Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bow of the Month Contest => Topic started by: OldBow on January 05, 2008, 01:17:59 pm

Title: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: OldBow on January 05, 2008, 01:17:59 pm
Congratulations to J. D. Duff of Gearhart, Orgegon
His Amazing Crabapple Character Bow is
December 2007 Self Bow of the Month

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,4575.0.html
Let's see how J. D. worked up this bow:
It's been a couple months since I've been able to post a bow.  Changes at work and enjoying life as a father have made discretionary time harder to come by.  Anyway, all the time I've been away, I've known what I would post when I came back.  I built this bow just for you guys--my dear fellow travelers of this narrow road called classical archery.  

On the first day of the 2006 archery season I called in an elk which hung up about 20 feet from me on the other side of a huge Oceanspray thicket.  While I waited in vain, I noticed some Oregon Crabapple growing around the Oceanspray and I made a mental note to come back with a saw.  When I came back, this was the stave I found.  Snarly, thorny, snaky, knotty and mysteriously beautiful.  I'm not a total sucker for character bows, but they have their place and I was so confident in the integrity of Crabapple as a bow wood that I knew a serious bow could be made from that stave.  I promised myself that I would build the most perfect character bow I could.  

While I was tempted by wide limbs, extra length, and lower weight at first, I decided that I wouldn't stoop to overbuilding a Crabapple bow.  It is 66" nock to nock and very random in width but averaging around 1 3/8-1 1/2" wide at the fades.  It draws 70#s at 28".  

Limbs taper to 3/8" tips with overlays of buffalo horn.  The buffalo horn overlays have deep, carefully-fitted Abalone inlays.  The strike plate is horn with a round fretboard-type Abalone inlay.  I also strove for perfect tiller in spite of the obstacles.  Crabapple is surprisingly forgiving to work so that was in my favor.  

In spite of about 60 knots, the bow has held together nicely and shoots well.  It has no string follow at rest due to the impressive compression strength of Crabapple.  It is a sweet shooter but I'm not going to kid myself about what it is.  I crafted this bow with a great investment of time and care and I can't imagine how I would feel if it blew up.  

This bow is a reflection of the best work I am currently capable of.  I owe so much to the people here who have helped, inspired and encouraged me along the way.  This bow is dedicated to all of you.  I hope you enjoy it.  

This bow produced about five pages in the Bows Forum:Here are some typical comments:
-" J.D., that's one of the most impressive bows I've seen in a long time. It's easy to see that many hours of work and craftsmanship went into it. Awesome!  " -Hillbilly
-"Dude, Thats about the coolest character bow ever! sweet!   I'm very envious.......I'm always looking for staves like that.  " Ryano
-"I would run from a stave like that! You're much braver than me and obviously a very skilled bowyer.  That's one to show off for sure, great job!" -Saw Filer

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Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: RG on January 05, 2008, 02:50:34 pm
Congrats good job J.D.
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: Shooter on January 05, 2008, 03:42:33 pm
Congrats, JD. That thing is out there on its own like Mars among the stars.
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: Pat B on January 05, 2008, 04:23:42 pm
Incredible Josh! Thats all I can say! 8)   Congratulations!!!  Pat
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: Justin Snyder on January 05, 2008, 04:38:17 pm
Congratulations JD, this bow is definitely one of a kind and a well deserved win. Justin
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: Ryano on January 05, 2008, 04:38:47 pm
Congratulations Josh!  ;D
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: leapingbare on January 05, 2008, 06:20:15 pm
Sweet bow.
It take talent to see a bow in a piece of wood like that.
                                  Leapingbare.
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: DanaM on January 05, 2008, 06:59:46 pm
Congrats J.D.
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: Marc St Louis on January 05, 2008, 07:08:12 pm
Way to go JD. An exellent bow and worthy of winning
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: koan on January 05, 2008, 07:58:47 pm
Congrats J.D......Brian
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: Gordon on January 05, 2008, 09:06:47 pm
You hit this one out of the ballpark JD. What are you going to do for an encore? ;D
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: cowboy on January 05, 2008, 10:10:44 pm
It's still freaky lookin - congradulation's ;D.
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: medicinewheel on January 06, 2008, 04:28:55 am

that's one really nice bow!

frank
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: Little John on January 06, 2008, 08:49:06 am
A well deserved win, congratulations.      Kenneth
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: AndrewS on January 06, 2008, 04:14:13 pm
Congrats, JD!

Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: GregB on January 06, 2008, 06:40:54 pm

I know you had to have put in a lot of time and effort into that bow... and it shows! Congratulations and a very well deserved win! :)
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: mullet on January 06, 2008, 06:51:58 pm
   Very nice Bow JD, Quality job.
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: Jbell on January 06, 2008, 09:30:51 pm
Nice job J.D.! I would love to shake your hand but your many miles from Illinois. :D
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: Glenn R. on January 07, 2008, 01:00:42 am
Same here, cogratulations  J.D.
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: Pappy on January 07, 2008, 05:34:54 am
Nice job JD.mighty fine bow. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: duffontap on January 07, 2008, 12:28:45 pm
My sincere thanks to everyone for taking the time to vote and post congratulations.  This bow ended up being the catalyst for some frank discussion about what's important in primitive archery and I am glad to have been around for that.  I said when I introduced this bow that it was dedicated to 'my dear fellow travelers of the narrow road of classical archery.'  Those of you who know me best know that I choose to walk many of the 'narrow roads' of life.  Along these  'roads less traveled by' you are bound to meet a lot of sharply individualistic people with strongly held opinions about what matters.  That individualism is one of the things I have come to love about this place.  There is no formula for the perfect bow for all occasions, and there is no formula for tapping into the mind of a primitive archer.  From all walks of life we gather around a common interest and it's a pretty blessed thing to be able to rub shoulders with all you talented people. 

         J. D.
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: Adam Keiper on January 07, 2008, 06:58:43 pm
JD, Your bow is a shining example of craftsmanship, and is an exceptional piece to be showcased.  It's truely inspirational. 
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: Gordon on January 07, 2008, 09:10:04 pm
Well said JD.
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: PK on January 12, 2008, 04:53:20 am
Much deserved from Exelence
Title: Re: J. D.'s Crabapple Character Bow is December Bow of the Month
Post by: ber643 on January 29, 2008, 08:46:22 pm
J D, I'm a little slow this time but I finally have your Dec BOM Full Draw pic posted on my web site. Great Job.

http://residents.bowhunting.net/bsdunn/tbd15.htm