Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: simson on September 17, 2012, 03:45:54 pm

Title: juniper west coast style bow, HLD (No. 7)
Post by: simson on September 17, 2012, 03:45:54 pm
Some time ago i got an interesting piece of juniper with a lot of little picks on the back and an silvery shining surface (after debarking of course). The piece was not very long, so i decided to try a west coast style. The bow  is incredibly light, with the sinewed tips only 276 grams. I made the bow 49" ntn with hollow limbs. On the upper limb just under the tip was a big dead piece of wood (from a big branch)., I cut it of an glued in a new piece from the same stave.
The dark spots are holes from dead branches.
I have experimented with the concave limb design already on about 20 or so bows with very good results (saves a lot of mass).

the bow is drawn to about 23" on the f/d pic
havent measured drawweight, but feels like 40-45#
the paddle is 2,5" wide
the mass of this bow is nearly  nothing, the wind can blow her away ....
no backing, nocks are strengthened with sinew because the string would easily cut through the soft wood

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/Juniper%20Westcoast/bow_003.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/Juniper%20Westcoast/bow_001.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/Juniper%20Westcoast/bow_002.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/Juniper%20Westcoast/bow_024.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/Juniper%20Westcoast/bow_023.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/Juniper%20Westcoast/_DSC0002.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/Juniper%20Westcoast/_DSC0005.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/Juniper%20Westcoast/_DSC0019.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/Juniper%20Westcoast/_DSC0010.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/Juniper%20Westcoast/_DSC0008.jpg)


(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/Juniper%20Westcoast/_DSC0028.jpg)

Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: Parnell on September 17, 2012, 04:25:54 pm
Look out, that's differently done!  I'm impressed!
Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: sadiejane on September 17, 2012, 04:31:09 pm
outstanding bow!
(as is the other one you posted)
Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: NruJaC on September 17, 2012, 04:34:56 pm
Oh wow that is some concave section. Absolutely amazing work. I still want to know how you did it! I found this old discussion (http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/9520/Concave-limbs#.UFdy7BBBXmE) on the subject, and the consensus seemed to be that it would require an extremely elastic wood, and probably shorten the life of the bow!
Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: burchett.donald on September 17, 2012, 04:47:22 pm
   Mr. Simpson,
                         That is the most interesting bow. Thanks for sharing. The tips are so small and with that ultra low mass the hand shock would be a lite little thump just shoving the arrow.
                                                                    Don
                                             
                       

                                                 
Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: Jodocus on September 17, 2012, 04:49:36 pm
You have posted a pic of that wood before, right? I have been thinking about it at times quite surprisingly again and again, it never really left my head. I think it was a good idea you didn't put sinew on the back. A really cool piece. Looks like those pieces of wood you sometimes find on the banks of rivers, that have been carved by sand and water. There will probably never be one like this again!
Oh, and the pics are very nicely done.  8)
Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: Carson (CMB) on September 17, 2012, 06:02:34 pm
I am digg'n your bows simson.  Love the pics too.  Inspiring work.
Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: fishfinder401 on September 17, 2012, 06:25:31 pm
thats an awesome bow..... i wonder what other woods could stand up to being concave
Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: coaster500 on September 17, 2012, 06:40:13 pm
Back to back winners!!!

Really interesting work!!
Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: sharpend60 on September 17, 2012, 07:16:53 pm
Very nice work.

I really like unique bows.
Yours defiantly qualifies .
Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: Badly Bent on September 17, 2012, 07:43:11 pm

Another one of a kind bow from you simson, really love your work.
Greg
Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: Dvshunter on September 17, 2012, 07:44:56 pm
Great looking bow. That is a wild limb design. Nice work.
Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: bubby on September 17, 2012, 08:14:02 pm
cool bow, I'm wondering if a narrower limb equals the low mass your getting but adding a longer life to the bow? Bub
Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: rossfactor on September 17, 2012, 08:34:53 pm
Low mass is only one potential advantage of the the hollow limb design. See this interesting discussion:

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,2544.0.html

Gabe
Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: bubby on September 17, 2012, 08:40:37 pm
thank's Gabe, i'll read that acouple or twenty times and see if it sink's in, Bub
Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: Hunter Van Winkle on September 17, 2012, 09:03:25 pm
RIDICULOUSLY beautiful bow.

It seems a hollow belly might potentially be the most efficient design, going opposite of the fact that a crowned belly is the least efficient (in materials that are weak in compression which includes most wood).
Title: Re: juniper west coast style bow, hollow limb design
Post by: simson on September 18, 2012, 12:03:18 pm
Thank you guys for the interesting discussion and the links!

Quote from: Jodocus on September 17, 2012, 04:49:36 pm
I think it was a good idea you didn't put sinew on the back.
Oh, and the pics are very nicely done.  8)

The decision to leave it unbacked was easy, because this wood is very elastic and this is the most lightweight (mass) bow I ever had.

Quote from: fishfinder401 on September 17, 2012, 06:25:31 pm
thats an awesome bow..... i wonder what other woods could stand up to being concave


I've done about 20 bows with hollow concave limbs. Osage, Juniper, BL, Elm and a few others. Everything is just fine so far, no problems. Bl and Juniper were lightweight (drawweight) bows.

Quote from: Hunter Van Winkle on September 17, 2012, 09:03:25 pm
RIDICULOUSLY beautiful bow.

It seems a hollow belly might potentially be the most efficient design, going opposite of the fact that a crowned belly is the least efficient (in materials that are weak in compression which includes most wood).

I don't think a crowned belly is the worst design, but perhaps Steve can jump in. IMO it depends on bowdesign and wood species (english longbow!). It is interesting that this design was already built 3500 b.C. on an yew longbow (archeol. find in switzerland).