This bow was a real joy to build. She is 52lbs. @ 28 and 60". I traded for the stave with a nice gentleman from New York at MoJam. The hop horn beam was great to work with...except for flipping the tips. It just laughed at my heat gun, so I steamed it and it finally obeyed. There was a deep dent in the sap wood right in the middle of the lower limb. I thought it would be good insurance to sinew the working parts of the limbs. The sinew sanded and smoothed up nicely for the skins. The sinew caused the bow to have tremendous early string weight.
Someone on PA had said that cow horn could be straitened with heat...it worked. I will never throw away the thin parts of horn again. I made the tip overlays long because they are thin enough not to add much weight. The heartwood on the handle made a nice, smooth look. There were eight coats of Tru-oil if I remember correctly. The skins are small diamondbacks.
This may get me thrown off PA, but I so liked the thumb rest on my Hoots bow that I put one on this bow.
A big "Thank You", to everyone on PA for sharing their knowledge and passion for building bows so generously. Also, thanks to Kerry Brinkley, Brock Johnson, Mike Yancey, and all the guys at Mojam, Ojam, and the Tenn. Classic.
Lyle
