Backed BL Molle 63"ntn otb - 48#@27"

[backtowood B2W]

Hi!
Been a while... not much time for making bows and less too be active on this forum...
But, had a knee surgery 2 weeks ago and some time now, so I grabbed my cam and took some pics from the Black Locust Bow with I shot last year and fixed two month ago. There was a splinter lifting at a ridge on the back just below the pin knot cluster midlimbs - upper limb. So I backed it with a thin wapiti rawhide which was one piece and very thin outwards - you can see the wood grain underneath. Before, I heat treated it once again...Tillered it down too 48# at 27". (was tillered too 50#at 28" but didn't pull it too 28" again as it took an inch of set last time.) Didn't take set again which makes me very happy . 2" of backset after unstringing and almost 3" resting.
The stave and Layout was a bit tricky - 6 big clusters of pin knots, 1 in the grip, 1 midlimb - left a bit stiff, 1 in the shoulder, 1 I could eliminate, and 2 close to the fades are almost eliminated - I still can see a little pin there. A bit of closer to center shot was also a result.
The levers have been an inch longer but one started to bend sideways after narrowing them. But I could still reduce mass by heat treating and hollowing the belly side.
ok pics:

[backtowood B2W]

more

[backtowood B2W]

some more

[backtowood B2W]

let me know what you think

[BowEd]

Lovely looking bow you made there.Like the design also.Not without it's character too which is a plus.
Very nice tedious work on a tempermental piece of wood.Nice adaptation hollowing your levers also.
Lengthening those levers comes with some adjustments.Everything has got to be in line especially the more that you recurve them.Heat treating them can help stiffen them.
I've had them bow sideways myself.

[Hamish]

Looks awesome.

[backtowood B2W]

Thank you Ed! Yours and simk`s bows mostly inspired me to make this. So highly appreciated !! This piece of wood really surprised me as it tought me no chrysalls, also during tillering almost no set - piking was the reason for most of it.
I shot about 500 arrows with backing - no slowdown and the levers seem to be stable.
Hope it will survive longtime as it was my every day bow last year.

Thank you Hamish. I made another Molle which looks almost better. Coming soon! Waiting for sun to take pics.

[Selfbowman]

Bow of the month. Great job on that stave!!! Arvin

[simk]

breathtakingly beautiful piece of wood! congratulations! 

[superdav95]

Wow. Nice bow. I always love hearing the perseverance and determination taken to make a good bow a great bow.  Good save on the backing.  Rawhide is good stuff.  You really nailed the tiller on this bow.  Looks really well balanced.  Beautiful job. 

[Stixnstones]

Beautiful lookin stik

[bownarra]

Very nicely executed
What surgery did you have on the knee?

[backtowood B2W]

Thanks for the nice comments!
superdav95 - last year I didn't make many bows but I did a lot of shooting and fine tillering and adjusting older bows which didn't came out that well. Helped a lot in the learning curve!
Simon! - Thanks, specially with BL I start to like heat treating The color change looks really cool...(Sent you and your WIFE  a message on Facebook , did you get it?
Arvin - I really hated to not expand my PA Mag but I had to lower my outcome to pay more important things mostly kids stuff So not going to BOM
Bownarra - A tear in the inner meniscus had to be cut out so it won't go further. Should be as good as new when healed Going up and down is still not so good but on even terrain almost normal. I think it just needs some time...

[M2A]

Sharp looking bow. Like everything about that one. Nice save!
Mike

[bjrogg]

Bow of the month. Great job on that stave!!! Arvin

To bad B2W. Somebody should get you a subscription. Would’ve got my vote. Beautiful bow and pictures. Almost thought I was looking at one from Simson.

I know that money problem well though.

Bjrogg