Here is mine, what was your very first bow?

[sleek]

My first bow was this elm sapling that after about half a hunting season popped a splinter on the back. I think it did that because I left the bark on it. I laig some doe belly skin with Knox brand gelatin glue.  It was 50@24 and 46 inches ntn. The limbs were parallel all the way to the tip at 1.5 inches wide at the nocks. I couldnt have been more proud to have made this bow. I was fairly powerful, putting field points through both sides of an empty 2 liter that was just sat on the ground.

So here is my first, what was yours? I was lucky enough my first survived, but I would like to see every bodies first attempt broke or not and if it did break, their first to survive.

Made Nov 18 2009

[huisme]

I deleted the pics cleaning things up a while ago, but my first was a fifteen pound black locust recurve, sapwood on, with a gigantic handle and cut in shelf. Nowadays my handles are about one inch wide, and I put little strips of leather on for customers 

[sleek]

Its fun sometimes looking back at how we have progressed over time.

[twisted hickory]

My first picts got lost when my computer crashed a few weeks ago. My nephew in Iowa has it. It is rawhide backed hickory 50 in kids bow. It shoots good for a first bow.
GReg

[toomanyknots]

I honestly don't even remember. It was either an ash bow, or a sinew backed osage limb, with asymmetrical (in other words, crappy) tiller. One of the first bows I made also was an ash (I think, don't know for sure) bow like 50" or so long, that pulled 60# or so at 26" I think. It was a weird bow. It chrysaled a bit. I used to make honey suckle bows when I was younger though. I made a bow out of a dead limb off the ground one time when I was like 14 or so, tied thick hemp cord onto it, haha. It's funny what works out when you don't know no better.

[SLIMBOB]

Osage.  58" ttt.  Around 57 lbs at 27".  Built it in 1995 I think.  Great little bow.  Much more a testament to the teacher I had helping me build the bow than my skills, as I had none.  Also it's Osage, so it allowed me to get away with imperfect tiller.  Over built as well, 2 inches wide and tapers to 7/8" tips.  It was the next 3 or 4 that sucked, as I thought I knew how to make bows after building ONE!  Back then, I thought I knew that I knew.  Now I know that I don't know. 

[4dog]

Finished july 2013, 62" / 63# @27.5" osage

[Josh B]

SlimBob, I know exactly what you mean.  It sure is funny how the more I learn the less I know.  I don't have any pics of my first bows.  Just imagine, a willow pole about 4' long and 1" thick with the upper limb untouched with the bark on it, and the bottom limb shaved down to roughly match the thickness taper of the upper limb with no regard for following a growth ring for the back.  String was bankline string.  Arrows were willow shoots with duct tape fletchings.  Needless to say, they were pretty crude and rarely lasted a month before they folded up.Lol! Josh

[BOWMAN53]

I broke mine on purpose cuz i never wanted to see such a hideous bow like that again. 

[PEARL DRUMS]

Mine was a 60" sinew backed hickory flat bow. My buddy has it and shoots it still. That was roughly 10-12 years ago, cant remember for certain. Mickey Lotz helped me get started.

[killir duck]

i built my first when i was 6 years old, a little elm branch, duct tape and some baler twine it only lasted about 3 shots but i was hooked and have been ever since.

[bushboy]

LOL!

[The Gopher]

i don't think there are any pictures...much for the better i think!

[IdahoMatt]

Here is my very first.  It is about 32" long and pulls maybe 7# at  12".  Tiller is way off but man I sure was pumped that it worked kinda .  Made this one about a year and a half ago.

[4dog]

Bushboy what was the drawweight on that work of art?