A Hupa style bow

[mullet]

   That's a sweet looking bow Dan. Beautiful art work. I think you could have got a inch or more and helped the tiller if it bent in the handle area more though.

[OldBow]

Quite the art work and quite the well-made bow.  Good entry for Sept Self Bow of the Month.

[DirtyDan]

Thanks to everyone.  Mullet, I agree that I could get more bend toward the handle.  I may re-work the tiller.  Thanks.
Dan

[Pappy]

Nice job Dan,beautiful paint work ,you are a very talented guy. A little more bending torward the handle wouldn't hurt. 
   Pappy

[tommy6]

That is a beautiful bow I love Pacific Coast native artwork. What kind of paint and sealer did you use?

[DirtyDan]

Tommy,  acrylic paint and wipe-on poly. 
Dan

[Sidewinder]

Dirty Dan, nice job. Like everyone says the paint looks great. I'm gonna guess that the sinew will take about 6mths to fully cure and poundage should go up if the hickory does'nt get sloppy on you due to humidity. What part of the country do you live in?   Danny

[Traxx]

Dirty Dan,
Outstanding reproduction!!!!
I have Hupa,Karok and Yurok,friends and relations.Any one of em,would be proud to own a bow like that.

[Knocker]

I have never shot short bows like these.  Do you put a mark on your arrow at maximum draw?  I think I would just keep drawing it longer and longer until I eventually broke the thing.     Or should you just match a short bow with short arrows that you can draw full length?

I love the colors and patterns in the California bows.  I live in the Pacific Northwest, and really enjoy the Northwest Coastal art we have here which is totally different.  Does anyone have examples of artwork used on Northwest Coastal bows?  The Northwest First Nations peoples were a maritime culture and were really known more for their masks, canoes, paddles, totems & longhouses.  They were primarily fishermen and whalers, but I know they also used bows.  I am guessing bows would have decorated as well - they decorated everything else they made...

Keith

[benjamin]

putting a wrap on the shaft at the highest draw limit is a good way to keep from overdrawing when you shoot quickly. i like doing it but if you really need it, then you built the bow wrong. Short bows especially need to be built to the archer. My short bows are made to draw 18'' because that is where my wrist stops at my chin. I might overdraw 1/2'' depending on how stiff my bow arm is but that is my comfort zone. If your zone is the same but your bow draws 21'' and you're just floating your hand out in space wondering if you're there yet, you will be very inaccurate. If your budy's short draw just happens to be 21'' long, I say give the bow to him and make another one.
if I replicate a indian style bow, I make it to MY draw, not that archer's draw.

[Bowbound]

Nice bow, and some great artistic talents too

[Redbone]

Nice Bow Dan!   I made a Modoc bow a few months ago very similar to yours.. They are fun to build, And I think it took me longer to paint the bow than it did to build. Those lines can start running together after a few hours of painting

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[DirtyDan]

Amen to that, Redbone.  That is a beautiful bow that you made.  I really enjoy the painting aspect, as I am sure you do.

Dan

[Gordon]

That's a neat looking bow. The artwork is really eye-catching. I've got to tackle one of those soon - you've inspired me.

[Knocker]

Thanks for sharing Redbone.  Would you mind posting a couple of closeup photos of the artwork you did?

Keith