Two hours of work with just my Ka-Bar. I've really watned to try to build this bow for a while, to see just WHAT I could get accomplished with jsut this knife. I'm very pleased so far.
I started off with a small sassafras. I dropped one with just an antler tine and some sandstone before, in my "No stone stone age bow" but this was much easier. However, it was standing dead, and after roughing it out, I decided the scrap it. I did, however, gather several multi-flora and a piece of sourwood for foreshafts. I cut them to length, and I think at least four of them will turn out to be good ones. I'll feltch them up with some turkey feathers that I've been finding here over the past couple months. I'll be drying/straightenning them over the next few days until they're straight and dry.
Anyway. I went back to the sassafras patch, and saw a small hickory over at the crest of the hill. I took it, instead, having seen the many wonderufl stone age bows Jamie Leffler's done, and knowing it's the best bow wood around here.
It's about 64" long, and so far the tiller is pretty balanced. Being so short, I'm shooting for 50-55#. But anyhting as low as 40-45# would be fine so long as I can get it to shoot quickly and hard enough (narrow tips and a tempered belly will help later). However, you can see the huge MESS that ants have done to the wood.
I was AMAZED at how simple and easy this was. The hickory bow took less than 45 mintues to construct, and I'm sure it will turn out to be a fine little bow.
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