Bamboo backed Lemonwood Longbow (w/ pics)

[Gordon]

A good friend of mine, Gary, asked if I would make a bow for his son. Gary likes to shoot a longbow and frequently uses a vine maple bow that I made him. His son owns a compound bow and only takes it out a month before the season starts so they don’t shoot together much. Gary thought if he gave his son a longbow that might be a good excuse for them to spend more time together.

I had some lemonwood boards sitting in my garage that another buddy had shared with me a few years ago. Lemonwood was the bow wood de-jour back in the early 20th century so I figured it would probably make a dandy longbow if I backed it with bamboo. The finished bow is 66” ntn, 1 ¼” wide at the fads and tapers to 7/16” at the tips. I built the handle up with osage and the tips are overlayed with a some mystery hardwood flooring material. The bamboo and belly are stained with a tan leather dye. The handle is elk hide dyed with mahogany leather dye. The bow pulls 57# @ 27” and zips an arrow out there really nice. I think Gary’s son will be happy with this one.

[david w.]

Nice bow Gordon.  its beautiful

[Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive]

very impressive, everything i have seen from you has been beautiful- Ryan

[Ryano]

Nice bow Gordon. What are the wraps for? just decorative or is it a patch of some sort? How did you like the lemon wood? What does it compare to ?

[tradrick]

Gordon you've done a awesome job as always.I really like the finish and the grip.tradrick

[tom sawyer]

Its a beauty, like the lemonwood bows of old.  The new owner will be proud I'm sure.

[Gordon]

Ryan, one of the wraps is a patch - I had to fix a small chrysal on the edge that developed because I radiused that edge a bit too much. Lemonwood is very easy to work and has no discernable grain. It is quite dense and light in color. I guess you could characterize it as a tropical whitewood of sorts. I cannot really compare it to any other wood I've worked with to-date.

[koan]

Gordon, she's beautiful...on my computer the tips look like purpleheart.....Brian

[Dano]

Mighty nice work Gordon.

[Gordon]

Brian, I'm pretty sure the tip wood is not purple-heart. The wood kind of a mahagony color and more dense than purple-heart. Whatever it is, it makes excellent tips.

Thank you all for the compliments.

[Pat B]

Another beauty Gordon. Your friends son ought to be pleased.      Pat

[Jesse]

Very nice bow. And nice pictures of it. I like how you made the grip. What is the wrap material?
                                                                                Jesse

[Gordon]

Jesse, the handle is wrapped with dyed elk-hide.

[Jesse]

. What is the wrap material?
                                                                               

I was wondering about the patch. What did you use?

[Gordon]

Sorry Jesse, I misunderstood your question. The wrapping is dark green and red Brownell serving.