''Juniperus communis'' sinew bow, 50'

[Mikkolaht]

MY FIRST SINEW BACKED BOW
I will go take some more pictures after I get my hands on my better camera.











From a topside of 93years old juniper from Finland.
Dacron string, I'm planning on making something more authentic.
Has about three fingers worth of reflex still in it, pretty much unchanged from original.
Bottom limb has been left stiffer.
The tips are far from beautiful, but overall I like the looks. The rough sinew on the back is intresting.

50' long (127cm)
23' draw, maybe 24' about 40lbs.
widest part 1 7/8' (4,5cm)
handle little bit shy of 1,5 inches (3,5cm)
tips 1 1/4 inches (about 3cm)

[BowEd]

Nice work.Dig the retro bent tips.Is it mostly sapwood?

[Mikkolaht]

Nice work.Dig the retro bent tips.Is it mostly sapwood?

Yeah, mostly. Other guys told me that the heartwood in common juniper is brittle.
I was looking for wood that was very dark orange.

[aznboi3644]

I like that primitive look. Traditional bent nocks.  Crank that thing back to 28” and get a full draw picture for us. 😁

[bradsmith2010]

Don't pull it to 28

[maitus]

Yeah, mostly. Other guys told me that the heartwood in common juniper is brittle.
I was looking for wood that was very dark orange.

Heartwood is brittle in tension but very good in compression. For the next sinew backed bow use heartwood .

[bownarra]

Yes agreed the heartwood is unbelievable in compression. I once made a sinew backed juniper, spliced limbs. One limb was 90% heartwood and one 100% sapwood.
I tested that bow to almost destruction by pulling it further and further to see what it could take. It was 52", stiff handled recurve. It went to 28 1/2" before the sapwood limb showed tiny chrysals, the heartwood limb didn't even take any set.....I always promised myself to find a big enough stave for a full heartwood bow....not done it yet tho!

[maitus]

Its very hard to find knot free juniper .... The bow won't survive fol a long time if there is many knots.

[Mikkolaht]

Okay, I'll try to get heartwood for the next bow.
In Finland the largest junipers are about 4-5' wide max... And if there are any larger ones no one wants to fall those because they are so rare and they are hollow...

Just to be sure, are you guys talking about the Juniperus communis species?

And what would be the longest drawlenght for this bow? I thought the 24' would be on the safeside.

[Marc St Louis]

Nice bow

[Swampman]

When I think of primitive archery, your bow is what shows up in my mind.  Very nice job.

[Mikkolaht]

Nice bow

Thank you!

[/quote]

When I think of primitive archery, your bow is what shows up in my mind.  Very nice job.

Hey that means a lot to me, thank you so much!

[aznboi3644]

Okay, I'll try to get heartwood for the next bow.
In Finland the largest junipers are about 4-5' wide max... And if there are any larger ones no one wants to fall those because they are so rare and they are hollow...

Just to be sure, are you guys talking about the Juniperus communis species?

And what would be the longest drawlenght for this bow? I thought the 24' would be on the safeside.

If Rich was still here he would be cranking that little beast back to 28”.   

[GlisGlis]

Great bow. I like it alot
would love to see it with a sinew or gut string. would also love to see it paired with primitive arrows

A question on tips. How did you achieve the bend? it look pretty  sharp and localized in a small area

[Mikkolaht]

Okay, I'll try to get heartwood for the next bow.
In Finland the largest junipers are about 4-5' wide max... And if there are any larger ones no one wants to fall those because they are so rare and they are hollow...

Just to be sure, are you guys talking about the Juniperus communis species?

And what would be the longest drawlenght for this bow? I thought the 24' would be on the safeside.

If Rich was still here he would be cranking that little beast back to 28”.

Man I'm too scared to do that

A question on tips. How did you achieve the bend? it look pretty  sharp and localized in a small area

Thank you!

I used a saw to cut ''v'' shaped slot on the back of the bow, leaving very thin section at the bottom to use as a hinge.
Then I just put hide glue to the notch and squeezed the tips to an angle, using a form.
Then I wrapped it with sinew, later i shaped the tips a little thinner with a knife.

I currently have some hazel shoots drying, I'm heat bending them once a day and leaving them in a bundle over night.
I'll repeat this until they are dry.
Yeah, I'll make a gut string once I get the materials