Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Gordon on September 01, 2007, 01:27:09 am
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Here is a bow that is collaboration between a friend (Brad Shirts) and I. For the last couple of years Brad has been bringing me pictures of some West Coast bows that he liked. I finely got the hint and committed that I would build him a bow that he could then decorate in any manner he pleased. Our first attempt failed as the vine maple stave over-dried and exploded during the tiller process. This spring Brad found a nice piece of serviceberry which I roughed out and built into a bow. Brad prepared the sturgeon skin, designed and executed all the artwork, inlaid the arrow pass, applied the finish and did the handle work. My wife, Jayne, lettered the bow.
Here are the specs: service-berry, 65” ntn, 65# @ 28”, cocobolo tip overlays, sturgeon-skin backing, natural brain tanned elk handle, walrus ivory arrow pass, carved bone and abalone beads on the handle tags, Tru-oil finish. Brad christened the bow “Yurok Medicine”.
Brad is taking it on its maiden elk hunt this weekend. With mojo like that, I would be very afraid if I were an elk!
BTW, that is Brad in the pictures.
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Yurok/yurok1.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Yurok/yurok2.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Yurok/yurok3.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Yurok/yurok4.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Yurok/yurok6.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Yurok/yurok7.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Yurok/yurok8.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Yurok/yurok5.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Yurok/yurok9.jpg)
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That is an incredible piece of art. What is the arrow pass inlay made of. Can I see a picture of the inlay and maybe one of the picture of a complete limb so I can see how it all ties together. Justin
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All around beautiful bow, but that sturgeon skin is outstanding. Hope the bow brings good luck to the hunt.
VB
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Wow :o, you got it Gordon - beautiful bow and the elk aughta be very afraid ;D. Youre an artist with that working wood!!!
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Justin, the arrow pass inlay is made of walrus ivory. Brad did that part and he did a great job. It will be a while before I can take more pictures because I won't see Brad until I get back from a 10-day hunting trip.
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Gordon, that bow is a beauty, both artisticaly and tecnicaly. Great Job, I would like to try that serviceberry sometime. What are your thoughts on it as a bow wood? Steve
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Thank you Steve. I like serviceberry a lot. It is dense, very strong in tension and, unlike vine maple, it is easy to work with a scraper. It will, however, crysal if you are not carefull. The belly needs to be flat.
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gordon! - i REALLY missed your posts!
frank
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i'm speechless. what a beauty. i rarely predict the BOM race before it started but this one will be hard to beat. congratulations gordon, to you and to brad.
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Outstanding bow Gordon, Its easy to see that many hours were spent on it. The attention to detail is outstanding.
Couple questions on the serviceberry did you induce a reflex? was it a striaght piece or did it require straightening?
Also any checking problems while drying? Reason I ask is I cut some this spring debarked it cut in half, and sealed
but most of it checked and twisted quite bad. I have two staves out of seven that survived and one is such a snake only Pappy could love it ;D
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beautiful bow! both the art work and tiller
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Stunning!
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That is truely a work of art.When you put your creativity and personal touches like that in a bow,I would thank that it becomes part of you.And when you bring home meat with it.It makes it even better.tradrick
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Outstanding 8)
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Gordon, This is an incredible bow all around. Good luck to Brad. We want to see pics of his elk when he gets back. ;D Pat
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Justin, the arrow pass inlay is made of walrus ivory. Brad did that part and he did a great job. It will be a while before I can take more pictures because I won't see Brad until I get back from a 10-day hunting trip.
Somehow I suspected it was ivory, but I never would have guessed walrus. :D Justin
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I'll also second that outstanding!!!!!!!! ;D Did you leave the diamond plates in the sturgon skin? I used to catch lots of white sturgon and never thought of keeping the skin as I was not aware of this site or making bows then. Now I live where there are only the black or river sturgon live. And you can't keep them form what I hear. May have to get ahold of some of my friends who still live in Washington and Oregon to send me some. Again excellent work, very beautiful bow!!!!!!!!
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Pat,
I did not induce any reflex into this bow because it had quite a bit to start with. Most of it, however, was lost during the tillering process. I have had similar problems with serviceberry checking and twisting, but not with this piece of wood. I’ve noticed that if the grain is twisted serviceberry will likely check and twist. I have had little problem with wood that is straight grained. I also had to bend the wood at the handle to get the string to align properly.
Makete,
The scales were left on. I was pretty skeptical about that at first, but they seem to be holding up fine. They do look pretty cool.
Thank you all for the wonderful compliments. Really though, I only made the canvas on which Brad performed his magic.
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Yer right Gordon, thanks for reminding us that it was co-operative effort,
your bow building skills, Brad's artistic touch and of course your wifes lettering.
Congrats to all. Hmmmm PA is gonna have to send 3 hats ;D
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Wow Gordan! That's one heck of a beautiful bow! All three of you did a wonderful job.
Sean
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Gordon,That bow is gorgeous! I wish they would let us catch the sturgeon here.
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Congrats to all of your efforts on such a beautiful bow. Now that is what i call team work!
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It is indeed as said "an incredible piece of art."......bob
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Gordon, that bow should be put on public exhibition in a famous art museum, after a few elk have checked out its handiwork. Words don't do it justice..
Rich-impressed
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I guess wow is too mild a word to use?
Dane
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Thats just too cool. You gave me some ideas. thanks.
Jesse
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Holy bejeebies, Batman! That's one of the most visually stunning bows I've ever seen posted on here. Looks great functionally and artistically, not much room for improvement anywhere on that bow. How wide are the limbs?
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Hillbilly,
The limbs are 1 1/2" wide.
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Just beautiful Gordon,that is about all I can say.Wow!!! :)
Pappy
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How can i get one ;D You guys did a great job. Thanks for posting Gordon, I really enjoy looking at your work.
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Beautiful bow! Congratulations. Jawge
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What a fine piece of art! :)
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Well, what did you expect from Gordon?
Good for you for using serviceberry. The Blackfeet Indians here in Montana used it. I've had good luck with it.
Got you set up for Sept Self Bow of the Month, too.
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I somehow hadn't looked at this one yet, what a great looking bow. Fantastic job to both of you, the bow and the art work.
Mark