Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Kegan on October 24, 2009, 11:19:27 am

Title: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Kegan on October 24, 2009, 11:19:27 am
Finished a new hunting bow up. I did this bow as a build along for an ArcheryTalk thread, went from tree to shooting selfbow in a month and a half. I decided to try an experiment, being that it was such a good bow already, and sinew back it to help hold weight.

The backing is pretty thick, but on the inside of the limbs (stops 4" or so short of the tips). I did a patch on some chrysals/hinging on the bottom limb, worked out well. The tips are a little extra light- kept from being too limber by heated in reflex. This is my first attempt at snakeskins- needless to say I'm a huge fan now ;D. Limbs are a little narrow for the weight, but I only intend to use this bow for hunting, and not abuse it with extra practice.

Hickory,71" long, about 82# at 29", only one inch of string follow just after shooting- about 2-3" of set. Sinew from Phillip King and Cody Roiter, snake skins were a gift from my parents. Leather came from my brother. Shoots wonderfully, very smooth and accurate- and despite the sinew on the long limbs, almost no handshock. Added some silencers. Ugly little things, but they make the bow dead silent. I really like this bow, and think it'll be a great hunting weapon :)

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Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: medicinewheel on October 24, 2009, 02:51:04 pm
Really nice bow Kegan!
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: TBod on October 24, 2009, 03:43:31 pm
Real nice!

Whats the with?

Your about twice as strong as I :D
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Justin Snyder on October 24, 2009, 06:57:31 pm
Such a great looking bow Kegan. It really is a shame that it is so humid where you live. You should send it to me where the sinew backed hickory will really shine.  ;D
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: adb on October 24, 2009, 08:14:01 pm
Hey, Kegan. Nice job! Your bows have sure improved over the last year or so. It's been a real pleasure watching you mature into a skilled bowyer. Keep it up!
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: ricktrojanowski on October 24, 2009, 08:24:29 pm
Nice work Kegan.  That is a fine looking bow.  It's almost 2x the weight of my hunting bow. ;D
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: zeNBowyer on October 24, 2009, 08:26:02 pm
Great  looking  bow,  81# a  real  man's  bow too:)
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: FlintWalker on October 24, 2009, 08:34:49 pm
I believe that's about as nice of bow as I've seen to do.  Looks great!
  From now on...road kill snakes will never look the same to you again. ;D
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Dano on October 24, 2009, 08:40:55 pm
Great job Kegan, but it's drier where I live, send it to me and I'll keep you posted on how she does.  ;D
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: banoch on October 24, 2009, 08:46:17 pm
That is a really nice piece of work. Congratulations on a job well done.
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Pat B on October 24, 2009, 11:22:11 pm
Nice bow, Kegan. Classic lines!
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Rhinegold on October 25, 2009, 12:50:52 am
Looks like the grip is thicker at the bottom...which seems ideal!!!

Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Kegan on October 25, 2009, 01:46:23 pm
Thanks eveyrone :)! It's 1 5/8"- too narrow for the weight. There are chrysals showing up on the bottom limb. I'm keeping an eye on it, might have to drop it a little in weight- but it has plenty to spare. Not as bad as I thought it could have been though- still only 1" of string follow :).

It's got me wanting to try a 70#er though- the FF string wants to take my fingers off in the morning chill with this thing ;D!
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on October 25, 2009, 02:10:11 pm
Very nice bow! I like it. Jawge
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Keenan on October 25, 2009, 03:58:47 pm
 Awesome , very nice bow, great profile and tiller and you did excellent with the skins, Congratulations  on a very nice bow.
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Dano on October 25, 2009, 07:07:21 pm
"There are chrysals showing up on the bottom limb"

 Wouldn't hurt to get the bottom limb bending more any how.
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: PeteC on October 25, 2009, 08:44:15 pm
Good job Kegan! I like it,wish my old elbows could handle 82# ;). Good huntin' with it.Lookin' forward to seeing it laying on a whitetail. God Bless
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Josh on October 25, 2009, 09:33:57 pm
nice bow and great job on those skins!!!!!  -josh    :)
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: OldBow on October 26, 2009, 12:04:58 pm
Montana elk are hiding from this awesome weapon. We'll look at it again next weekend for Oct BOM fun.
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Chad Bower on October 26, 2009, 12:12:25 pm
I like it ! You need that address again ? LOL Great work !
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Pappy on October 26, 2009, 12:20:19 pm
Nice Bow Kegan,love the skins and finish work,80lbs woooooo. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: coyote pup on October 26, 2009, 12:28:02 pm
Great bow! Looks like a well-made killer. And it carries the medicine form your brother.  ;)   I bet you will love it for hunting.

Does it have a bit of positive tiller? You may have intended it that way. Myself, I like a slight bit of negative tiller for some reason.
Regardless, A+ weapon.
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Kegan on October 26, 2009, 01:09:28 pm
Thanks eveyrone :)! This bow has made me such a huge fan of snakeskins. I keep thinking of other bows to try them on now!

Dano- I've shot bows with even tillers and they never seem to work for me. I think that if the chrysals get worse, I'll just take it down ten pounds or so. I'm keeping my eye on it.
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Kegan on October 27, 2009, 06:21:18 pm
Well, I've been shooting this bow for a few days now, and it felt rather stiff for 80#. So after a short session I took it and rechecked the weight...

Turns out this monster is 87#! Guess that's why I'm having trouble hitting that proverbial barnside ::)
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Dano on October 27, 2009, 07:13:02 pm
I wasn't talking about even tiller. The bow appears to have about 1/2" or more positive tiller.
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: recurve shooter on October 27, 2009, 07:19:19 pm
wow! really nice bow man! i wanna see if i can shoot one of them 80 pounders one day. jist to see if i can.  ;D
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: david w. on October 27, 2009, 09:08:14 pm
Wow Kegan!  Thats beautiful!  I really like it :)
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: chasing crow on October 27, 2009, 09:29:20 pm
Nice bow. But, damn man, I would need a come along just to pull it! Happy hunting. LOL
Chasing Crow
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: cowboy on October 27, 2009, 09:36:20 pm
That's a nice bow Kegan! Like the skins. If you think it's so ugly send it to TX - It's nice and dry out here too ::).
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Kegan on October 28, 2009, 10:50:11 am
Thanks all.

Dano- you mean positive on the top? The top limb is 1" longer, and slightly more limber. Do you think it's too much?
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Dano on October 28, 2009, 11:01:15 am
Yes. Just looks that way to me, if it shoots good, that's what counts. The bottom limb just looks so much stiffer to me.
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: NOMADIC PIRATE on October 28, 2009, 02:18:58 pm
I agree with Dano, seema you got a few pounds to spare anyway  ;)

I gotta make me one of those one day , .....good job !!!
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Hillbilly on October 28, 2009, 02:35:44 pm
Good looking bow, Kegan. Oughta stick an arrow through a deer, the tree behind it, and up to the feathers in the ground. ;D You did a good job on those skins.
Title: Re: New bow: sinew and snakeskin longbow
Post by: Kegan on October 28, 2009, 05:26:33 pm
Thanks everyone :)!

Right now this is only my second bow I have shooting that I like. I have one more almost there, once it's done this one will get "a diet" and I'll fix that tiller ;D