Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: DirtyDan on June 08, 2010, 04:53:07 pm

Title: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: DirtyDan on June 08, 2010, 04:53:07 pm
As some of you that know me can attest, my wife detests snakes, and will not have them--or their skins--anywhere around.  So, I have been making "fake snake" backed bows for some time.  However, in a weaker moment she allowed me to start making bows with real snake skin on the back.  My friend Joe Coots gave me several nice skins and I made this osage bow.  The stave was an excellent, clear, fairly straight piece that I bought from Mike (Yazoo) McGuire.  He calls this wood "second growth," because it is taken from large, straight branches that have grown straight up out of a tree that had fallen over, but had not died.  Anyway, it was a great piece of wood that was easy to get down to one ring.  It is an American flatbow design with very narrow tips.  It is 66" long ntn, pulls 54 pounds at 28 inches.  I heat treated the belly and put some reflex in it, and it has stayed very straight with no string follow.  I have not put it on the chronograph yet, but I believe it is one of the fastest self bows I have ever made.  A real pleasure to build.(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/rattlesnake%20osage/DSC_0188.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/rattlesnake%20osage/DSC_0187.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/rattlesnake%20osage/DSC_0184.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/rattlesnake%20osage/DSC_0182.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/rattlesnake%20osage/DSC_0192.jpg)
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: Josh on June 08, 2010, 05:21:31 pm
Nice bow man!  I really like the Diamondbacks on Osage.  Mike and Ken Mcguire sure do have some great Osage don't they?  I get two or three pieces from them at every event I attend that they are at.  Grip, tiller and finish work are all top notch... If it were mine though i would try to round out the string grooves a bit more, might save a little on fraying the string loops.  Awesome bow man.  :)
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: AncientArcher76 on June 08, 2010, 05:28:39 pm
Nice lookin bow!  Congrats!!!


AA
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: Hillbilly on June 08, 2010, 05:42:55 pm
That's a sweet bow, looks sleek and deadly. What are the overlays, bocote?
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on June 08, 2010, 05:49:48 pm
That really is a nice bow. Awesome work! Jawge
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: LEGIONNAIRE on June 08, 2010, 06:13:33 pm
nice biw. tiller looks good. I love the look of rattlesnake skin on the back it gives it a nice touch. how wide is it?
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: DirtyDan on June 08, 2010, 06:20:51 pm
Thanks, guys.  Josh, the angle does not show it, but the grooves are pretty well rounded and smooth. Legionnaire, the bow is 1 3/8" wide at the fades, goes down to 1" 10 inches from the tips, and then down to 3/8 at the nocks.
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: Josh on June 08, 2010, 06:27:25 pm
Cool beans Dan... It really is a beautiful bow!  :)
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: xin on June 08, 2010, 08:54:21 pm
I don't recall ever seeing a prettier bow.   Excellent craftsmanship!
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: mullet on June 08, 2010, 10:05:54 pm
 Beautiful bow, Dan. You are the Artist!
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: ricktrojanowski on June 08, 2010, 10:23:37 pm
Very nice,  your handle work is beautiful.  That is a fine bow.
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: bigcountry on June 08, 2010, 11:07:10 pm
So I guess at the DirtyDan house, ain't too many fake snake pranks going on?


LOoks great.
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: Pat B on June 09, 2010, 12:23:42 am
Very nice bow, Dan.  8)
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: El Destructo on June 09, 2010, 01:35:50 am
I like it Dan....nice job
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: NTD on June 09, 2010, 01:46:11 am
Gorgeous Bow!!
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: moc on June 09, 2010, 04:04:38 am
wow, a very nice bow.  well done.
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: Pappy on June 09, 2010, 06:48:09 am
Beautiful bow Dan,glad Molly finely let you use some real snakes.  :) :) Nice of her. :) I love the tips
and handle work.Tiller looks good to boot.  :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: gothmog on June 09, 2010, 10:11:43 pm
Beautiful bow.  I too love the look of real snake skins on a bows back.
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: Dean Marlow on June 09, 2010, 10:49:50 pm
That is a beautiful bow. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: billy on June 09, 2010, 11:12:33 pm
WoW!!!  Damn Dan...that bow is awesome looking!!  Wish I woulda had a chance to shoot it when I was over there last time.  Well, maybe I'll just have to make another trip down so we can smash stone, shoot bows and terrorize the neighbors.  You did a fantastic job on that bow...can't wait to see it in person!!  8)
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: Arrowslinger on June 10, 2010, 12:08:20 am
Dan love the bow can not wait to see it in person.  Thanks for the call today.

Jeff
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: NJWoodsman on June 10, 2010, 01:35:05 pm
Great looking bow. I've been daydreaming of making a bow like that.
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: DirtyDan on June 10, 2010, 03:41:12 pm
Thanks, guys, for all the nice words.  Billy, maybe you can use this bow on one of your "Primitivepathways" YouTube hunting movies.  Boy, would that be awesome.  Pappy, Molly appreciates your kind words.  By the way, those are bocote tips.  They are a very nice color for osage bows, I think.  The arrow rest is bocote also.
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: jpitts on June 10, 2010, 05:56:22 pm
Beautiful bow Dan. Can't wait to see that one in person too...

Jimmy
Title: Re: My first "real" rattlesnake osage bow
Post by: Postman on June 10, 2010, 10:01:51 pm
Wow- that's a stunner!