11
Bows / Re: Hill Style - Self Bow
« Last post by Pat B on January 01, 2026, 04:34:22 pm »No reason it wouldn't work especially with osage.
Recent Posts
12
Bows / Re: Hill Style - Self Bow
« Last post by Bob Barnes on January 01, 2026, 03:01:21 pm »JD Jones used to make them and they shot very well.
13
Bows / Hill Style - Self Bow
« Last post by Burnsie on January 01, 2026, 02:27:28 pm »Has anyone ever built an Osage self bow to the approximate dimensions of a Hill style longbow. ie: narrow straight handle, 66-68", about 1" at fades down to slender tips , deep core....etc. Basically a Hill longbow in self bow form.
I was thinking about trying one, but didn't want to go down a dead end road.
I was thinking about trying one, but didn't want to go down a dead end road.
14
Bows / Re: bending hop hornbeam
« Last post by bjrogg on January 01, 2026, 12:27:34 am »A good deep heat treatment will add a few lbs . Too
Bjrogg
Bjrogg
15
Bows / Re: December Bow Of the Month entries
« Last post by sleek on December 31, 2025, 10:54:30 pm »If anyone else is on the fence, you have until midnight EST, its not too late.
16
Bows / Re: December Bow Of the Month entries
« Last post by sleek on December 31, 2025, 10:41:13 pm »Why not, Ill give it a shot.
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,73401.0.html
Sneaking one in with just a few hours left, glad you got it submitted! You certainly put in the work on this one, im excited to see how this months contest turns out
17
Bows / Re: bending hop hornbeam
« Last post by bluejack on December 31, 2025, 10:34:36 pm »Thanks for the input guys-I`m going to keep going and see how it turns out. Should get it bending tomorrow then try some heat corrections.
18
Bows / Re: Sugar Maple D Longbow
« Last post by Robert Pougnier on December 31, 2025, 09:31:08 pm »More photos.
Happy new year everyone!
Happy new year everyone!
19
Bows / Re: December Bow Of the Month entries
« Last post by Burnsie on December 31, 2025, 08:02:02 pm »20
Bows / Re: bending hop hornbeam
« Last post by bjrogg on December 31, 2025, 05:42:41 pm »HHB does like to twist. I’ve split trees that twisted 180 degrees in six feet. They looked perfectly straight. I look at the bark now to see if it twist the grain usually does to.
Propeller really isn’t a done deal.
You can get away with more propeller than you might think.
You don’t need everything perfectly straight either. Just need tips to line up with center of handle.
One thing HHB is probably better than Osage for is interlocking grain. You can get away with not following the grain a little more laying out bow than Osage. I still get best results following grain though.
I use a rasp for reducing more with HHB. It sometimes like to tear out spots with draw knife
Bjrogg
PS I made a lot of bows from imperfect HHB. Very shootable bows. Don’t be afraid to try. It’s where I started. Also I would recommend reducing a stave to close to bow dimensions to help it dry better. It can be cut for years and still have moisture in it.
Propeller really isn’t a done deal.
You can get away with more propeller than you might think.
You don’t need everything perfectly straight either. Just need tips to line up with center of handle.
One thing HHB is probably better than Osage for is interlocking grain. You can get away with not following the grain a little more laying out bow than Osage. I still get best results following grain though.
I use a rasp for reducing more with HHB. It sometimes like to tear out spots with draw knife
Bjrogg
PS I made a lot of bows from imperfect HHB. Very shootable bows. Don’t be afraid to try. It’s where I started. Also I would recommend reducing a stave to close to bow dimensions to help it dry better. It can be cut for years and still have moisture in it.