1930's inspired flightbow 41" recurve 72# @18"

[JNystrom]

Here is my recent little bow. It's osage from Hungary, sinew backed with 60g of elk tendon. The handle is a bit deflexed, even though sinew reflex hides it - it's still there. Its about 1 3/5" (41mm) wide and holds almost 2" of reflex (45mm). It weights 11oz (306g).
I've drawn it to 19" already, but only weighted at 18". I will pull it past 20", maybe even 22". The bow feels somewhat understressed, so the weight climbs nicely to 80# and over.

What do you think, will it throw arrow any good? Sorry, the pics aren't that good and draw pic, doesn't show the bend properly. But it shows me struggling drawing it! 

[Marc St Louis]

I can tell it is bending nicely.  I think that if you can get a bit more draw length out of it then it should do well in flight

[Badger]

  It should do well with light arrows if you can get the draw out to about 23", that's the minimum arrow length. Or just draw it a little short. Unlimited weight division it will be in.

[JNystrom]

Thanks, I hope so too. Here in Finland we don't have any rule about arrow minimum length. But still I agree, getting longer draws will increase distance. I've noticed with these sharp hooks that they are almost too sharp, because the string lifts of just couple inches before full draw. Next bows I will make them somewhere around 60 degrees.

Here are couple syringa vulgaris (lilac) sinew backed recurves I also recently made. First one is 48" ntn, 65# @20", second one 49" ntn 62# @21". I deliberately measure these bows in lower draw lengths, so I wont wear them out.  Both hold 3-4" reflex.
I like recurves. I hope they prove their power in the field!

[Badger]

   Do you have a chrono where you can test them?

[JNystrom]

Yep, I just recently bought one. I figured out the flight bug bit me.  I will chrono all these bows and some more recurves when I get to set it properly. I'll build IR lights for it so I can get some proper readings. Last time I didn't have much success. I'll post the results here since you asked about it! 

[willie]

Nice Bow, and looking foreward to seeing the speeds.

But it shows me struggling drawing it! 

I couldn't even get that bow to half of what you do. Have you looked into some of the push/pull shooting styles used by Native American archers?

[Badger]

  My new chrono came with an infra red light kit, works extremely well.

[joachimM]

Nice bows dude!

to me, one of the biggest challenges in smoothly drawing short heavy bows is finger pinching. Obviously at 72# a two-finger draw is very hard (my limit for two finger draw is around 50#), but a three finger draw on such shorties isn't comfortable either.
It's a pity thumb rings or leather thong releases aren't allowed for traditional simple composite shooting.

[JNystrom]

Thanks Willie and JoachimM!

Nice to hear Badger, can't wait to test mine.

The string sure pinches your fingers. This might be the reason why past couple weeks I've noticed my index finger has hardened a lot. Like a permanent superglue layer on tip of the finger. Pinch hurts but its also hard to draw these heavy little bows with reflex. Best I'm capable atm is somewhere 75-77# at 20". I haven't looked into native american push/pull style, but now I will.

[PatM]

Nice shorties.  Does lilac bend easily for recurving?  I've never tried bending it since I'm  always trying to lengthen short pieces and splicing in tips instead.

[JNystrom]

Thanks!

Actually....no it doesn't. Recurve's of the one in that tiller tree split awfully, but since it was super piece of lilac I just decided to glue them together and put a belly patch. The second one I'm pulling by hand was better, but still not perfect. Osage is like a walk in the park compared to lilac.
Lilac often has quite some twist in it, which makes recurving pain in the ass.

I might try splicing the tips on next one, since I would also like to have more length than this 50".