Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: backtowood B2W on April 13, 2020, 08:11:23 am

Title: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: backtowood B2W on April 13, 2020, 08:11:23 am
Hi folks!
First of my BL fence pole staves. Splitting the pole, it had some serious fungi damage to the core which I hollowed out immediately to see if there is a bow in it. Removing almost all of the sapwood I was left with a quite skinny roughed out bow. I could get rid of all the damaged wood only in the upper limb wood but I was to curios if it will hold together. Dried pretty fast and I worked on this during winter beside my arrow projects off and on inside the house (not much wood removal, sanding outside and my wife was ok with the mess).
I wanna tribute this bow to "HALF EYE" Richard Rousseau who was one of the greatest short bow builders. So much knowledge about native Indian bows has passed away with this, I believe, very nice person. Red many posts of him and feel honored to get a positive feedback once, on one of my earlier bow posts.
I tillered the bow by bending over my knee and tried to get the handle bend at last and just to feel it.
I really enjoyed the build also the hollow limb design didn’t bother me to much as one half was almost done by the fungi already. Interesting is the fungi wood of the lower limb destroyed the early growth ring into a crumbling pale sponge. The late growth ring turned to a dark brown with black strikes and comparing to the other limb, even harder wood!?!
Also the growth rings of the upper become thinner outwards so I got an island there. Where the island started it chrysalled lightly. Thats the first lesson I learned from teacher BL and I’m not so sure about the second. I continued tillering - the bow took very less set and the tiller looked good to so I wasn’t afraid to draw it further. When I draw it to 26“, the upper limb crysalled lightly right out of the fades about 13“. This caused a little bit more set, but  it still holds about 1cm reflex. I started with 2,5cm. Dynamic set (the set which disappears after unstringing and resting) about 1cm.
As this limb should be the healthier one I’m not sure why.
Hope you guys have some clues about that.
My wife wants it and she has a 24“ draw max. So the bow should survive.
No corrections and no heat treatment have been done to this bow. It has a bit of S-shape and twist in it. The narrowed handle and tips I copied by bows made by Sioux and Cheyenne.


braceheight: 4 7/8“
ttt: 53"
35#@25"
Max w: 1 1/4“
Fades: 3“
Nocks w: 1/2“
Symmetric
Crosssection: tapered and hollowed
Mass: 248 gramm without handle wrap
Nocks: cow horn
Finish: two coats of resin beeswax than 2 coats tung oil
Handle:hard foam push ups at back and belly wraped with thin leather and secured with an linen shoe lace.
Arrow rest: dogwood
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: backtowood B2W on April 13, 2020, 08:12:22 am
more
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: backtowood B2W on April 13, 2020, 08:13:30 am
more
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: backtowood B2W on April 13, 2020, 08:15:09 am
some more - thanks for watching.
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: RyanY on April 13, 2020, 08:42:27 am
Awesome little stick. Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: sieddy on April 13, 2020, 10:38:37 am
Great looking Bow and nice tribute to Half eye who seemed like a really great guy as well as a great Bowyer! 😊
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: Hans H on April 13, 2020, 11:03:05 am
very nice bow, nice tiller, congrats
Hans
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: Likemp on April 13, 2020, 11:43:00 am
That is really cool!! Black locust is all I really have available and I'm just more and more impressed with what people do with it. It's really beautiful.
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: simson on April 13, 2020, 12:25:54 pm
cool bow, I like it!
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: backtowood B2W on April 13, 2020, 12:41:07 pm
Thank you guys!
No clues about the chrysalis! Or any concerns giving it away to my better half (--) ->  (R
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: bradsmith2010 on April 13, 2020, 01:55:02 pm
beautiful bow,,
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: George Tsoukalas on April 13, 2020, 03:12:28 pm
That is an awesome bow. The tiller is excellent. Rich would be proud. Jawge
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: Rākau on April 13, 2020, 04:26:10 pm
I think that is the first time I have seen a hollow limb carried on through a bending handle, awesome little bow!
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: BowEd on April 13, 2020, 04:43:42 pm
Very good tiller on your bow.I can see the advantage of the hollow limb technique on highly crowned limbs.
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: rps3 on April 13, 2020, 05:06:02 pm
Very nice.
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: backtowood B2W on April 14, 2020, 12:25:44 am
Thank you guys!
Very good tiller on your bow.I can see the advantage of the hollow limb technique on highly crowned limbs.

It is also tapered at the sides, makes the crown even higher.
That is an awesome bow. The tiller is excellent. Rich would be proud. Jawge
Thanks, hope he looks down, and thinks the same!

Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: simk on April 14, 2020, 03:00:44 am
Back to wood is back to business - happy to see that (-S Georgeous tiller, nice details....I like it a lot! Still saving the easy pieces of your stock pile and still going for the challenge  ;D. All the best to you and your family! Cheers
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: GlisGlis on April 14, 2020, 06:49:03 am
Very nice bow !!!
Hail to Halfeye  (SH)
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: hoosierf on April 15, 2020, 07:26:34 am
Neat bow. Well done.
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: gifford on April 15, 2020, 01:13:07 pm
Very nice bow, hollow limbed bow this short...wow, I'm impressed. Very nice tiller as well. Thanks for posting the pictures.
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: Traxx on April 16, 2020, 10:38:30 pm
Very cool and great tribute..I hafta admit,that im a little confused by your use of 1 term though..."Fades:3"...What are you considering as Fades?..
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: Hamish on April 17, 2020, 03:38:51 am
SSSSSSWEEET.
 You are definitely channelling the spirit of Halfeye.

No room for error on such a short bow, you have done a great job.
Title: Re: BL Plainsbow 53“ 35#25“
Post by: backtowood B2W on April 17, 2020, 12:42:04 pm
Thank you guys! Great, I will give it to my wife without concerns.
Very cool and great tribute..I hafta admit,that im a little confused by your use of 1 term though..."Fades:3"...What are you considering as Fades?..
What I consider as fades here is the transition from the widest of the bow to the narrowed handle. This may be isn't correct as it is bending through the handle...
Very nice bow !!!
Hail to Halfeye  (SH)
Thank you GlisGlis - I was not sure how to put this in a cool way on the bow!