I have a friend who just observed the 1 year anniversary of the still-born death of his baby boy Hudson Joseph. He and his wife went to the hospital on the day he was due, as she was having contractions. Without warning, Hudson was delivered still-born. The doctors never determined why. However, they just announced that they're pregnant again with another little boy!
Long story short, my friend started this bow with me before Hudson died and hasn't had the opportunity to finish it. So, I thought I'd complete it and give it to him as a memorial gift of sorts. It's a red oak pyramid bow that he glued up, layed out, shaped to profile, and tillered on the long string. I heat treated and burnished the belly and induced about 1 3/4" of reflex. I backed it with paper, stained it with RIT dye cut in alcohol, added bison horn tip overlays, and finished it with a frosted lacquer finish. The bow is 64" long, 62 1/4" ntn. It pulls 40# @ 28" and holds a dead-flat profile just unstrung, settling to just a touch of reflex when static. I added two tapered cedar arrows (one for each son) and a hip quiver in reference to Psalm 127:3-5, which reads:
3 Children are a heritage from the LORD,
offspring a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
