Author Topic: Ash board bow... pic heavy!  (Read 222 times)

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Offline medicinewheel

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Ash board bow... pic heavy!
« on: February 26, 2026, 04:14:20 am »
Fellow bowyers.


With only one exception (http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,72746.msg1020440.html#msg1020440) I did not build a bow in over 10 years. The urge came back when my saxophone repairsman asked me to help him build an ELB (that bow is still work in progress and will be posted when finished, too).
Had this ash board laying around for 20 years and decided to use that as a tiller exercise, so to speak. The rings were fat and almost parallel, late wood/early wood ratio was perfect, but I didn't have enough material to chase a ring, so I decided to back it with deer rawhide.
When the bow was technically finished I shot a group of arrows from 20 yard I realized it was a sweet shooter and decided to make it pretty.
Overlays are red micarta, rawhide is dyed with yellow wood dye, wrappings are linen thread. Bow and wrappings are dyed with dark brown leather dye. Handle wrap is clued on python leather, so is the arrow pass. String is 10 strand FF, silencers are mink.
The bow is ~60#@29.5“

Here are a few pictures.
« Last Edit: February 26, 2026, 04:33:15 am by medicinewheel »
Frank from Germany...

Offline medicinewheel

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Re: Ash board bow...
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2026, 04:20:06 am »
Few more pics:
Frank from Germany...

Offline medicinewheel

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Re: Ash board bow...
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2026, 04:25:45 am »
Here is how the grain shows on upper limb belly side. Due to ring orientation there is a tiny bit of a twist in the upper limb. That twist stayed solid after shooting, so: no problem. And it sure looks nice!
Frank from Germany...

Offline medicinewheel

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Re: Ash board bow...
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2026, 04:29:58 am »
Braced to full draw (29"):
Frank from Germany...

Offline medicinewheel

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Re: Ash board bow... pic heavy!
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2026, 04:35:55 am »
This was that first group of arrows shot at 20 yards:
Frank from Germany...

Offline Tuomo

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Re: Ash board bow... pic heavy!
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2026, 05:34:25 am »
A very nice bow! It’s hard to believe you had a break of over 10 years from bow making.

Online Robert Pougnier

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Re: Ash board bow... pic heavy!
« Reply #6 on: February 26, 2026, 09:30:29 am »
That came out great! I really like the finish work too!

Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: Ash board bow... pic heavy!
« Reply #7 on: February 26, 2026, 12:30:13 pm »
Right there is a sweet example of why people should drop their preconceived notions regarding board bows!

That dog was born to hunt.
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline bentstick54

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Re: Ash board bow... pic heavy!
« Reply #8 on: February 26, 2026, 12:48:06 pm »
That turned out really great. Love the finish on it, and full draw looks great. Doesn’t look like you forgot much over the ten years of not building any. Hope to see more of your work in the future.
You should add it to the bow of the month thread.

Offline superdav95

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Re: Ash board bow... pic heavy!
« Reply #9 on: February 26, 2026, 03:28:35 pm »
Being a details guy myself with a hint of OCD mixed in I certainly appreciate the details on this bow.  There is a lot to look at!  Beautiful bow. Love everything about it.  This right here is what careful attention to detail looks like.  Well done!   What is the material used to edge you handle wrap?   
Sticks and stones and other poky stabby things.

superdav95@gmail.com

Offline medicinewheel

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Re: Ash board bow... pic heavy!
« Reply #10 on: Today at 03:46:51 am »
Thank you all for the nice replies!
Well, basically I though bowmaking would be like riding a bicycle and one wouldn't forget, but I expected it to be more wonky. Thus the ash board to start over again!

@superdav95: all wrappings are thin linen thread, dyed with Fiebing's dark brown leatherdye.
Frank from Germany...

Offline Pappy

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Re: Ash board bow... pic heavy!
« Reply #11 on: Today at 08:57:28 am »
Very nice work, beautiful bow for sure. :)
 Pappy
Clarksville,Tennessee
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