Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: loefflerchuck on February 24, 2011, 03:47:24 pm
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This bow started as the upper half of a incense cedar branch. Like many incense cedar branches it grew with a upward bend, so the stave had a bit of reflex to begin with. The branch also had a bit of snake to it. I built it in the true Miwok style. Split the branch and shaped it dripping green. Gave it a few days, applied 4 layers of sinew, let that cure 3 weeks. Tillered it, Applied another 3 layers of sinew and the sinew hook nocks, then began treating the wood with bacon grease every day for about 10 days. After another few weeks I adjusted the tiller, made a 3 ply deer sinew string, put a otter fur string silencer on and wrapped the handle and string contact part of the recurves with brain tanned deer hide.
The bow measures 44" ntn. it has a pull of about 46-48# at 23.5". It is a contact recurve and has a very smooth draw. It feels as if you are drawing a 30# bow. 6 layers of sinew is the most I have used on one of these bows and I found that while it draws it into a mighty reflex and makes for a smooth shooter. It does not shoot as fast or far as a similar bow with 4 layers. With replica mock orange arrows with live oak foreshafts it has a cast of 164 yards and a max arrow speed of only 158.3 fps. But I do love shooting this bow, as you can probably tell from the frayed sinew string. I've been shooting it here and there for almost 2 years and the belly wood shows no signs of being overworked. The sinew continued to draw the bow into a greater reflex for over a year. The bow measures 37.25" tip to tip (reflex) 5 minutes after being unstrung.
I included pictures of the matching arrow set and and replica open ended bobcat quiver.
Thanks for looking
Chuck
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looks incredible, wish i could do something like that, im just thinking of backing with wood, let alone sinew
great job
noel
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That's an authentic looking little beast.......interesting with the long silencer only on 1 end of the string.
Darcy :)
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wow tiller looks FANTASTIC on that shorty! I love this style bows I really want to make one of these one day. Bookmarked for Feb. Self BOM contest too! :)
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That's a beautiful bow ya got there!!! I absolutely love it! Keep up the good work.
Tattoo Dave
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wow chuck,you really keep on banging out these little cedar bows.....i am starting to wonder if this might be a bow wood for people of the pacific coast area..mainly washington..there is cedar all over up there...i dont know how the sinew would hold up in the constaint rain...thanks for sharing and great work..john
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Awesome bow. So the nocks are 100% sinew on this bow?
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Wow. And there's nothing wrong with 158 fps! :o
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Wow. And there's nothing wrong with 158 fps! :o
ya,i think 158fps is great, especially for that small of a bow is great, keep making bows i envy
noel
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Excellent little bow! Well done. 8)
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Great replica. You are making some great shorties and very authentic. I've never done six layers of sinew but do know that the ones that I did with the heavier sinew jobs did have a very smooth draw. ;)
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Very authentic looking, great tiller!
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Perfect as allways!
Great to see your work on this bows time to time.
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incredible craftmanship. love the sinew knocks
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Nocks are killer! Nice job !
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Yes, the nocks are great. Did not know you could make nocks like that out of sinew till now,
Edit: Man, it's getting to be on here that like every fives seconds someone posts another amazing bow. Everybody seems to be pumpin em out lately.
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That is a beautiful bow,what thickness is the core?
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Thank you everybody. To answer a couple questions. Blacktail, Incense cedar only grows as far north as central Oregon. The cedar's up in Washington are I think western red cedar and yellow cedar( I think). Incense cedar is the only cedar in north America of the genus calocedrus. Like different species of maples, some will make a a great bow and some not so much. Incense cedar is the best wood I have tried in compression but don't know if it will make a good self bow.
158 fps is the best shot I got. Out of 5 shots the average was about 151.
Shikara, the sinew makes up more than 1/3 of the bow.
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That is friggin' awesome, I love those short bows.
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How in the world did I miss this bow during the month!!!!! You did a great job,.... love this bow!!
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Beautiful set!
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Awesome work,great tiller it looks like it'll take a deer traditional style. Love the arrows too.
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Big load of wow is about all i can come up with :o