Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: High-Desert on September 04, 2018, 10:38:30 am

Title: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: High-Desert on September 04, 2018, 10:38:30 am
This is my first Osage bow from a full stave that wasn't a short bendy handle. This is my third time making a bow from Osage and I have really enjoyed working with it. I have a few staves left to get after. It's amazing how plastic it becomes with heat. This bow is 62" ntn, 53 lbs @ 27", backed with a pair of dark copperhead skins. African Blackwood tip overlays. The skive joint tennis grip is my new favorite grip style, and I have been using it on most of my bows lately. I love the way it feels in the hand.
After reading Osage Outlaws post, and having a gate that won't stay closed, this bow may be the solution to keep it closed.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: High-Desert on September 04, 2018, 10:39:15 am
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Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: High-Desert on September 04, 2018, 10:40:10 am
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Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: High-Desert on September 04, 2018, 10:41:08 am
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Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: High-Desert on September 04, 2018, 10:42:06 am
More pics
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: High-Desert on September 04, 2018, 10:43:23 am
More pics
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: High-Desert on September 04, 2018, 10:45:04 am
More pics
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: simson on September 04, 2018, 10:45:48 am
Nice one! Now let's see the fd.
How did you get that dark color?
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: simson on September 04, 2018, 10:46:58 am
Haha, you has been faster than me! Looks really good!
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: High-Desert on September 04, 2018, 10:48:53 am
Thanks Simson. The FD shots up there, you were just faster at commenting than I am at posting.
The dark stain is a strong solution of vinegar and steel wool.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: bjrogg on September 04, 2018, 11:13:29 am
Very nice bow High Desert. That was my first reaction to Osage to. Wow this stuff just really bends sweet with a little heat. My second thought was wow this stuff works great with hand tools, draw knife, rasp or scraper. My final thought was Wow this stuff makes a awesome bow as you have also found out. Look forward to seeing what you turn the rest of those staves into.
Once again very nice bow.
Bjrogg
PS only thing that I don't like is it's really hard on my sinuses. I wear a mask now.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on September 04, 2018, 11:35:36 am
That looks great. I like everything about it.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: rps3 on September 04, 2018, 11:44:47 am
Fine looking bow. I like to wrap my handles like that too, but haven't figured out the skived part yet.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: DC on September 04, 2018, 11:59:45 am
Beauty!!
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Will B on September 04, 2018, 12:40:53 pm
Great looking recurve!  Love the copperhead skins and the dark stain.  Great job!
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: High-Desert on September 04, 2018, 12:41:38 pm
Thanks guys, I appreciate the comments.

Rps3, there is a good tutorial on here somewhere that shows how to do it. I built a jig that hold my leather strap at an angle against the belt sander. The jig is still a pain, but it helps.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: backtowood B2W on September 04, 2018, 01:03:51 pm
Wow! That is a really nice bow, beside the great craftsmanship you have a good feeling for colors. I like the colorcombo of the leather, copperhead and stain. I also used once a high solution of vienegar and steelwool, and sealed it several times with resin alcohol solution. It still have Abitur of this oily feel and I wonder if it doesn't hurt the wood. I stained 3 bows and all got somehow to much set. But maybe I have to work more on my tiller skills...
Again, really nice bow.
I need OO and SS
Backtothewood
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: rps3 on September 04, 2018, 01:09:29 pm
Thanks for the tip, I will have to check out the tutorial. I bought some type of curved razor blade that I just cant get to work right.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Morgan on September 04, 2018, 01:59:18 pm
That is one beautifully crafted bow!!
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: hoosierf on September 04, 2018, 02:57:53 pm
I am so impressed with that handle. Just cool. Awesome bow and it looks fast.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: simk on September 04, 2018, 03:01:14 pm
I'd call this an upper class bow, way out of reach (-;
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: osage outlaw on September 04, 2018, 04:03:42 pm
That is an amazing looking bow.  I hope to see it in the BOM contest.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: PeteC on September 04, 2018, 05:43:25 pm
That is a very nice bow,and I really like that grip.Any chance of a build-along on the doing the wrap? God Bless
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: upstatenybowyer on September 04, 2018, 07:20:29 pm
Stunning bow. I love everything about it.  )P(
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: TimBo on September 04, 2018, 08:37:31 pm
Any chance of a build-along on the doing the wrap?

Try this one:  http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,11781.0.html

That really is a head-turning bow!  Nice work.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: High-Desert on September 04, 2018, 08:50:25 pm
Thanks again everyone. Once I get back to working on the yew build along I have going right now. I could do the grip as apart of that build along. It would be only slightly different than the one that is currently on here.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Dvshunter on September 04, 2018, 08:52:16 pm
Beauty of a bow. The wrap is my favorite grip as well. Key points to it are thick pliable leather, razor thin feathered edges, good contact cement, pulling tight while wrapping, and even spaces of wraps. Your looks great!
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: High-Desert on September 04, 2018, 08:57:21 pm
Key points to it are thick pliable leather, razor thin feathered edges, good contact cement, pulling tight while wrapping, and even spaces of wraps.

Yes, exactly! And quadruple checking your fit to make sure it ends where you want it to. 
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Pappy on September 05, 2018, 04:52:19 am
Beautiful in all aspects, very nice job. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: leonwood on September 05, 2018, 05:14:37 am
Yes, those hooks! Great recurve and beautiful finish!
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: BowEd on September 05, 2018, 08:10:58 am
Beautiful outcome on a very nice bow.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: ohma2 on September 05, 2018, 08:26:07 am
Nice bow
your finish work is top shelf
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Bayou Ben on September 05, 2018, 08:33:39 am
Nice bend on this one.  Wow those recurves are serious.   I would call her Captain hook!
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Parnell on September 05, 2018, 09:28:39 am
Heck yeah, A+.  It is interesting how that leather grip stands out to me, though.  Very good looking.  Beautiful colors and bow.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: ntvbowyer1969 on September 05, 2018, 04:37:58 pm
Sharp looking bow. great job on that one.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Weylin on September 05, 2018, 07:02:52 pm
That's the whole package right there! Top shelf work, man.  8)
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: NorthHeart on September 05, 2018, 08:18:23 pm
Very sexy.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Aaron H on September 06, 2018, 10:53:30 am
Beautiful bow with excellent attention to detail.   :OK
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Whiskeyjet on October 01, 2018, 07:36:45 pm
Great stick!
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: selfbow joe on October 07, 2018, 08:06:15 am
Nice looking bow
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Hawkdancer on October 07, 2018, 10:29:28 am
Real nice! 
Hawkdancer
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Hans H on October 07, 2018, 01:32:01 pm
very nice bow, congrats
Hans
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: ---GUTSHOT---> on October 07, 2018, 04:55:04 pm
Very nice bow Eric!  You did a great job on that one!
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Bryce on October 08, 2018, 08:22:04 am
Now that’s a bow! Good work. The only criticism I would suggest is the transition on the back of the handle could have less of an edge.
Other than that. That’s damn fine craftsmanship
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Selfbowman on October 08, 2018, 08:46:05 am
Beautiful bow high desert !! Arvin
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: High-Desert on October 08, 2018, 11:01:52 am
Thanks everyone for the comments.
Bryce, I know what you mean. I still working on perfecting this handle, the last little bit has been a pain to taper thin enough on the belt sander. I’ll work on it for my current bow. Thanks for pointing out the minor details I need to work on, I like that sort of criticism.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Bryce on October 08, 2018, 09:05:04 pm
It’s why we post:) my first few bows got some great pointers on.
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Selfbowman on October 09, 2018, 02:47:18 pm
Congrats I was pretty sure that would make bow of the month. Well done. Arvin
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: Whiskeyjet on October 16, 2018, 06:14:12 pm
Congrats on BOM!
Title: Re: Copperhead backed Osage recurve
Post by: bradsmith2010 on October 17, 2018, 01:59:17 pm
wow thats a nice one,, (SH)