Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Pat B on January 30, 2011, 07:00:15 pm
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I made this from a belly split off of a locust stave I got from TomB. I have had such bad luck with locust over the years that I though I'd try this belly split first.
She is 65" t/t, 1 3/8" at the widest point about 6" from the center and tapers to 3/4" at the single side nock tips. The handle is narrowed sort of like a Sudbury style bow and she bends slightly at full draw. I decided to heat treat the belly to stave off the possibility of fretting(my locust nemesis).Only finish is hand rubbed bear grease with a few sessions by the wood stove to help it sink in. She pulls 40#@26"(45#@28") and flings my 600gr hill cane arrows well.
Here she is. I'll get a full draw pic l;ater when my wife gets well.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/LocustEasternWoodlandstyle001.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/LocustEasternWoodlandstyle005.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/LocustEasternWoodlandstyle004.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/LocustEasternWoodlandstyle006.jpg)
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Side nocks and handle...
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/LocustEasternWoodlandstyle002.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/LocustEasternWoodlandstyle003.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/LocustEasternWoodlandstyle007.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/LocustEasternWoodlandstyle008.jpg)
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Very cool Pat. I wish I had seen this one before I made my last locust bow.
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Real nice Pat looks like its got some nice character,Locust is good stuff,never tried heat treating it though,look forward to full draw.Like those side nocks-Hammertime
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Good looking bow Pat. I got one almost finished.That style is my favorite!!!
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Good looking bow Pat you always amaze me with those character bows, I'm still scared to try one, I got a hawthorn stave ready to try but cant summon up the confidence, if I lived closer I come around for lessons!! Black Locust grows in the park round here, often wondered about a midnight commando raid.?
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nice bow Pat , how ya like the side nocks ? never tried them
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Nice, Pat. I have a pice of Locust calling out to me.
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Nice job Pat I like it
Ron
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She looks good....looks like what they would have shot back in the day.
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Awesome, Pat. Looks like you did a great job on that stave. Jawge
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Thanks everyone.
George, this is dedicated to you. I know how much you like locust and being my first successful locust bow so far(after many years of failures), I know you were over my shoulder as she became a bow. ;) 8)
Ken, the side nocks are cool, easy to make and effective. Give them a try.
Dragonman, jump on that hawthorn! Character bows will teach you lots of patience and more about the wood and wood bows than anything else. And with hawthorn if you screw this one up there is always another crooked hawthown stave out there! ;)
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After thinking about it I think this stave came from a locust stave that Alan(Woodland Roamer) gave me for my birthday at the Camp-O-Rama a few years ago. 8) Might be the same tree as his BOY candidate bow. 8)
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Sweet simplicity Mr.B. I always like a good braced pic and that is just cool. good job
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I LIKE
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Good looking bow Pat,simple and effective. :)
Pappy
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Nice bow Pat. So is there an advantage to single side nocks, are they on the opposite sides of each other, and i've seen some bows with double nock on bottom, single side nock on top, what's the point ???, just curious, thanks for the info, and again, way cool bow.
Tattoo Dave
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Dave I don't know the purpose or origination of the single side nocks. I have also seen them only on the top limb but also on both limb tips. They are opposite each other so I guess the string always tracks across the handle with side nocks. The point is copying original methods and trying something new. ;) Some of the English War Bows had single side nocks on them as well.
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Very sweet bow Pat. Really like the stain ob on that, and the nice gradual sweep to the character. Well done.
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My kind of bow, Pat. And beautifully tillered. What material did you use for the string? I like the looks of it too.
CP
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CP, that is tan B-50. I like it on primitive looking bows because it looks sorta like a primitive string. At least bland in color. ;D
Thanks Keernan. I am happy with this one because it is my first successful locust bow after many years of trying. I guess I must be maturing as a bowyer! ;D
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Looks like you pulled off another very nice bow Pat.
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Looks good. I have noticed that the eastern woodland bows usually have quite heavy tips compared to the norm today. How is the hand shock of this bow? I always figgured the EW bows and most longer indian bows in general must have kicked a bit due to the heavier tips but I have not built a replica to test the theory.
Darcy :)
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Nice one Pat. I have'nt worked with BL yet but I am sure some day I will get the chance.
I wonder on the side knocks if you had a bow with some twist, if cutting a side knock on one side of it might bring the twist around? Danny
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I like it Pat, i'm going to have to try one with some of the BL i have,Simple but affective !
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Like that a lot Pat. Like the toasted belly left. Very nice.
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Pat, I am not deserving but I thank you. It's a great bow. Jawge
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Darcy, suprisingly they don't have that bad of shock. There is a thump but not uncomfortable. Maybe allowing the entire bow to bend has something to do with it. I don't know. I was shooting heavy cane arrows(600gr+) in a 40# bow so the arrow absorbed most of the energy so less hand shock.
George, I have ruined as much locust as you have been successful with. How can I not look up to you! ;)
Danny, if a bow has twist I like to position the side nocks to help allieviate the twist.
Thanks everyone. I've only made a few of these simple style bows and have come to love their effectivness as well as their simplicity. There are lots of styles of Eastern Woodland bows and this bow is sort a combo of two; the Cherokee style and a Sudbury with the narrowed handle area. Fun bows to build and shoot. 8)
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Sweet lil bow Pat!
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As always Pat a fine looking bow. Have never worked locust but would like to give it a try. I have tons on honey locust around here does it work the same as black?
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Not the same working properties but honey locust will make a good bow too.
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nice bow pat as said simple and efective.
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That is one nice looking bow,good job.
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Thanks guys.
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I see you toasted that belly quite a bit...
Nice bow Pat!
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Frank, I've noticed different woods get different coloration when tempering. I have a hazelnut that doesn't want to take on much color while toasting and about the same amount of time as with this locust. Maybe the sugar content of each species could be the culprit. ???
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That may be; from the little tempering I've done so far I realized different woods reacting faster or slower, now that I think of it.
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I'm working several BL bows at this time. I hope the bows turn out as good as yours Pat. Sometimes it's exacting to make simplicity.
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Thanks Grunt. I've earned a new respect for locust and tempering.
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That's pretty dang sweet, Pat.
Locust is fine bow wood.
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Where is the full draw pic?
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Nice little bow Pat. Looks like you did a bit of heat-treating to it.
Most of the BL I have used worked quite well
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Thats my kind of bow. Looks great and I'm a big fan of side nocks for primitivebows. Hope the wife feels better soon.
Jeff
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Very nice bow Pat.I like that "Sudsbury " look. Great job. God Bless
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Pat, great looking bow. Just curious, would the side nock wear the outside string more than the one riding in the grove. Seems like it would move slightly on the edge more. I've never made one nor actually seen one before, so just curious. You have also planted a seed and put me in search of some BL.
Lyman
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Lyman, if all the edges are rounded it doesn't to have any more wear than the standard 2 groove nocks.
Jeff, I also think the single side nocks look more primitive and work just fine.
Marc, the locust seems to take on more color quicker than other woods I'v toasted. I was curious to see how well it would work for locust being fairly brittle already. It seems to work just fine.
Outlaw, my wife has been sick for the last week so my photographer has been unable to take full draw pics. ;D
Pete, Sudbury is what came to mind when I decided to narrow the handle.
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You the man Pat, cool and intresting bow. I bet she is fun to shoot. Kenneth
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Hey Pat great bow! Glad to see you join the locust ranks! 8) I love the stuff. That stave was not from the same tree as mine but was still a good tree.
Alan
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It is good locust,Alan...and this was just the belly split. I still have the main portion of the stave. I have heard and am believe that locust qualities change with location. Must be the rhyolite in the soil down there that makes it so good! ;)
Thanks Kenneth. She does shoot well even with my Art Butner hill cane elk hunting arrows. ;D