lookin' bow ta be and boy....bob
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Who's the goofy bald guy in the background? ;D This is way cool. Looking forward to following Cody's progress with his new bow. Pat
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Justin these will be memories neither of you will forget. Warms my heart to see this.
Cody can't wait to see yer hero shot. Well done.
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I'll trade you the pacific ocean for that swimming pool. Man that looks like a blast. Very nice design too.
Is that a powermatic bandsaw? Do you like it?
J. D. Duff
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Thanks guys. We were hoping to get the propeller out and get to tillering today, but work got in the way. The best part is I can work on my bows while he is working on his. While we are working together he stays motivated. He is a little like Greg though. He lets you know when its meal time. ;) ;D Justin
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That's cool Justin! I'm hoping when I get comfortable building bows I will be able to get one of my kids interested.
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JD, I was posting while you were so I didn't see your post. I love the pool. We open it for spring break in the first of April and close it after Cody's birthday on October 10. We heat it in April and again the end of September till closing. Right now the water is about 90*. It is salt water, but I'm not going to soak any bows in it. ;D The saw is a Shop Fox, and I love it.
Cowboy, if you have boys its no worry. They are interested in any kind of weapon. ;D Justin
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"It is salt water, but I'm not going to soak any bows in it" :D Don't start this again "Lily Pulitzer"! ;D ;D ;D.....bob
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Great bunch of pics. Justin. Cody looks like he is really concentrating on his bow......Brian
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Really cool, this is going to be alot of fun. ;D
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that's really nice! can't wait to see thisone fulldraw...
frank
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I have the same saw Justin, its a nice saw for the price :)
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Looks like it is coming along nicely Justin,tell that boy we are proud of him,we need some new blood,can't start them to young.Builds character. :)
Pappy
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Really enjoyed the pictures Justin...Cody looks like he's making fine progress too! ;) Is this bow destined for a gopher skin?
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Very nice pictures. Cody, congratulations on a great start! Jawge
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Thanks everyone. Cody really enjoyed reading this. Greg, Cody says, "Yea." He also plans to use a piece of gator skin from Eddie for the handle. Justin
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Hi Justin,
Please do Cody a huge favor and buy him a pair of safety glasses OK? I'd hate to see him lose an eye when working with power equipment. You just don't know what power equipment is going to do at times. Sorry I hate to be a knit picker but I have seen and personally been a victim of eye injuries.
Othwerise I loved the thread!!!
Joe
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Justin,
I have the shopsmith bandsaw. With a sharp blade it does most of what I need it to. My dad's garage has a new 18" saw that I resaw on and use as a little sawmill. I want one but my bandsaw works well enough that it's hard to justify getting something else.
The pool looks great. You built it yourself right? Pool of the month for sure.
J. D. Duff
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330 ;)
JD yes I did, finally found a category I can win the monthly prize for. ;D Justin
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Remember Justin ,only ones a year. ;)We can't have you winning every month. ;D
Pappy
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Ouch, was that directed at me Pappy? ;) ;D, it is a mighty fine pool Justin, is it magic like Pat's strings ;D
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That is OK Pappy, I'm fresh out of room to build another pool. They are a little more time consuming than bows are to build too. ;D One a year is all I can manage. If I just had some place to build another. Anybody want to volunteer some space for my next one. ;D Justin
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I am out of room also and wouldn't want another if I had the room.That is Joanie's baby.It
keeps her happy and yall all know that is what I am all about is keeping her happy. ;D
Pappy
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Justin, so you think 10 is about the earliest a kid could build his own bow? I ask because my 9-yr-old stepson likes fiddling in the shop but I don't know that he has the strength to actually push the rasp hard enough to really make something. I haven't been pushing him to actually make a bow yet, figured I didn't want him getting frustrated and not liking the hobby as a result. He watches pretty close, I figure he'll make a bowyer one of these days.
I sometimes set up woodworking stations for the kids, sawing, rasping and nailing. They each get at one place and do it for five or ten minutes, then I ahve them rotate. All of them like it, the girls as well as the boy. If anybody needs a 12-coat hanger unit made of a 2x4 and a bunch of mismatched nails, we are mass producing them in my garage. Let me know, I'll let them go cheap. And they made me a fine sign for my shop that says "Hillbilly Workshop", with pictures of tools and half the letter written backwards. That one's not for sale.
Pappy what kind of pup is that? I like the tiger-stripes.
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Justin, thats great you got your boy working with the tools so young, my son is 30 and I am now teaching him as he got into his house remodeling. Wished I would have started 15 years ago. My son has shown sporadic interest in bowyering, I might have to wait for my grandson to get me a serious student. Steve
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That is the way my son was he showed some intrest when he was 15/16 and now he is 21 and 3rd. year of college,I don't think that stooped his intrest but the girls sure did.Lennie it is a
Mountain cure,they come in Yellow /Black and Brindle.I had my pick and had never seen a brindle
except in a Pit Bull.She is grown now and weights about 35 lb. and a real tracking dog,I use her for wounded deer.I had Red Bones for years but they get pretty big and hard to handle.She works good on a leash and good around kid and grown ups alike. :)
Pappy
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Lennie, I think you have to decide based on the kid. I let my kids build their own arrows. They really enjoy it. I think I would start with arrows if I were you. I started an article with the kids building arrows. But when my computer crashed I lost all my pictures. We worked on it all day Monday, but took Tuesday and Wednesday. Back at it today. I don't want him working on it unless he is really excited to do so. He likes to build things to give to mom. ;);D
Steve, Make sure you start that grandson early. It does take a bit to keep them going with a draw knife. We are having a great time though. Justin
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OK, Cody is back to work on his bow today. First thing on the agenda today was to rasp the stave and clean it up. Then he used heat flatten the limb in a couple of places. I don't know if you can see it very well, but there was about 15-20 degrees of propeller in each limb. Cody heated the limb, and I helped him with the clamping. Now he says it is lunch time. Sounds like Greg doesn't he. Justin
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Hey Pappy, I have one of those too. Maybe I can grow up to be like you after all. Justin
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Lookin' good. He's getting a taste of everything that goes into a bow.
The kids make their own arrows, or at least they paint the shafts. They're happy to let me finish, fletch and glue on tips and nocks. Alex has helped with fletching and lacquer dipping. I'll play the bowmaking thing by ear.
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Way to go Cody its gonna be one sweet bow. Make sure to aim at yer dads nocks when shoot, he likes that ;)
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Or aim at othr things that might get a rise ouyta yer dad ! ;D.......bob
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That boy is coming along,looking good.Good looking dog to.Is it a male,I'm looking for a good Man for Sadie.I know yall are having fun and kids learn so fast it amazes me. :)
Pappy
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Now he says it is lunch time. Sounds like Greg doesn't he. Justin
Cody and I have a lot in common...we're both hard workers and have to keep our strength up! ;D
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Thanks guys, Cody sure is working hard. It makes him feel good when I show him the kind words you all have written.
Dana and Bob, don't encourage him. I already loose enough arrows to split knocks when I shoot with my kids.
Pappy, this is Millie. If I had only known, I would have brought you a male to the Classic. She had 13 puppies and the last one left the Friday I was at your place. I had everything from yellow to brown brindle (tiger stripes). Justin
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Keep me in mind if you have some more,I just love Sadie,don't know if all or like her or if it is because she has been brought up with Hanna or lab but she sure is sweet,lot better with people
than my old RedBones were,Greg use to say they demand respect and they did.Tell That boy to keep up the good work and maybe he can make it to the Classic someday and compete in the selfbow challenge,looks like he has a good start.Might even show him a Whitetail or 2. :)
Pappy
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I told Cody he can come with me to Tenn. next year. He and Alex both want to go hunting with me. They need to work up their draw weight a little.
Millie is all business when it comes to hunting time. But she will love you to death the rest of the time. Sweet is definitely the word I would use. I got rid of my hounds for the curs. I have several. They are much smarter and more personable. I would recommend them to anyone, especially if they have kids. Justin
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Love to meet them,and I agree about the dogs. :)
Pappy
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Hi Justin,
I'm really enjoying this thread. Cody , your doing great. wish I had started at your age. BTW, you should be safe as long as theres no chickens....I shot one with my first bow...Momma tore me up. I'll never forget it. ;D
Thanks for letting us be there....
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What a great thread. marlon
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Looks like he's doing a fine job so far. It's shaping up to be a nice bow.
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Thanks for the encouragement for Cody. He is doing a great job for sure. I have to keep reminding myself he is only 10 and needs a break to play. I certainly don't want him to get burned out or discouraged. We are having a great time at it. ;) Justin
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I've enjoyed this thread, can't wait to see him shooting the finished product, sure seems like he's loving the work. My son is 14 and girls have his attention, he'll be back.
VB
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Keep up the good work Cody with dad's assistance...the bow's lookin' great so far! :)
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I've enjoyed this thread, can't wait to see him shooting the finished product, sure seems like he's loving the work. My son is 14 and girls have his attention, he'll be back.
VB
I dunno- he's only 14, curves will grab his attention whether they're on a bow or a girl. Get him now before he gets to 16 or 17 ;D!
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can't turn the back on you for a minute ;D what a great thread. justin, you're a good man (i don't care what the others say) ;D.
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Hey Marius, your back. We are having a lot of fun. Cody is taking it nice and slow now. He is scraping and smoothing and sanding. You know how time consuming that is. Justin
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I can't wait to see the finished bow, and the look of pride on his face when he completes it. Great job, Cody!
Sean
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What happened to this one justin,we been waiting to see,get to hot out there.More time
in the pool and not enough time scraping,if your pool is like mine it is like bath water. ;D ;D
Pappy
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You read my mind Pappy I was wonderin what happened also, hope Cody didn't discover girls ;D
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Ya thats what happened to my son Beau.I hope he will get over it but I don't know. ;D
Pappy
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Been working on it a little. But he is taking hunter safety. That is eating up a lot of his time. He is at the scraping wood off stage. I don't want to push him to much at this stage. It is the hardest for me to stay motivated, so I can imagine what he is thinking. Justin
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I here ya,building bows ant a horse race. :) It is hard when you scrape for 15 min. and don't see any differences and then do it again. :)
Pappy
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This is a great thread.Justin your building memories with him he'll never forget.And it don't get any better than that.It also shows how good of a father you must be.Tell Cody to keep up the good work and he'll soon expierence the thrill of slinging a arrow from something he built himself.And that is a great feeling.tradrick
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Coming along nicely. I'm sure he will make a fine bow with your help
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Thanks tradrick, I think being a good father is the best compliment I can receive.
Thanks Marc, I appreciate the vote of confidence.
Part of the problem is that I am the Hunter Safety instructor. :o I am trying to get through before school starts, and work gets in the way of my schedule. Justin
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very cool just came up from the basement with the kids . they were scraping at theirs for an hour or so. your boys doing great. peace
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Lookin good there Cody/Justin! I've got to try and get the girls interested (to be honest I don't think it's going to happen). Maybe with the youngest, she's seven.
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Justin,Don't know how I missed this one.Great project,Great looking bow to be and you have a good looking son.Gator season starts tomorrow.
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I'm enjoying the build along so far, as far as age goes 10 is probably a good age to start, just make sure you catch them before the girls do, my son is 14 and it's hard to get him interested in alot other than the girls. I'll get him later when he's married, lol
VB
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OK folks, Cody was out of school today for Labor Day holiday. I woke him up to do his chores and mow the lawn. He asked if he could work on his bow after his chores were done. Today he got it floor tillered then cut the string groves. Justin
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very cool . i have to get the kids going on theres again now. peace
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Lookin good :), can't rush things most of the time - can't wait to see it bending.
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Look at the determination on his face in the first pic ;D Good job Cody and the lawn looks good also ;)
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He is definately determined, and having a good time. Justin
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OK guys, a little more fun on Saturday. I showed Cody all the different colors of wood, the different types and color of horn, and the different antlers that I have for nocks. No big shock, Cody wanted buffalo horn. I would have picked the same when I was his age. He cut the overlays from a horn that I had cut the tips off and sent to someone. Then he sanded and shaped them with the belt sander. He glued them on with TB 3 and used a rat tail file to cut in the string grooves. Justin
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Way to go cody, you will be shootin her soon ;D
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Very cool Cody,great job Justin.Your going to help cut the learning curve for him by years.tradrick
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Im guessing codys hair comes from his mothers side of the family? Just kiddin. Glad to see you and Cody doing the bow thing together,youll have the memories forever. Auggie.
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Looks like you are coming along good Cody,can't wait to see it shooting. :)
Pappy
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Justin,
It looked like the bow was bending quite a bit just off the fades in the floor tiller pic. Might be careful in that area. :)
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Thanks guys, Cody sure appreciates the encouragement. I think it is what keeps him motivated.
Auggie, Cody could shave his head and have more hair than I did when I had a mullet, so yes he gets it from mom. :D
Greg, I noticed that. I think we have it mostly fixed. I usually don't get the fades bending enough, so I'm not to worried about them bending. ;) Thanks for the heads up. Justin
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Just got back from Pipestone Mn, been bustin rock to get some stone, and saw this tread and was really impressed. Love to see the kids into bow building of any kind. It is really nice to see a father and son/daughter doing things like this together. The memories will out last all of us and then some. I will always remember the thing that my dad and I did together. Keep up the good work.
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Here are a couple more pictures. Applying snakeskins and cutting tip overlays.
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he's doing awesome
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Cool lookin bow! Really comin along - what kind of snakes are those?
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Thanks again guys. They are gopher snakes. Justin
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He is coming right along.He will be shooting before you know it.Great job Cody ;) ;D
Pappy
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OK guys, here it is, 67" NTN, 20# at 20", working recurve. It still shows a little bit of the dips in the upper limb. Gopher snake skins, bison horn overlays. Mullet sent us some gator skin for the grip. And of coarse Cody made a new Flemish string to match the stitching on the grip. Ill get some full draw pictures up tonight. Justin
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that is awesome plus his tshirt is really cool ;D
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Cody, you are in my eyes a true craftsman, enjoy your bow. Pass it on to your son some day.
VB
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Great job! Nice bow!....Brian
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Don't need the full draw pics to see it was a complete success. The smile says it all ;D
Congrats on a great job and a beautiful bow Cody. Now shoot some of dads nocks off with it >:D
Also glad to see you have more hair than dad ;) ;D
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Nice bow Cody,love the snake skin.
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Thanks for the nice comments. Cody is out shooting or I would let him answear. ;D I added a full draw to the other pictures to make it easier on Don.
Jamie, the shirt would have worked for me too.
Eddie, he really loves the gator. He had to take the scraps to school today to show his friends. Justin
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Way to go Cody!! fine lookin weapon - rabbits beware ;).
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WOW....That's an awesome bow Cody !!!!!!
I love the gator handle......Squirrels Beware too... ;D
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Great looking Bow Cody,I had faith in you.Looks great. :)
Pappy
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WOW. Great looking bow!!!!!!! This was a fun build-a-long for us. Really enjoy watching a father and son/daughter having fun together.
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Excellant bow.Love the snake skins and the grip.Thats a tough looking bow,you should be very proud.Now you can get started on some small game.Thanks for shareing guys.tradrick
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Nice bow! Cody ya smile says it all...see dad's are good fer somethin', well sometimes ;Ds......bob
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You done good, Cody. Great looking bow.
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Great job Cody! ;) I really like your bow a lot! Those gopher skins really look good too... :)
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Love it! That's one you can both be proud of. I particularly like the gator skin touch. I'd like to try that one of these days.
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hey cody! - cooooooooool bow!
frank
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Thanks guys it means a lot. :) And squirels, do beware. >:D
Thanks mullet, for the aligator skin.
Cody
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Cody any cats in the neighborhood >:D
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...NOT ANYMORE ( please dont let my wife read this)
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Cody any cats in the neighborhood >:D
We have dogs to train, we dont go waisting those house cats. >:D Justin
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I'm glad Cody liked the skins,They look good on the bow.As soon as I get some free time I have some more to clean.It's the season now.And Cowboy,I'll do the Otter ,too.
ps,We have some Monitor Lizards loose around here now.and I guy I work with is tired of a 6' Black Iguana in his pool at night.
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that is an AWESOME bow. i love it. the gator skin and snake skin is really cool i love it