OK, friends, it's time to finish up this (forever-long) thread - LOL.
Here is a pic of the handle of "It" with her (Dano Type) arrow shelf/rest afixed, and a Seal skin arrow pass above it. I know, it looks like a portrait of "Ziggy", or "Mr. MaGoo" in this pic, but the bottom part of the "face"
will be covered with a leather handle wrap.
The Seal skin arrow pass I shaved the hair off of, and then shaved and sanded the back to thin it down considerable. The face of Seal skin is pretty tough and durable stuff, the back is pretty soft (and surprisingly thick):
Next is a design I "painted" on the back of the bottom limb. I used an indelible brush/pen (art supply stores). The bar designs are standard Native American symbols. The bar depicts water, waves, direction of life flow, and the ever-renewing force. The bear is one of the most important, oft-mentioned "First Helpers" of many tribes, and the arrow within the animals depicts the line of breath and life force (as all arrows do, more or less). One more thing, My name is Bernard which means, "Brave and bold as a Bear":
This pic is of the design on the top limb, and the same things apply to it, another very important "First Helper" mentioned in many tribes beginnings of NA lore and history, The Whitetail Deer:
Here is the bow Unstrung, also giving a shot of the entire back of the bow showing the designs, with the handle wrap applied, and also a talisman/wind indicator of a red Hackle feater, and a small wooden bead on each side of the limb, tied on with yellow, silk, fly tieing strands. I used a red (dyed) feather and edges of the handle wrap to set off the black designs. Also Red means a number of things in NA lore/design, like South, Heat of the sun (I love the sun), and I've also heard courage, good fortune, and blood. (In some oriental applications red means fire,flame,South, and good luck, and black means water, knowledse, wisdom,career, and North). All of this info on designs and colors are my understanding and reading/research and I'm sure many other applications/meanings are/can be found. Oh, the wind indicator is also used to point up the top limb "Whooptie", which it is tied around - LOL:
A closer shot of the designs and handle area - I wet the leather wrap before applying it, to help mold it around the rest:
Here is "It", at Brace (Beaver Fur silencers):
Finally a Frontal, uncanted, Full Draw, that I seem to recall some folks indicated they also like to see of a bow:
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I said "finally" but after the storm last evening I walked by my "Glory Hole Room" and saw my bow, where I had hung it up. I couldn't help but think how much I liked the look of "It" - even hanging there in front of all that clutter. I felt like I had to try to capture that feeling/look, and so i wanted to share that with you folks too. An Unstrung side view:
Thanks so much for looking/listening/reading/helping - it's been a great experience for me.
