RD Elm bow

[Marc St Louis]

This is an RD bow I made for a young fella who wants to go Deer hunting.  The bow is Elm, 60" long with limbs 1 5/8" wide tapering to 3/8" nocks and pulls 55# @ 27".  I heat-treated a bit over 4" of reflex into this bow and it kept just over 2", this is after shooting it for awhile then letting it sit for an hour.  Even after shooting it a few times it still has over 1" of reflex after unbracing so it has good string tension and the arrows come out at an impressive speed.  The Elm that I used for this bow has fairly thick rings and the wood is moderately dense but it also has very good elasticity.  As you can see this bow is for a left handed person so testing it was rather an interesting experience.  When I was young I swung a bat left handed and also used a hockey stick left handed but always shot a bow right handed.  I must say that I think I will explore this left hand shooting a bit more in the future.  In any case here's a few pictures.

[n2huntn]

Like it. I'm right handed left eye dominant and started shooting lefty 2 years ago. Supridingly easy to do.
N2

[cracker]

Great looking bow and just in time I'm working on an elm now can you throw a few tips out there for placing the arrow shelf.Thanks Ron

[NTD]

Great bow Marc, after attempting this design I can now truly appreciate the skill that goes into them.(mine failed)

[Marc St Louis]

Thanks guys

Not sure what you mean Ron

Sorry to hear that Nate.  What happened to it?

[NTD]

While tillering I had it drawing to about the 15" mark and I started hearing that distinctive tick sound.  I can't find anywhere that looks like it's letting go but it sure is making that stomach turning sound.  Sometime this weekend I will pull it until it goes and diagnose from there.  I wasn't entirely happy with my glue line but I don't think it was bad enough to fail.  Then again, these are highly stressed designs...

Anyway, sorry to hijack the focus away from your great bow.  Hope the young man makes some meat with it.

[PeteC]

Another nice one Marc.Looks like a real screamer. God Bless

[cracker]

I'm going with a 4.5 inch handle as I have very wide hands. The question is should the arrow shelf be just above the knuckle as close as possible or should it be raised a bit more and how deep does it need to be cut towards the center of the bow? I have not done any wood removal around the handle it is still two inches wide and about that thick.Thanks Ron

[adb]

Impressive work, Marc, as usual. Thanks for sharing!

[Thwackaddict]

I need to try another one of these.Very nice and may he make meat!

[medicinewheel]

Mark, you really have a unique style to your bows, that's great, like that!

[Marc St Louis]

Thanks guys

Nate. If that happens to me I put it on a T stick at the length I heard the sound, or a bit less, and then examine it.

Ron. I make the leather shelves on my bows so that the arrow is sitting at knuckle height, it's like shooting off the knuckle.  The feathers on this bow were actually brushing my fingers as I shot

[Lombard]

Hope I make them that nice one day.

[Timo]

Marc, ever impressed with your work. I have never attempted a bow of that design with your extras,May have to give it a try this winter.

Nice job.

[swamp yeti]

Man that is a nice one.