52" Timber Rattler skin for shafts, number of shafts reduced.

[Eric Krewson]

I have a 52" timber rattler skin I would like to trade for 12, 35-40 shafts. I am interested in spine matched shafts around 37-40, weight match is not that important as long as they are within 50 grains of each other, 5/16" or 11/32, POC, Doug fir or chundo, no poplar.

A friend dropped this skin off at my house, it had been heavily boraxed. I washed it, fleshed it, dried it and later cut the belly scales off. The skin is very thick and seems to have a yellow cast to it so it would look better on a limb if the limb was dyed a little to bring out more of the rattler color. In the picture it is on the board flesh side out.

[Knotty]

That would surely look nice on some osage!

[Eric Krewson]

I always split a timber down the middle and use the side pieces on each bow limb.

Like this one we put on my friend Donnie's bow;

[Knotty]

That's alot smarter!

[Pat B]

Timber rattlers are my favorite bow backing skins and that's a nice one.

[Dakota Kid]

How do you feel about eastern hemlock and/or ash? Also when you say poplar do you mean tulip poplar or true poplar? I rather like tulip poplar for shafts.

[Eric Krewson]

Never used estern hemlock, don't like ash, too hard to keep straight. I have a bunch of poplar shafts, some stay straight some do not, not my favorite.

[Dakota Kid]

Hemlock starts off weak but really stiffens up as it cures. Well cured shafts are fast shooting and durable, probably comparable to poc but doesn't smell as nice. I also have a bunch of incense cedar square blanks I could round out if you're interested. If you think we might be able to work something out I could send you a sample of what I have available.

[Eric Krewson]

I am really just looking for factory shafts.