An American Primitive in Germany(PICS ADDED)

[The Singing Bowyer]

I was fortunate enough to get to play some shows in Germany, as well as teach a couple of bowbuilding classes and attend a large traditional rendezvous. I thought I would share some photos and stories with y'all.....  Ed and Sarah, I promise to get a proper piece written and sent your way.

I arrived in Munich after an 8 and 1/2 hour ride across the ocean, and was picked up at the airport by my buddy Martin. Martin is an internation Bear bow dealer and has a beautiful archery shop in Prien, a village in southern Bavaria that lies at the base of the Swiss Alps. Here are some pics from Prien....

Martin's store...

[The Singing Bowyer]

Pics of the village...

[The Singing Bowyer]

I taught one bowbuilding class in Prien during my first week their. Most of the staves were Robine(not sure of the spelling). It reminded me mostly of Black Locust-- tends to have a bit of twist, but is harder than nails. I was told that they would have some roughed out staves ready for me when I got there for a weekend class. The 'staves" were about the size of a 4x4, so with no bandsaw available, I got plenty of axe time in to get them down for my students. I also put Martin to work on his table saw getting a few tillering trees together. I brought a tool box full of draw knives, scrapers, and rasps with me on the plane, and then put together what we could find to make it all work. It actually worked out pretty well...

[The Singing Bowyer]

[The Singing Bowyer]

I did a few shows in and around Prien that week. One gig was a primitive Bavarian guesthouse that had been there over 800 years.

[Pappy]

Still no pictures just big red x's
   Pappy

[Pappy]

One picture at the end,looks like a polka band. 
   Pappy

[The Singing Bowyer]

The second class was at at the Traditional Rendezvous 2008 Sankt Ötzen. Here we had a bit more tools to work with, and I found German folks to be excellent craftsman---which made my job much easier!

[John K]

Looks like a great experience ! Thanks for sharring....

[The Singing Bowyer]

Their was lots to do at the rendevzous...including axe sharpening, making wool felt, and falconry.

[Pamunkey]

That wood you were working on was black locust.  The name for black locust in German is Robinie http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/wood/english/papropse.htm , which refers to the genus name "Robinia" which in turn refers to the French scientist-herbalist Jean Robin http://www.allbusiness.com/furniture-related/office-furniture-including/687404-1.html .  The tree has been widely transplanted around Europe, and I've read that it's easier to find borer-free, quality wood over there vs. over here in the US.

Will

[Pamunkey]

Is that a Virginia Hunter Safety Course patch on that jacket in the last photo?

Will

[The Singing Bowyer]

Pics from the rendezvous...

[The Singing Bowyer]

Yes, that is a VA Hunter Patch.... Many of the fellas who put this together are with the German Bowhunting Alliance, and most have traveled here to the US to hunt since bowhunting is illegal in Germany. They also hunt in Hungry and France.

Well, the Black Locust thing makes sense! It was a lot lighter in color and much cleaner than what I was use to here, but it worked and felt just like Black Locust....

[The Singing Bowyer]