Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: DirtyDan on March 19, 2009, 03:48:59 pm

Title: It had to be yew...
Post by: DirtyDan on March 19, 2009, 03:48:59 pm

Well, I have built quite a few bows in the past few years, but I had never built a yew bow.  Fortunately, I was able to get a very nice yew log from Oregon that was about forty years old.  The man who sold it to me had harvested it and put it up, intending to build himself a bow.  Alas, he never did, but the log was nicely sealed in thick wax, and, although it had some knots, it was very tight-grained and beautiful.  Because of the knots, I did not want to make a true English long bow out of it, but this attempt is sort of "flat" longbow, 71" long, 43 # at 28".  The funny handle is the result of a rather large knot.  It shoots very sweet, though, and I am happy with it.
Dan(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/first%20yew/DSC_0514.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/first%20yew/DSC_0513.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/first%20yew/DSC_0507.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/first%20yew/DSC_0506.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/first%20yew/DSC_0503.jpg)

Title: Re: It had to be yew...
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 19, 2009, 03:59:24 pm

...wonderful yew. Looks great! Tiller is great and that is a most unusual  handle. Jawge

Title: Re: It had to be yew...
Post by: Pat B on March 19, 2009, 04:02:43 pm

Looks real good Dan. Bring it to the Classic if you come.

Title: Re: It had to be yew...
Post by: Shooter_G22 on March 19, 2009, 04:46:48 pm

Wow,

   that piece of wood is or stave was cut befor i was even born... that is a treasure all in its own to have a peice of wood that old and preserved taht well... it just bogs my mind that one would take sooo many precuations and keep a piece of wood around for that long to make a bow out of it...    thats really cool...   and you did an excallant job turning it into a bow...
thanks for sharing...
   makes you wonder how long would a wood bow last i mean if you used it and took good care of it... would it be able to pass on generation to genration???  im talking of a complet wood bow no laminate or backed bow just a straight wood bow like the one you got there???
how long would something like that last and lets say you used it often but not everyday or anything like that but lets say every season...  how long will that bow Last???

sorry to ask but it just poped in my head..  should i ask that on a diferant thread???

Title: Re: It had to be yew...
Post by: Hillbilly on March 19, 2009, 04:49:24 pm

Yew did good, Dan. Good looking bow, and good story behind it.

Title: Re: It had to be yew...
Post by: brownhillboy on March 19, 2009, 05:40:18 pm

Very nice bow!  Tiller is excellent....congratulations. :)

Title: Re: It had to be yew...
Post by: OldBow on March 19, 2009, 10:16:01 pm

You've done a good job with this bow. Any chance of a larger Full Draw so it can be bookmarked for March Self BOM

Title: Re: It had to be yew...
Post by: Timo on March 19, 2009, 10:28:22 pm

Nice looker! Love that bent handle and the wrap.

Title: Re: It had to be yew...
Post by: Pappy on March 20, 2009, 08:32:11 am

Very nice Dan,wondered where you have been,looks like you been busy. :) See ya in May.
   Pappy

Title: Re: It had to be yew...
Post by: DanaM on March 20, 2009, 11:15:02 am

Nice looking bow Dan :)

Title: Re: It had to be yew...
Post by: Cromm on March 20, 2009, 12:39:31 pm

WoW my man!!!! Great looking bow!!!!!!!

Title: Re: It had to be yew...
Post by: xin on March 20, 2009, 02:03:00 pm

"Don't be Cruel" ...to a heartwood that's yew.....     You were very nice to this heartwood.  Great job.