Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Gordon on May 22, 2009, 02:22:55 am
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Here is a bow that I recently made out of Pacific Cascara wood. It is also commonly known as Buckthorn. This stave was harvested in a favorite hunting area in the Northern Oregon coastal mountains. This is my first experience with cascara and I must say I am impressed with the wood. It is not very dense, somewhat like juniper, but it seems quite elastic and strong in compression. The bow did not take any set despite the fact that I made the limbs rather narrow and trapped the belly somewhat. I’ve overlooked this wood often in my search for vine maple, but no more. I expect I will make many more bows out of cascara in the future.
Here are the specs: 50# @ 28”, 64” ntn, 1.5” width limbs tapering to ½” tips, diamond back snakeskin over silk backing (I’m not sure how strong cascara is in tension so I backed it), belly heat treated once after floor tillering, purple heart overlays, and elk-hide handle, Tru-Oil finish. The stave had some pretty good whoop-de-do’s that made tillering a little interesting, but I think it came out alright.
The quiver was made by Ron York.
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Cascara/Cascara_1.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Cascara/Cascara_2.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Cascara/Cascara_3.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Cascara/Cascara_4.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Cascara/Cascara_5.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Cascara/Cascara_6.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Cascara/Cascara_7.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Cascara/Cascara_8.jpg)
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Great work on a new wood. Is it a sapwood or heartwood bow?
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Thank you Stephen. There is a little heartwood on the belly, but the bow is mostly sapwood.
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Lol.... Stephen Crane is the author I quoted.
Are you gonna try one without the sapwood?
Tavis
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Sorry about that Tavis.
The sapwood on cascara is quite thick relative to the heartwood - at least in the staves that I have cut. I don't think there would be much to work with if you removed it.
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What a bow !!! ..you leather work and overall craftmanship is second to none !
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Fit and finish is top shelf Gordon. Love the tips and the wrap. ;)
Tiller looks fine to me,very nice looker!
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Really nice bow Gordon!
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Looks good Gordon, I think it was JD that had posted bows made from Cascara and he like it :)
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Beautiful bow, typical of your skill Gordon :)
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awesome bow!
detail work is excellent, love the dyeing job on the handle
thomas
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Beautiful bow Gordon, you are an amasing craftsman. I really like the snake skins. Kenneth
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Excellent! Great detail work. Cool handle wrap color. And you harvested the stave yourself. Very cool.
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Another grat bow by G.F.!!! - Unbraced profile looks like one of a fast bow...!
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Wow! Gordon you just keep making a better bow each time you post one. I really like that grip. Joel
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very nicely done ! been wanting to try cascara but have'nt been able to identify in the woods. beautiful profile.
chuck
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Love your work Gordon. Once again, you've raised the bar. I love to look long at the tiller of your bows.
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Yep- that's Gordon! Same hat ;D - same fine craftsmanship! :)
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I had the opportunity to see this bow up close at the rendezvous and it is beyond impressive. This is definitely on of the nicest bows that I've seen. Gordons attention to detail is quite humbling, and his bows always make me walk away striving harder for perfection on the next one.
I think we will be seeing more cascara in the future. It really is a great bow wood. Again awesome bow Gordon. Keenan
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Gordon, that is a good looking bow as usual. I've been sitting on a piece of Cascara for about 3 years. I guess I need to get to it.
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Impessed again Gordon, a true wizard with the wood.Phillip
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you make some beeeeautiful bows.never heard of that type of wood.nice skins,handle,tiller. you can really tell how much you love to do this. ;)
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man, what could i say that hasn't already been said?? i definite work of art. it also reminds me that archery is one of the thiings that all humans in all the centuries have in common. no matter where you go you can always find wood to make a bow.
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Thank you Manny, I wanted to try something a little different for the handle this time.
Thank you for the nice words Tim. I am happy with the tiller – it just looks a little funny with all of those dips.
Thank you Greg.
Thank you Dana, I remember well some of JD’s cascara bows. He did some impressive work with this wood.
Thank you Kegan, I appreciate the compliment.
Thank you Thomas, I wanted the handle color to match the tips. I think it turned out okay.
Thank you for the kind words Kenneth.
Thank you Bear. Actually my friend Dave Hanselman gifted me the stave. It was from a trip we made a couple of years ago.
Thank you Frank. I am very happy with the profile. I am extremely impressed with how little set this wood takes.
Thank you Joel. It was great visiting with you this weekend. Are you planning on coming to the Gods Valley rendezvous?
Thank you Chuck. Cascara is characterized by its elongated leaves with very prominent veins on the underside. The wood also has a rather pungent smell.
Thank you for the compliment Shaun.
Thank you Don. I hope you are not getting tired of seeing my posts.
Thank you for your extremely generous compliments Keenan, but you have nothing to be humbled about. The juniper bow you gifted to me this past weekend is a superb piece of bowyer’s craft. I have much to learn from you my friend.
Thank you Eddie. If you decide you don’t want to mess with that stave, feel free to send it to me!
Thank you for the nice compliment Philip.
Thank you Redwasp. I do enjoy fashioning functional bows from wood. On that score I think I am in good company here!
Thank you for the compliment sulphur. Your observation about wood and bows is so true.
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Gordon what are the dates for God's Valley. It will depend if I can get off work. Hopefully.
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Thank you Don. I hope you are not getting tired of seeing my posts.
Well, even if he gets tired...I don't (not even with the same had all the time ;D ;D ;D ) !!!
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Great bow Gordon! You seem to come around to the wood that some would claim to be a real crappy choice! ::) Great work!
Brian
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Thank you Brian. I don't know why anyone would consider this inferior bow wood. I can't say for certain what its qualities are in tension - that's why I backed it. But it is clearly a superior compression wood. After seeing how well this bow performs I'm going to try for higher weight on the next one.
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impressive bow a work of art.
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Gordon,
Cascara is NOT bullet proof on the back, but I have made several bows in the 50's that held up. I strongly advise a serious burnishing on the back if you are going to try it...one nick, and BOOM! Backing as you did is wise, in my opinion.
I call Cascara our NW red cedar(eastern that is..) If you ever worked eastern red cedar it is very similar in compression..
Brian
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Gordon,
I remember seein that type leather grip on some bows on Ferrets old site.Think the guy was from Germany.Always thought they were the coolest type i ever saw.Same goes fer yours.
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Brian, regarding the tension qualities of the wood I suspected as much and burnished/backed the bow as a precaution.
Trax, I did not invent this style of handle wrap. I had a picture of it in my archives and copied it. I'm not sure who the originator is, but I tip my hat to them.
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That bow is a beautiful piece of work.A joy to look at those pictures. ' Frank
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Very nice bow Gordon
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Beautiful bow Gordon.
When Brian said <<You seem to come around to the wood that some would claim to be a real crappy choice!>> I think he was refering to one of the traditional uses of Cascara bark - a powerful laxitive... >:D
Keith
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Another beautiful bow Gordon, Love that snake skin on the back.............
Are you still on MSN? Robin
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Gordon, I have so many pictures of your bows saved that I am going to have to buy more memory for my computer! Beauty!!!
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Gordon, you are a great inspiration. Your attention to detail is amazing. Your pictures are great also. Beautiful bow as always.
John
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That's a beauty Gordon,great job. God Bless
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Great bow Gordon as usual. I hope you guys had fun last weekend, I was thinking about you as I sat thru class all day. I finshed tillering a bow today it osage 57.5" ntn stiff handed a little under 1.5" wide 7/16" tips and it holds about 3/4 reflex. It is 62# @ 27" I am going to shoot for a week or so before I finish it. I finished another bow today also, osage, sieuw backed 58" ntn 49#@ 27" backed with a rat snake skin. It is for my nephew, he will be here for my daughters graduation next week. I going to have to learn how to post pictures one of these days. Greg
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Nice Bow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Thank you Frank, I appreciate the compliment.
Thank you Marc.
Thank you Keith. Yes, after reading Brian's comment again I realized it was a play on words - I'm a little slow on the uptake sometimes...
Thank you Robin. I am on MSN, but mostly during the day while at work.
Thank you Bob, that means a lot coming from you.
Thank you for the nice words John.
Thank you Pete.
Thank you Greg. We did miss you at the gathering. I think you would have had a great time. 10 bows were completed over the weekend. You sure have been at it lately. We'll have to get together soon.
Thank you smokeu.
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Great job Gordon, another beautiful bow. and thoes tips.... ;D
Phil
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Gordon-
Glad to see you made such a fine weapon out of cascara.
Your making me re-look at the several dry staves I have in the wood rack.
I should probably finish the three I have started already!!
Did the nice yellow/orange color shine through the finish?
Bryan
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Thank you Phil, I much appreciate your kind words.
Thank you Bryan. Let me know if you get tired of looking at all that cascara wood in your garage - I'm sure I could find a nice home for them ;D
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Beautiful bow Gordon,your work is exceptional.Very nice job in all aspects. :)
Pappy
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Thank you Pappy. I appreciate the compliment.