Going to far? / sculpted oak mollegabet....(not bom)

[half eye]

So I got this wild idea while seeing Mrs.Murphy one day so thought I'd give it a try. Thought I'd take a 2" mollegabet and scallop the working limbs , and then flute the levers and grip.

When I went to the wood shed I found this old piece of white oaj that had been badly abused in it's drying stages. Got enough of the bad stuff out by sanding it down to "real thin". I thought the grain was exceptional so went ahead with the bow, knowing it wouldn't be real strong. So here it is....59" ntn, 35# @ 28"....40# @ 30". The bow has been smoked, but not yet greased. I'm still debating on a grip wrap. I think the grain is too nice to burn the wood, so may use it for bunnies or just to look at till a kid comes along needing a bow.

Do ya'll think I went to far? It takes a demented mind to come up with stuff any comments welcome,
Rich

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[half eye]

another shot of the belly side to show the grain on it, and a close up of the grip area
rich

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[aznboi3644]

Horry crap...that is amazing.

I can't believe how some seafood makes a bow from normal to a work of art.

Beautiful bow Half Eye

[Grunt]

Ain't rules fun to break. I'm going up to my studio right now and dig out a couple of pieces of quartersawn white oak. Great master work Half Eye. 

[Easternarcher]

Those fillets or flutes must be murder on the string though!
I really like that bow! VERY interesting artistic touches Halfeye! Well Done...

[Wolfsongforge]

hey rich that is the cats pajama's! for a finish have you thought of useing vinegroon? it is a old old finish. basicly you take white vinegar and put small bit s of iron( i use steel wool) till it will not disolve anymore iron. then you just get a cup full put some bakeing powder in it to neutralize it. and wipe it on the bow.

the reason i ask is because it instantly turns  oak a deep deep black. kinda looks like bog oak. it also works on any veg tanned leather. it is something about the ferrite and acetate that interacts with the tannin in oak and veg tanned leather.

just wondered if ya ever heard of it.
God Bless
Kenneth

[half eye]

hey Ken,
      Not the vinegar solution but used kerosene, with iron and chewing tobaco....used on the flinter's I used to make....and ya it really brings out the wood grain. I'll experiment on some wood with that concoction......thanks.
Rich

[gothmog]

That bow is STUNNING.  I absolutely LOVE it.  Great work.

[tdog]

Really cool looking bow Rich.

[Del the cat]

Hey man I love your stuff and admire your skill, but it is maybe just verging on the Kitsch
It's a tricky point, I don't like the concept of a 'display bow' to me it should be a working bow first and formost, but conversely I'm sure people have always decorated their stuff and there is a fine tradition of highly decorated weapons, arms and armour.
I s'pose for me the question is how does it affect the performance?
Beautuful work as always
Del
P.S. Nah, just had another look, it's just funky.... (you've just confused me now...I'll have to walk round and round for a bit, then have a nap )

[KenH]

[size=10Wow!

Møllegabet meets Ottawa!!!!!!!!!
Now we know what happened to those Vikings who were supposed to have gone all the way to Minnesota (The Kensington Stone) --  The ended up marrying Ottawa women and settling near Rich's home town!!!!

That is certainly the most character-full bow I've ever seen on PA.  The heck with those twisty snake bows or the ones with funny knotsand kinks.  That's a masterpiece, Rich.  You da Michaelangelo of bowyers!! 

[Justin Snyder]

Good craftmanship, but the title said it all for me. A bit to much.

[TBod]

Very cool! and what a craftmanship!!

You didn't go to far, you can go further the sky is the limit!

Skip the wrapping, that would be going to far..

[RyanY]

That is the coolest thing I've ever seen. I don't know what else to say. 

[mox1968]

great looking bow rich , must have taken ages to do all those flutings and the scalloping too.word of warning if you try that stain idea with the vinegar and steel wool I tried it ,its been in my garage for a while in a glass bottle waiiting to dissolve till the other day when BOOM!! the lot exploded ,not sure why was a hot day though....