Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Stickhead on April 27, 2020, 07:21:18 am

Title: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Stickhead on April 27, 2020, 07:21:18 am
Here’s my hunting bow quarantine project.  I like them to be shortish and pretty heavy, to compensate for my short draw length.  I also like to darken the limbs for camo.  (I can’t bring myself to cover up all that yellow Osage, but it’ll darken up soon enough, and the bow will be pretty much invisible in the woods.)

This was a stave I harvested about twenty years ago.  It had some knotty issues, so it languished in my shed all this time.  Once I started carving it, though, it wasn’t so bad after all.  I dodged the worst of the knots, and the twists and curves were workable.  It just ended up with a few lumps and wiggles.  I used dry heat and my caul to get the profile I wanted.

I had a scare when I got it to full draw for the first time.  I heard a heart-stopping “TICK,” braced myself for a “BANG,” but thankfully, it was just a small splinter that lifted near one of the pin knots.  I got some good advice from y’all, and decided to bind the spot with a small wrapping of D97 to be on the safe side.  At first, I thought I saw a weak spot at the wrap, but I think it just appears that way because of a pin knot lump on the back just below it.

I added deer antler tips, a tanned cobra skin wrap (with a layer of linen underneath to keep it from tearing) and a snapping turtle scale at the arrow pass.  The string is 10 strands of D97 plus 4 extra bits at the nocks.  I used black aniline dye to fade the limbs, and finished with tru oil.

The has a smooth draw that starts out strong.  After a couple hundred arrows, it’s still in one piece (whew!), and is holding its profile nicely.  It shoots straight and packs a punch.

Specs:

59” NTN
65# @ 25”
1-5/8“ wide @ fades
7/16” @ tips
1-1/2” back set at nocks

(https://i.imgur.com/oonAUy2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/CcGBc5l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6acwTB8.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4ldwZRD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/q7fefHe.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/t8oKJX6.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4g8B6M7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BjLZ1Mr.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GdtO6Dh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/bzkgO2i.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/KJnwhYG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/LsdLWfA.jpg)
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Eric Krewson on April 27, 2020, 07:39:56 am
I like it!.
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: PaSteve on April 27, 2020, 07:57:38 am
Very nice bow. Like the way you used the analine dye. It gives the bow contrast but the wood grain is still evident through the dye. You did a good with that stave.
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Deerhunter21 on April 27, 2020, 07:59:37 am
this makes me want to work on some osage!! unfortunately im all out of staves. but im working on a bow!  ;D
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Weylin on April 27, 2020, 08:58:54 am
That's sharp! I like it. Nice bend too
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Stixnstones on April 27, 2020, 09:08:48 am
All around great bow, that's what I call a huntin bow
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Will B on April 27, 2020, 09:13:31 am
Great looking bow!  I love the stain job on the outer limbs and the antler tip overlays. Nice bend to it. Great job!
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: BowEd on April 27, 2020, 09:30:01 am
Nice work all around in all phases of profile and finish work.A good hard hitting shooter.
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Tommy D on April 27, 2020, 09:43:47 am
Either you’ve shot out your Block or that bow packs a punch. What weight arrows are those? Love the bow. I have a similar issue with a draw that isn’t as long as it could be.
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Swampman on April 27, 2020, 09:52:08 am
Very nice bow.  I really like the fade job and at 65 pounds I bet it throws heavy hunting arrows nicely.
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Stickhead on April 27, 2020, 10:14:38 am
Thanks for the kind words, guys!

Either you’ve shot out your Block or that bow packs a punch. What weight arrows are those? Love the bow. I have a similar issue with a draw that isn’t as long as it could be.
Tommy - the target’s not shot out, but I might need a tougher one.  Those arrows average around 520 grains.
(https://i.imgur.com/VMzi3Fo.jpg)
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: dreamcraft_archery on April 27, 2020, 11:10:48 am
Love it great work!
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Allyn T on April 27, 2020, 12:08:55 pm
That thing is sweet
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Rākau on April 27, 2020, 02:10:39 pm
wicked profiles on that one!
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Hans H on April 27, 2020, 02:20:09 pm
very nice, like it, too
Hans
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: jeffp51 on April 27, 2020, 04:48:03 pm
That is a beautiful bow.  I love the stain.  And that is a mighty fine looking arrow in the full draw pic, if I do say so myself.  8) (AT)
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Stickhead on April 27, 2020, 05:02:49 pm
That is a beautiful bow.  I love the stain.  And that is a mighty fine looking arrow in the full draw pic, if I do say so myself.  8) (AT)
It is indeed a fine arrow — one of your dogwood shoot arrows!  I was wondering if you’d notice that.
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: jeffp51 on April 27, 2020, 07:04:46 pm
Do you dare shoot those glass obsidian points?  if so, how do they shoot?
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Stickhead on April 27, 2020, 07:19:50 pm
Do you dare shoot those glass obsidian points?  if so, how do they shoot?

Ha - no, I haven’t shot any stone points yet.  I’ve put field points in your arrows to try everything out, and they shoot great!  I’m saving the stones for a deer shot, which will have to wait until fall.
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: simson on April 28, 2020, 02:16:31 am
 8) 8) 8)
Cool bow, excellent job on this stick.
Like the finish and the details.
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: bjrogg on April 28, 2020, 06:15:35 am
Great looking bow Tom. Good Luck with the fall hunt. That stick looks like it is up to the task.
Bjrogg
PS nice shooting
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: HH~ on April 28, 2020, 07:06:44 am
Looks like a good Red Death  Hunter.

HH~
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Santanasaur on April 28, 2020, 10:19:59 am
Stickhead, wow. Beautiful finishing and the tiller is mouth watering
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Stickhead on April 28, 2020, 02:54:00 pm
Thanks for the compliments, y’all!
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: backtowood B2W on April 28, 2020, 11:31:55 pm
I love those profiles and your finishing is looking really cool.
Thanks for showing us!
BTW
Title: Re: Osage selfbow "Fade to Black"
Post by: Stickhead on April 29, 2020, 12:40:23 pm
I love those profiles and your finishing is looking really cool.
Thanks for showing us!
BTW
Thanks, Martin!