Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: IndianGuy on March 20, 2011, 02:31:25 pm

Title: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: IndianGuy on March 20, 2011, 02:31:25 pm
Well I got the latest bow finished and it will be the last one I post pictures of for a few weeks. This bow is Osage orange, heated into a suttle gull wing double curved shape. The bow has 7 sections of bison horn glued to the belly and is sinew backed. The sinew backing covers the back and sides of the bow and just to the edge of the horn on the belly. Each horn section is wrapped with sinew to help secure the butt joints.

The bow is 46" total length and 45 from Nock to Nock. this bow draws 23.5" and is almost 55 pds right now. it will gain a few pounds over the next few months as the sinew continues to cure. The bows sinew is ochred with a rock I collect locally and grnd into paint. Only thing left to do is polish the horn belly a bit.
This bow really flings an arrow. Oh and the string is REAL sinew.

The arrows are red osier dogwood, 4 have buffalo horn points, 6 have hand made trade type points from saw blades and 6 have field points. all are fletched and wrapped with turkey feathers and real sinew.

enjoy the pics. ;D

Eric
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: RyanY on March 20, 2011, 02:42:09 pm
Very cool. I love all these bows you've been sharing with us. Its so cool that you're in tune with your culture's archery traditions. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: IndianGuy on March 20, 2011, 02:50:59 pm
Here is a close up of the sinew string, it also is served with sinew as well.
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: fusizoli on March 20, 2011, 03:04:11 pm
Love this one! It looking perfet to me.

Most of my arrows made from dogwood too. But I use tham for longer bows at 28-31.5 lenght. They have very high spine and weight!

How they working at this short lenght? I will try it shure just like to ask your opinion.
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: IndianGuy on March 20, 2011, 03:11:31 pm
Love this one! It looking perfet to me.

Most of my arrows made from dogwood too. But I use tham for longer bows at 28-31.5 lenght. They have very high spine and weight!

How they working at this short lenght? I will try it shure just like to ask your opinion.

Well they have always shot really well for me, the fletchings are 6.5" long and cut really low, this helps stabilize the shorter arrows. Plains tribes figured this out really fast with the high winds on the prairie.
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: osage outlaw on March 20, 2011, 03:32:04 pm
That tiller is perfect.  I have also really enjoyed seeing the bows that you have been posting.  Thank you.
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: PaulN/KS on March 20, 2011, 03:40:42 pm
That is a fine looking bow and set of arrows.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: Gordon on March 20, 2011, 04:19:28 pm
I think your bows are great. But I have to say I love the arrows you make.
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: Barrage on March 20, 2011, 05:18:16 pm
Very nice.  I had wondered if it was possible to butt joint short pieces of horn together like that.  Nice to see an answer to that question! :)
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: Keenan on March 20, 2011, 05:32:47 pm
Eric, Love your bows and this one is another beauty!  I'm very glad to see you contributing so much to the board and also the sport of "true" Primitive archery.  Though I like some of the "semi-modern" bows that we see on here. I especially like it when the lost arts are being shown. Well done ;)
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: gstoneberg on March 20, 2011, 05:49:07 pm
Well they have always shot really well for me, the fletchings are 6.5" long and cut really low, this helps stabilize the shorter arrows. Plains tribes figured this out really fast with the high winds on the prairie.

I am going to try the long low fletch.  The winds here in Texas have been giving my arrows fits.  Your bows are wonderful, thanks.

George
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: ErictheViking on March 20, 2011, 07:30:56 pm
Another beauty, Eric. love the color on it. really like your arrows too.
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: Traxx on March 20, 2011, 08:36:39 pm
Didnt i tell you guys now?LOL
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: HatchA on March 20, 2011, 08:37:35 pm
...it just gets better and better...

Beautiful work Eric.
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: donnieonetrack on March 20, 2011, 11:50:02 pm
Eric, another awesome bow!!!!  One day I'm getting or making one of these.

Donnie
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: aero86 on March 20, 2011, 11:54:14 pm
is that the way they were made with the butt joints on the belly like that?  thats pretty interesting!
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: IndianGuy on March 21, 2011, 12:09:56 am
There is no known example of a bow like this only reference of such bows. So it was a mystery how it was done, but considering the tools they had this would have been the most logical and simple way to make one. I have made at least 20 of these horn belly bows. never had a failure with the butt joint.

Eric
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: sharpend60 on March 21, 2011, 01:02:25 am
I love short bows. Id like to make a short horse bow one of these days.

Thanks for sharing them with us.
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: wildkatt on March 21, 2011, 12:59:25 pm
Very nice Bro. >:D  Started on those dogwood shafts should work got them mostly strait now.


Katt
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: loefflerchuck on March 21, 2011, 02:44:31 pm
Nice Eric. I like seeing the whole sets. Another nice one!
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: medicinewheel on March 21, 2011, 05:47:11 pm
You make nice stuff Eric!
Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: Lee Slikkers on March 21, 2011, 05:58:20 pm
Very nice Bro. >:D  Started on those dogwood shafts should work got them mostly strait now.


Katt

Is there a tutorial or build-a-long for making dogwood arrows?  I have a lot of Red Osier which I think is very similar and would love to make a few of my own, thanks!

Title: Re: 46" horn belly sinew backed bow and dogwood arrows. pics
Post by: michbowguy on March 21, 2011, 08:41:03 pm
love the bows and arrows and strings!
very impressive sir.
jamie burleigh
"bowguy"