Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: High-Desert on July 01, 2017, 12:05:48 am

Title: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: High-Desert on July 01, 2017, 12:05:48 am
This was my first attempt making a asymmetrical tillered bow, the second is the one I am currently working on for the trade. I made hickory bow for a friend of mine earlier this year and he found a pair of sturgeon skins and gave them to me. So I used them on this yew bow. The yew is from a tree I cut in 2010, it had some damaged sapwood, so I removed it. As much as I really like yew sapwood, I really enjoy heartwood only bows. This stave had some twist which was a struggle to get out, and manage to get the recurves lined up straight. I couldn't believe how tough sturgeon skin is; it takes tin snips to cut it while dry. I had a bit of a struggle getting then on. I first rawhide back the bow for most of the length with TB3, then I went to apply the surgeon skins after it was tillered with hide glue....I must have did something wrong because they blew off the bow with the sound of a bow breaking, remaining only attached at the grip. Like an idiot, I thought glueing them down with TB3 would be a good idea, hoping that hide glue and TB3 just might bond to one another, full well knowing they would. That ended with another bow breaking boom, minus the broken bow. I removed the sturgeon skins, soaked them and cleaned them well with dawn, removed the rawhide from the bow, and glued the skins down with TB3. Success!

It's 60" nTn along the curve, 55 lbs @ 26". The tips are african black wood. Any criticism of the tiller would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: High-Desert on July 01, 2017, 12:08:00 am
more pics
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: DC on July 01, 2017, 12:12:41 am
Great looking bow, love the skins.
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: gfugal on July 01, 2017, 12:34:41 am
Beautiful!
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: shofu on July 01, 2017, 12:40:59 am
Wow! Gorgeous
G.
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: penderbender on July 01, 2017, 01:52:30 am
Tiller looks great and those skins....wow they are nice. Great job Eric. Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: Del the cat on July 01, 2017, 02:16:09 am
Wow that's beautiful.
BTW... that's why Sturgeons live in the water, 'cos their skin is too stiff if they don't  ;)  ::)
Del
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: chamookman on July 01, 2017, 02:49:12 am
Outstanding - beautiful combination  :OK ! Bob.
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: Hamish on July 01, 2017, 05:15:59 am
Dats Sweet!!!
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: Stixnstones on July 01, 2017, 06:48:00 am
Duuude! what a great lookin bow... nice work
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 01, 2017, 06:48:17 am
Great looking bow, skived grips are so classy. The finish work is so good it looks "plastic". Fantastic work.

I think you could have gotten the fades to move a bit more, but other than that it looks really good from Michigan.
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: bjrogg on July 01, 2017, 06:57:29 am
Nice bow. Way to stick with it when your glue didn't. Bet that made your heart skip a beat. I agree with Pearl "looks good from Michigan". I really do like those Sturgeon Skins. Gotta get me some of them sometime.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: BowEd on July 01, 2017, 08:03:41 am
A person kinda forgets about the troubles after a nice looking bow like that or in other words it was worth it.Nice bow and finish work.
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: Pat B on July 01, 2017, 10:59:32 am
Very sharp looking bow.  8)
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: upstatenybowyer on July 01, 2017, 11:54:11 am
Stunning! I love everything about it.  :)
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: Mad Max on July 01, 2017, 12:42:48 pm
It really looks awesome
Good job
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: Whiskeyjet on July 01, 2017, 02:28:42 pm
That looks great! Nice work!
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: Aaron H on July 01, 2017, 04:11:23 pm
Excellent bow HD, skins look great along with the rest of the finish work.
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: Bob W. on July 01, 2017, 05:07:19 pm
Beautiful work, the sturgeon skins look great and that awesome yew is well, yew!
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: Will H on July 01, 2017, 05:18:27 pm
I like it a lot!
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: High-Desert on July 01, 2017, 07:18:46 pm
Thanks everyone, I appreciate the compliments and suggestions.. I agree Pearl Drums, I could get those fades working a bit more.
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: ---GUTSHOT---> on July 01, 2017, 07:45:59 pm
Oh so very nice! Love those sturgeon skins
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: rps3 on July 01, 2017, 08:07:33 pm
Hard to imagine that beautiful bow had such a rough journey getting there.
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: selfbow joe on July 01, 2017, 09:43:08 pm
Beautiful bow. Really like the sturgeon's skins.
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: Sagebrush on July 03, 2017, 02:48:33 am
That makes me want to head down to the columbia to catch some sturgeon. I still have halibut and ling on my target list too.  That finish is outstanding.
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: Pappy on July 03, 2017, 06:02:11 am
Beautiful bow, finish work is exceptional. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: leonwood on July 03, 2017, 07:03:32 am
That bow is stunning! And those skins!!! Good job on aligning the recurves with the twisted limbs, been struggling with that a few times as well  ::)
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: Marc St Louis on July 03, 2017, 08:01:45 am
Very nice indeed.  AS PD said, a bit more movement at the fades
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: DuBois on July 03, 2017, 09:38:04 am
Wow man! that is very fine work!!
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: Peacebow_Coos on July 04, 2017, 02:54:37 pm
Great work, love it
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: ntvbowyer1969 on July 10, 2017, 01:52:12 am
Such a classy looking bow and  the special attention applied on the finishing...great job.
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: George Tsoukalas on July 10, 2017, 07:47:34 am
Looks great! Well done. Jawge
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: RatherBinTheWoods on July 11, 2017, 08:35:55 am
Criticising that would be like criticising the Mona Lisa for having a wonky smile!! Absolutely beautiful workmanship
Title: Re: Sturgeon backed Yew recurve
Post by: Hans H on July 12, 2017, 01:16:55 pm
yes sir, that`s a really beauty
Hans