Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Lost Arra on April 19, 2008, 01:11:27 am

Title: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: Lost Arra on April 19, 2008, 01:11:27 am

Living in the plains means I'm usually using osage or hickory/pecan just because it's readily available. But like most of us who have read about the adventures of Saxton Pope I've always wanted to make a yew bow. So last summer I was able to acquire some nice yew at MOJAM and recently finished up my first one.

72" ntn 57#@28"  ELB limb design. Backed with deer rawhide. This was my first attempt at horn nocks and probably my last. They are functional but ugly ;D

My rawhide was not long enough for a midline handle splice so I covered the off-center splice with a leftover piece of snakeskin. >:(

This bow was labor intensive but I can see why yew was such a treasured bow wood by Pope and Art Young. It really zips an arrow.

Thanks to Dano for suggesting the rawhide backing and Horseapple (JD Jones) for getting me started on the horn nocks at OJAM.
I had placed hardwood overlays for the tillering and started to just leave 'em rather than use horn.



(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/LostArrow/Yew%20ELB/YewELB009.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/LostArrow/Yew%20ELB/YewELB014.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/LostArrow/Yew%20ELB/YewELB016.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/LostArrow/Yew%20ELB/YewELB019.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/LostArrow/Yew%20ELB/YewELB020.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/LostArrow/Yew%20ELB/YewELB011.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/LostArrow/Yew%20ELB/YewELB018.jpg)

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: david w. on April 19, 2008, 01:16:32 am

thats really really nice. i bet it shoots great :)

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: kayakfisher on April 19, 2008, 01:18:23 am

Good lookin bow , nice job  ;D

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: OldBow on April 19, 2008, 01:24:53 am

Looks like a real winner to me.
Yew is one of my favorites... lots of it aroiund here with a little effort.
Yoiu've got to be proud of this one and I know it shoots great!
Wei''ll look at it at the end of the month for April Self Bow of the Month consideration.

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: venisonburger on April 19, 2008, 01:25:35 am

Great looking bow, that yew is a pretty wood. what did you use for finish tru-oil?
VB

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: Rusty on April 19, 2008, 08:28:19 am

nice bow,
fine tiller, great wood, i like it!

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: DanaM on April 19, 2008, 09:49:43 am

"yew" done good on that one :)

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: PatM on April 19, 2008, 10:42:50 am

Nice work. There was an article on Pope's bows in TB a few years ago and that bow could be placed right there with the bows featured and nobody would be able to tell them apart.
 Pat

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: Pat B on April 19, 2008, 11:46:07 am

Nice yew bow with beautiful tiller. Like you I also found the horn tips the most unpleasant part of making an ELB style bow. ;)     Pat

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: Hillbilly on April 19, 2008, 12:08:36 pm

Great looking ELB. I like the little dab of snakeskin, makes it unique. Good job.

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: DCM on April 19, 2008, 01:42:10 pm

Looks like a "well got up" longbow for sure.  Horn stinks but it does look perty.  Looks like the nock point is extra high in the draw pic.  Well done.

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: Dano on April 19, 2008, 01:48:19 pm

Great job Bob, she dressed up real nice. In that full draw picture you look like you got a little strain on your face :o ;D

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: Lost Arra on April 19, 2008, 02:02:25 pm

Dano: for about the first 100 shots that look is the anticipation of the dreaded "tic" or "boom" :o


Plus I haven't completely figured out that camera timer so sometimes I'm at full draw for a while ;D

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: Dano on April 19, 2008, 04:57:58 pm

Been there done that!! You did a fine job, I wouldn't worry about that bow.

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: NOMADIC PIRATE on April 19, 2008, 06:45:54 pm

I like that one a lot Bob, You make me wanna start on one of the Yew staves I have waiting ;D,...love those old school ELB'S

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: Jesse on April 19, 2008, 11:20:50 pm

Looks like an awesome bow. Great job.
        Jesse

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: Olschool on April 20, 2008, 12:25:31 am

Hey Bob! Look'n real good there! Can't wait to see her (and yew  ;D ) in person

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: 330bull on April 20, 2008, 01:54:44 pm

Great Job!  That looks like a perfect thickness of sapwood.  Why not just cover the entire rawhide with a nice snake skin if you are unhappy with the patch?  Cherry Bark also looks awesome as a backing on a yew bow. 

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: Lost Arra on April 20, 2008, 02:42:32 pm

>>Why not just cover the entire rawhide with a nice snake skin<<

I thought about that Joe but I don't have 68" (two 34" pieces) of snakeskin but I did have a 10" leftover piece of bullsnake. (I'm cheap, see Tightwad posts ;D)
Plus, this turned into a marathon project due to my poor horn nock skills and I was ready to be finished with it.
I really kind of like the rawhide look since it doesn't take away from the beauty of the wood.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/LostArrow/Yew%20ELB/yewtips005.jpg)

Oldschool: the arrows will be coming. I didn't trust my first mailing box.

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: mullet on April 20, 2008, 10:15:59 pm

  Cool looking bow Bob.I know what you mean about the tips. After the first one I'm still thinking about the ERC in the works.

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: Pappy on April 21, 2008, 07:59:34 am

Beautiful bow Bob,very nice job,I love the look of Yew,got to do one of them some day. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: Yo Saxton! First Yew Bow
Post by: medicinewheel on April 22, 2008, 12:22:50 pm

beautiful!
frank