First of all, this is the first bow I've posted here. I've been lurking around on the forums for over a year, but just actually made an account not too long ago. So this is the first one getting posted, but not the first one I've made. I've done about 15 I guess over the last year.
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After my last few bows haven't turned out well for one reason or another, this one has helped me get my confidence back.
It's a simple design and the execution of it is the best of all that have had this layout.
Realizing that my shooting had plateaued a while back, I wanted to have a good practice bow in the 40-45# range that I could shoot a lot and try to work on my accuracy and consistency with. I now have that bow. I plan on shooting this one a lot.
Next up is to make a (or perhaps several) 50-55# bow(s). Once I have one that I'm happy with, that will be my deer hunting bow this season. Around late August/September, I'll make the switch and start shooting that one exclusively. Until then, this is the one I'll be spending the most time with.
The wood is oak from Menards -- not positive if it's red or white, but it's probably red, even though the wood was paler than most of the red I've worked.
70" nock-to-nock
42# @ 29"
A pleasure to shoot.
Now I just need to tune some arrows to it and get to shooting!
(When I went to take pictures today, I was first disappointed that the lighting was kind of dull. And then I realized my camera was dead. So these are phone pictures. I will probably take some better ones in better light soon. At least an up-to-date full draw picture.)
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The Back
The back is trapped moderately, which should be visible in this picture.
Length is 70" nock-to-nock. Pretty straight-forward design that I've come to like. Bow is just under 2" at its widest, maintains this width for 5 or 6 inches off the fades, and then tapers to the tips. Both tips are right about 1/2" at the nocks. Limbs are asymmetrical, the top limb being longer by (I think) 1 1/2".
This is the third or fourth bow I've done with this design, and so far this is the best execution of it. The next one up will also be this design, but wider (aiming for 50-55#).
The Belly
Handle Section
The handle is wrapped in jute twine. No shelf, but an "indexer" of sorts. I like to shoot off the hand, so the built up ridge serves as a way to know where to place my hand and the arrow.
The bow was stained with Varatane "Cabernet." At first I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about the color, but I like it. I need to work on my staining (and finishing), but overall, it looks nice.
Text reads "42# @ 29" / AJD / June 2014." (AJD are my initials.)
(Rested) Unbraced Profile
Braced Profile
Top Nock - Belly Side
I've done these style nocks a few times. I think of them as a kind of hybrid between side nocks and pin nocks. They are self-nocks, as you can tell (mostly in the next picture), and styled as I usually do them.
They aren't the skinniest tips ever done, but I think they're pretty narrow. I have pretty thin fingers, and the tips are smaller than my pinky.
The bottom nock looks slightly different because the string (with a bowyer's knot) was slipping. It actually overtightened itself right off the bow as I drew once -- and scared the crap out of me in the process! So with a little adjustment the string stays put now.
Top Nock - Back Side
Full Draw
Sorry for no up-to-date full draw photo. This was taken after the bow had its final scrapes, somewhere in the middle of being shot in, and before being stained/finished.
I'll get a current one soon.
