Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: half eye on August 30, 2011, 02:49:03 pm
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Fellas,
This is a stave with more curves than than a snake. It's tillered out to 45# @ 26" (my full draw). It's old aged Ironwood. The only straightening I did was to correct the lower limb tip which was badly deflexed. The string path goes right down the center of the grip area.
It shoots flat at 15/20 yards and hits hard (450/500 arrows)......so here's the question....If you could have this bow in your collection as a shooter/hunter would ya want it ? I'm askin because this ones for a friend and took a long time to tiller out....but if looks too crude I'll make him another one.......I value your opinions so please look over the pics and give yer honest opinion.....good or bad.
thanks, rich
there's 2 side "draw" pics one is about 1/2 and then the full draw so ya can see how the draw curve works.....
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few more pics
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Rich that top limb looks dead flat to me? Could me my eyes or the pic.
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OK pearl, thanks
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I agree the top mid limb is a bit flat. Can you feel an unbalance when you draw it? Have you tried shooting it the other way? Flip your limbs around and it might look better. And it might even shoot better than it does right now.
As far as character goes that don't bother me none and most guys who even don't make or even shoot bows think they look cool. As long as its a good shooter then who cares.
And why such the disgruntled look on your face? ??? Cheer up :laugh:
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I like the character and I would bet your buddy will be happy with that bow. Get that top limb moving a touch more and call it a bow!
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I dont know much, but like the others said. the top limb looks to just bend hard at the handle, with that fixed its a bow fo sho ;)
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I can't say much...I've only made a couple character bows with wiggles and some woop de doos.
But to me it looks like you handled that bottom limbs crazy curves pretty well.
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Thanks for the tips fellas, allready redid the upper limb and we got us a bow.....but I piked the pin knocks another inch and got some more weight. Getting the top limb bending some more didn't seem to change much but sure looks a whole lot better and will undoubtedly add to it's longevity.
Thanks so much for these early comments......this stave thing is a whole new deal to the old guy.
rich
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Rich, I agree with PD but on those character bows how she shoots has to be the judge. Looks like you are branching out; pardon the pun. :) Jawge
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Rich the last 1/3 of the limb does little work, thats why you didnt lose much draw weight getting that part to bend a touch more. I bet it is even smoother in hand now?
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I've made quite a few character bows and in my limited experience I've found that some folks really like them and some don't like them at all. There's a guy I'm building a bow for to trade for some of his stone points. Given his knapping skills you would think he would be all over a character bow, but he wants his bow perfectly straight with no knots. Then another guy I've built bows for is only interested in bows with lots of character. It's all a matter of taste...
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It is definitely a matter of taste. In my case, the more character the better!!! I love the natural look of a hand made character bow. With the right amount of character, there is no need to put alot of foo-for-all on it to be beautiful. And that my friend, is beautiful. Josh
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Looks like you're not having any problems transitioning over to staves from your usual quarter-sawn lumber, how have you liked it thus far? I'm working on my first few bows from staves as well. It's a lot of fun. Board or stave, I still just like to make bendy sticks that shoot pointy sticks.
...this stave thing is a whole new deal to the old guy.
I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks! ;)
Seriously though, your past few stave bows have all looked really good. Only a fool would be disappointed in getting one.
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Thank you all who have commented....might get a bow worth having out of it yet >:D I think the "free-hand" aspects of the stave thing is right up my alley.....but I aint real sure about real knarly staves yet though. Guess it's just lettin the old dog know there really is a lot a different ways to get the job done.
Thanks also about the "shoots good" aspects over perfect bend profile.....I was really wonderin about that part.
rich
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Yes Sir,
Like the looks of this bow.
As to cosmetics, what kind of finish are you gonna put on it?
-gus
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Rich, with those character bows you get the best tiller you can and see how she shoots and feels in the hand. At least that is what I do. Jawge
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Thanks George.... that's good enough for me
Gus, the bow would get my usual pitch and grease mix.....but I'm out right now so this gets 5/6 coats of Mink Oil heated and rubbed in.
rich
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id say call it a bow , but if i know you your friend will probably have his pick of the litter
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I'd be more than happy to call it mine :D :D I love those snakey bows. I'm sure your buddy will be more than happy.
Tattoo Dave
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Rich I think that is a nice looking bow, I love character bows! When I get allot of roller coasters in a stave it makes it hard to tell if the tiller is right on or not :-\ I like to use outside calapers to make sure I have an even taper the entire way down from the grip to the tips and the limbs are working evenly through out. I also picked up from John Strunk to lay the bow down on its side on the work bench and hold the bow at the grip or center and pull the string toward you to see if one limb is stronger than the other ( one limb will rock toward you more than the other) and when it feels even then the limbs are even or real close. I like the bow, and im quite sure your friend will love it ;) Look forward to finished pics and also I think all of us on here would be honered to have a bow build by the famous Half Eye ;D I know I would!
Josh
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Rich. I think it looks awful. You should send it this way for immediate disposal ::) Give it to your friend. It looks goood. I like those snakey limbs with strings ;D
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Don't know about your friend but I like very much this type of the bow. This bow is very good for my opinion!
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Honest Opinions...... HMMMMM I wish I could see the bow better. You have the tree in the background and I cant see it very well. I do like character bows though. As long as they are bows with character, not character sticks with a little bend. This one looks pretty good to me.
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It would be an awsome hunter look at the way it blends into the tree in the background ...what happened to your shed??? ...all kidding aside bows with curves have sole, and iron wood is tough.it would be an honor and a privilege to carry that one afield. ;)
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Sounds like you got it working good,it looks good to me ,I love character bows,but like Gordon said some do and some don't,as for me I like it. :)
Pappy
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Thank you for the feed-back fellas. I believe I got a handle on the whole "character bow" thing as to what to look for in the finished product. I really appreciate all the feed back. Thanks Pappy, Justin, Druid, Ken, Hillbilly, TD, soy........Josh, "infamous" is probably closer to the truth >:D
rich