Primitive Archer

Arvin's patch leaves a lot of non bending wood below the patch to keep the handle section stable.

I would be surprised if your patch doesn't turn loose, you removed a LOT of the strength of the handle, I hope I am wrong. Even non bending handles stress and bend some even if it is a small amount. I have tried patches in the limbs, the patches would hold up for a couple of years and then turn lose.

I glued patches into this this handle just of see if I could get away with it because the rest of the stave was really good osage, I bamboo backed the bow to add a another layer of stability to the handle. I sold the bow cheaply, 15 years later it surfaced in an archery shop in Chattanooga, still in shootable condition

I started with this;

No Yot for me WB, didn't eat this cat either but have eat Bob Cat back strap, Eddie Parker brought some to a hog hunting camp one time, it wasn't bad but I didn't go back for seconds. Ya that would be cool Bob, wished I was a sewer, may talk to Becki Parker and try and make a trade.  Got to get it stretched and tanned first. Going to try and brain tan , I have done some mink/coon and they turned out OK, tough to brain tan , hair on or at least it has been for me but this hide is pretty thing so we will see how it goes.
 Pappy

Thanks guys, ya Little John I usually manage a deer,just can't seem to put together an Elk. 
 Pappy

That Cat, would make a pretty cool Hat Pappy. Have a great Thanksgiving!  Bob.

I backed my latest project with sinew and Knox gelatin.  The dry powder and cold water mix are odorless, but when warmed up it smelled bad.  Not rotten cow bad; more like bottom of a stagnant puddle bad.  Not something I'd want to eat. 

I've read that hide glue contaminated with bacteria can smell unpleasant, so I bought a different kind, Medley Hills Farm unflavored gelatin off Amazon.  Just mixed some up to glue on a tip overlay, and it has the same smell.

Does this mean anything?  Is the glue still strong?  Does all unflavored gelatin smell like this?  (They wouldn't sell a lot of jello if it did)  It quits smelling as soon as it drys out, so I can live with it if it still works.