Del's Decorated Elder Bow

[Del the cat]

I've made this little Elder shortie 40# @26"
I've decorated with a nod to NA bows but it's not supposed to be "authentic" or a copy... Northern Europe doesn't have any such tradition and I wanted to something spontaneous without direct reference to NA bows.
Anyhow, I just hope it's not seen as disrespectful to the NA tradition... because of that I'm posting it here before anywhere else as I know you guys will give an honest opinion.
I'll fill in some of the stats later....
Del
BTW the feather are from a road kill Mallard and the horse hair picked from a barbed wire fence... I got some odd looks picking it up 

[Russ]

Nice del! i really like it! on your bowyers diary page I seem to only see the broken ones, its nice to see one that made it.

[SLIMBOB]

I have made some that were a modern take on plains style bows. I consider them an homage to the originals, as I do this one. Nice work!

[stuckinthemud]

Hey Del, thanks for posting that card trick to your blog, going to try it on my current wonky bow project. Oh.nice little bow btw, love the decor too

[Santanasaur]

Authentic or not, nicely done Del. I love your videos and your tinkering attitude.  I’ve  gotten a lot out of watching

[DC]

I sure wish I could pull that off. Any artsy stuff I try looks like I did it 70 years ago. Looks good Del

[bjrogg]

That is a beautiful tiller Mr. Cat. Very nice and I enjoy seeing a NA influenced bow from you. It's always interesting trying different stuff. I'm the same though. I'm not trying to build replicas. I'm just influenced by what I consider beautiful bows. Imitation is the best form of flattering.
Bjrogg

[upstatenybowyer]

Nice bend and the art looks great. 

[Pat B]

Del, when I first read the title I thought you were celebrating us old farts but then I realized you were using elder wood for the bow. 
Elder looks like a beautiful wood and apparently good bow wood. Very nice bow, by the way. 

[jeffp51]

very nice Mr. The Cat.  I like it.

[backtowood B2W]

Always fun to read your posts!
Like this shorty a lot, the paint job....hmmm...sorry Del....but that's a personal thing. But it isn't disrespectful I think. Didn' expect a bendy shorty from you...cool! How long is it?
BTW

[Hawkdancer]

Nice, I don't. Think you are Dissing anyone.  Imitation is the best form of flattery. Your rendition is neat.
Hawkdancer

[Del the cat]

@B2W It's 56" ntn, which isn't that short in the grand scheme of things but it's got a few of those burly knots on it so I don't want to risk it at too much draw. Mind it's only just starting to pull out the natural reflex that it attained when it dried out.
I actually draw about 27" these days, but I'll shoot it from a short draw (if I can avoid smacking myself in the lip when I do it!  )
It's 1 1/2" wide which is the full diameter of the stick.
Del

[burchett.donald]

      Del, nice bendy man...I see you left it a little stiff at the knot on the left limb and ever so slightly stiff in the handle the way it supposed to be...Nothing wrong with a good insurance policy...I think you sent me for a loop on this design from you, but that's what Cat's do...Wish Rich was around to see this one...That represents NA style, they had a way of marking their own bows the way they seen fit...Would really love to see your in hand pic...Much respect Sir...
                                                                                                                             Don

[Marc St Louis]

Very nice bow...was the Mallard tasty?