Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Horn Bows => Topic started by: wizardgoat on January 01, 2017, 01:24:47 pm

Title: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: wizardgoat on January 01, 2017, 01:24:47 pm
Here is my second sheep horn bow, and my 50th bow overall. I got this set from my local classifieds, they were flawless and unpinned, and I was able to
get some nice slats from them. They are joined with a 2.5" lap splice, and two 3.5" risers on the back and belly.
Just sinew scrap glue, no rivets. I wrapped the handle with sinew, so I could do some pre tillering and not worry so much
about my handle. I got the horn core to a nice looking braced profile, then laid down 4 courses of sinew over a couple weeks.
I believe it was close to 3 oz. Its amazing how much reflex these bows take, after a month or so it looked like a seasoning Turkish bow.
I let the bow season nearly 8 months before I began to tiller it out. I used mostly heat, with a little bit of horn removal.
I had some twist to deal with, this bow saw many many heat gun sessions.
I wanted this bow to be a bit thicker than my first hornbow, not for draw weight, but for stability.
Its close to 1/2' thick just outside of the handle, and about 60/40 horn to sinew ratio.
37.5" ntn, and draws to 24". When I first finished the bow it was pulling about 42-44#, but I checked it the other day and its now pulling 46-47#
Perhaps its the cold weather. I left the bow strung over night, just to check stability. It took some string follow, but after 20 minutes it was
back to where it should be, at nearly 5" of reflex.
Its backed with a WDB rattlesnake skin, finished with shellac, 2 ply sinew string, and has a deer hide handle wrap.
Photos taken near Parksville on Vancouver island.
Cheers guys, thanks for looking.


(https://s28.postimg.org/f8r2rrvkd/IMG_1818.jpg) (https://postimage.org) (https://postimage.org/)


(https://s28.postimg.org/lnq3og2a5/IMG_1819.jpg) (https://postimage.org) (https://postimage.org/)


(https://s28.postimg.org/jkfogs2h9/IMG_1820.jpg) (https://postimage.org) (https://postimage.org/)


(https://s28.postimg.org/pb5uuiah9/IMG_1821.jpg) (https://postimage.org) (https://postimage.org/)


(https://s28.postimg.org/tybww9xu5/IMG_1822.jpg) (https://postimage.org) (https://postimage.org/)


(https://s28.postimg.org/dolqtdn65/IMG_1823.jpg) (https://postimage.org) (https://postimage.org/)


(https://s28.postimg.org/udn6pajrh/IMG_1824.jpg) (https://postimage.org) (https://postimage.org/)


(https://s28.postimg.org/tpec6cl1p/IMG_1825.jpg) (https://postimage.org) (https://postimage.org/)


(https://s28.postimg.org/iebohze6l/IMG_1826.jpg) (https://postimage.org) (https://postimage.org/)


(https://s28.postimg.org/spsmodv9p/IMG_1828.jpg) (https://postimage.org) (https://postimage.org/)


(https://s28.postimg.org/plhyrleh9/IMG_1831.jpg) (https://postimage.org) (https://postimage.org/)


(https://s28.postimg.org/40cw3zhql/IMG_1832.jpg) (https://postimage.org) (https://postimage.org/)


(https://s24.postimg.org/cudkhhsud/IMG_1954.jpg) (https://postimage.org)t (https://postimage.org/)


(https://s24.postimg.org/lqoclfjgl/IMG_1955.jpg) (https://postimage.org) (https://postimage.org/)
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: osage outlaw on January 01, 2017, 02:23:08 pm
Very impressive work!  The amount of bend you get out of those short horn bows is incredible.  The rattlesnake skin looks great on it.  Well done.
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: Aaron H on January 01, 2017, 07:46:24 pm
Stunner!!   That full draw is saaaaaweeeeeet!   I dig everything about it Ryan, and like Clint said, the skins look great on it. Very impressive indeed
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: Floridabowyer on January 01, 2017, 10:43:37 pm
Wow! Everything about that bow is perfect! Awesome job!
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: loon on January 01, 2017, 11:43:00 pm
Awesome!
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: penderbender on January 01, 2017, 11:50:48 pm
Very awesome little bow. These bows always amaze me. Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: BowEd on January 02, 2017, 08:28:47 am
Congratulations on a working piece of art with a sweet bend!!A sinew string to boot too.An inspiration to many a bow maker.That's a lot of sinew prepping too!!!Nice tribute to such a beautiful animal.
I think the next sinewed bow I make with more than 1 ounce of sinew I will construct and tiller it at least 5#'s under my preferred poundage to have what I want a year later to avoid retillering poundage off it.....lol.Although that is the nature of the beast.
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: Stick Bender on January 02, 2017, 06:30:27 pm
Another amazing horn bow from congratulations
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: Badly Bent on January 02, 2017, 11:00:13 pm
Killer bow Ryan. I forget about the horn bow thread on this site, gotta come over here and check out these amazing bows more often now.
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: mullet on January 03, 2017, 07:31:26 am
You nailed it, Ryan, as usual.
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: Marc St Louis on January 03, 2017, 10:11:22 am
Yes indeed, very nice
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: mikekeswick on January 03, 2017, 02:28:44 pm
Yeah! That bow is just too cool! I really like the final shape and good on you for making a proper string :)
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: Del the cat on January 03, 2017, 03:06:39 pm
Superb :)
Del
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: High-Desert on January 03, 2017, 04:55:49 pm
Absolutely amazing! Great job. This just inspired me to continue work on my first attempt at a horn bow.

Eric
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: ---GUTSHOT---> on January 06, 2017, 12:25:39 pm
Impressive! Wizard goat you make these horn bows look good! Keep up the good work and waiting on the next one to look at.
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: JonW on January 06, 2017, 06:18:26 pm
WOWZA! Ryan that is a spectacular piece of work dude.
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: DC on January 06, 2017, 07:38:47 pm
Now you're just showing off Goat ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: Redhand on January 07, 2017, 08:42:01 pm
Very nice. Great job on that horn bow.
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: dmikeyj on January 11, 2017, 11:04:03 am
Image links are dead.  Would love to see for voting...
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: fats on January 11, 2017, 12:39:09 pm
Never seen a bow made out of horns before; that is really cool.  Lot of time and labor, but it sure paid off. Beautiful bow!!
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: simson on January 11, 2017, 02:00:33 pm
masterpiece Ryan!
That thing is special, oh I like the 90° string angle. This is a spot on in every aspects.
All my respect brother!
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: bubby on January 12, 2017, 01:34:40 am
Wow Ryan thats is some impressive work, fd is outstanding!!
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: missilemaster on January 12, 2017, 04:04:35 pm
Oh my Ryan, Thats amazing!! Great job!
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: Buffalogobbler on January 13, 2017, 12:44:35 pm
Very cool bow!
Looks like a mini missile launcher!

Kevin
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: loon on January 13, 2017, 08:05:27 pm
so cool and tiny. is it harder to make than a sinew backed wood bow? I heard it can be hard to tame the twisting in the core-less horn bows. And 8 months... Would you mind sharing performance stats? I am definitely glad that bows can take that much bend, else I'd be stuck with either long bows or short draws..
Title: Re: Bighorn Sheep Bow #2
Post by: wizardgoat on January 17, 2017, 12:15:49 am
Thanks everyone for the kind words.
Loon, yes bighorn bows are harder to make than sinew backed wood bows. Because of twist issues, horn curl memory, and
also because it does not react the same way as wood during tillering. You must also rely on heat and a very accurate
thickness taper. This bow shoots very well, but is pretty low weight for what it is, I haven't chronied it yet, but I don't expect to be blown away.
Maybe one day after many hornbows I'll care about performance, for now I'm just happy to get them shooting  :)