I finally got around to making a proper bow for my dad. I gave him one before, then I took it back to be reworked to up the performance, it was a 60” osage longbow with an elliptical tiller. It stacked way too much for a guy that was used to glass recurves. I haven’t gotten to reworking it yet, but in the meantime I made him this smooth drawing osage bow. Dad has been battling some prostate cancer that spread to an injury in his bones, in the middle of his back. This bow is a bit lighter than he is accustomed to shooting, but with his loss of strength, this 42 pounder is a bit heavy, but not so light that he will get bored with it once he works his strength back up a bit…and one he can hunt deer with.
Asymmetrical with a positive tiller. Balances nicely in the hand.
It really is a tack-driver.
I tried to do the tips, which are overlayed with ivory from piano key tops (thanks Snag!), in the classic glass recurve style. I heat-tempered the belly pretty good on this one. Finished with about 5 coats of shellac, one coat of tru-oil and a few more coats of shellac. I left a few tool marks in this one. Going for a vintage look. Took a nice thick piece of deer braintan from the neck and stitched it up with elk sinew. I think I will be doing more of that sinew stitching. Arrow rest is cork. Arrow pass and strike plate are thin calf hide from an old "kan't pinch" finger tab.
I will have to add full draw pic of dad when he gets it there.
