Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Parnell on May 17, 2012, 09:51:16 pm
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A little over a year ago I spied a Seagrape that was starting to grow into the roof of a foreclosed house across the street. I figured I'd be a good sumaritan and cut a few of the limbs that were causing so much trouble. This is a bow that I've had shooting for probably 9-10 months. Originally, it had been longer by about 4 inches. It pulled very smooth with no stack to speak of, but I figured I'd pike it to pick up some more power. Glad I did.
I really love this bow. I dressed it up about a month ago with the wrap, sheep hide strips, wool yarn and a little mini floppy rest that I tied down with Irish linen. It has a couple of coats of Tung Oil, but it's not shiny. I like this bow looking, well, native.
Sea Grape is very elastic. I can't say I've made a sinew backed cedar, but I feel like this bow must be kinda like that. It just flexes really well and maintains a solid punch. I heat treated the belly and with the right arrow, it just does the job.
I have another shorty that I'll probably post next month. I hope more people out there experiment with bow woods that aren't mainstream. I've had fun with this.
This bow is 56" - 55ntn. I haven't scaled it but I'm saying 55# at my 27-28.
Thanks,
Stephen
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Few more...
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Very nice bends. I love seeing tempered whitewood. Its the best thing you can do to it.
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Wow! That's a lot of bend :o
Nice looking bow. I've never heard of seagrape.
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Sweet bend in that sucker.
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Very interesting wood, and a great job putting the bend to it...i am in the same camp as double o, i have never heard of seagrape is it a tree or a vine ???
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Generally it's seen here in S. Florida as a beach break shrub like tree. It has leaves the diameter of softballs that are very leathery. I'll try to get some pictures of the tree I cut from tomorrow and post them. Sometimes, I think it would be fun to write an article about the peculiar woods that grow down here.
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Really nice bend on that one. I like those shorties!!
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Beautiful bend Steve. I got to see this bow at the Classic. Very cool bow and interesting wood. 8)
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Very nice, great tiller as well. I think it's pretty cool how the list of 2 or three "good" bow woods from years ago just keeps growing and growing!
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I'm going to be experimenting with the piece you gave me shortly! Thanks a lot!!
Cody
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Very nice,I seen and drew that one at the Classic,didn't get a chance to shoot it but it was very smooth to draw. Nice job ,beautiful bend. :)
Pappy
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Excellent bow! What is latin name for sea grape?
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Excellent bow! What is latin name for sea grape?
It's Coccoloba uvifera.
I know not because of my amazing tree knowledge, actually I just looked it up on Wikipedia. ;)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccoloba_uvifera (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccoloba_uvifera)
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Hey Steve! I'm glad you put this one up......I enjoyed seeing it at the Classic! You should post the little one too! Cheers, Dave
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That's a neat bow Steve.I have never heard of Seagrape either. Good job. God bless
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beautiful bend on that one , i love to see bows work !! looking forward to the other one
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That came out nice, Steve. Now you need some Sea grape jelly to go with the toast.
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Very nice!
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Nice job on that one Steve. I was going to mention the Sea Grape jelly, but Mullet beat me to it. It is pretty common over on this side of the state. They get about 12 to 15 ft. high or so, at least the ones I have seen, haven't seen any taller than that, not that they can't, just haven't seen any. They can get a decent girth, around 10 to 15 inches or a little more. I never really thought of them as bow wood. I know there was a guy on Manalapan Island that used to cut it to carve. I will have to go visit my Buddy's Sister who still lives there, and see if I can do a little commando cutting. ::) Steve you should post your survival Australian pine bow. I was impressed with that one, as I had always considered it to be too brittle. We used to make bows out of it as a kid, but they were kids bows, and didn't last. Yours was actually pretty cool. 8) Nice arrow also. ;)
Wayne
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Its bows like this that make me smile. Seagrape? Never heard of it but with a bend like that and elastic as you say, it is definitley good bow wood. Nicely done, I like it alot. Danny
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Pictures of the tree, leaf, unstrung.
Thank you for the very nice comments. Sea Grape Jelly? Hmmm...
Does it go well with smoked mullet, some fava beans and a fine chianti?
Time for a swim and a cold one.