Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Dvshunter on November 22, 2012, 02:16:14 pm

Title: Hackberry Selfbow (scored late season)
Post by: Dvshunter on November 22, 2012, 02:16:14 pm
I finally decided to stop waiting for a good camera and just use some cell phone pics of this new bow. It's hackberry cut from my neighbors backyard a few years ago.  It ended up 57@28 which is a good weight, even at my 26in. draw.  The bow measures sixty-six inches nock to nock and shoots best with a six inch brace height. The limbs are 1 3/4in. to just shy of midlife, then taper to tips just under a half inch.  The tips overlays are cocabolo and I covered the white back with black snake skins.  The handle is made from skivved elk hide and dyed black then finished with mink oil.  I used the same elk hide for the small shelf and strike plate to keep her quiet when drawing.  I still need to talk to Glenn at Show-Me Strings for a new string, cuz I Hate making strings and mine are all ugly and full of wax. I'm thinking. Almost all black with a few red and white or tan twisted in and I've got some nice fur for silencers.

  (http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1219.jpg)

  (http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1235.jpg)

  (http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1227.jpg)

  (http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1231-1.jpg)

  (http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1270-1-1.jpg)

  (http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1258-1-1-1.jpg)

 (http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1273-2-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Dvshunter on November 22, 2012, 02:17:30 pm
(http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1267-1-1-1.jpg)

 (http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1257.jpg)

 (http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1246-1.jpg)

 (http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1255-1.jpg)

 (http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1249.jpg)

 (http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1250-1.jpg)

 (http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1271-1-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Jodocus on November 22, 2012, 02:23:55 pm
Classy bow, the skin looks great. And nicely curved limbs it has, too.

You don't need a camera, the pics look very good.
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: ionicmuffin on November 22, 2012, 02:37:43 pm
Oh my! that's a gorgeous bow! beautiful work!
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Badly Bent on November 22, 2012, 02:39:46 pm
DVS, that bow is drop dead gorgeous! Well done in all aspects, pure perfection in my opinion and the pics are just fine.
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: rps3 on November 22, 2012, 02:59:38 pm
Beautiful.
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: toomanyknots on November 22, 2012, 03:24:04 pm
Beautiful bow. The cell phone pics turned out just fine, I love me a hackberry bow!
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Prarie Bowyer on November 22, 2012, 03:32:06 pm
I like!
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Arrowind on November 22, 2012, 03:44:20 pm
AWESOME!!! Very inspiring!  The pics look great.  Don't need no stink'n "good" camera.  tiller looks  good. The tips are well done. The skins look cool.  I like the natural wood look too.  The handle an shelf are really nice.  Above all the craftsmenship is excellent!  GOOD JOB!
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Keenan on November 22, 2012, 04:18:18 pm
Man that came out great David. Your work continues to impress me. Love the unbraced profile and the full draw against the sky is spectacular. Well done indeed!
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: BowEd on November 22, 2012, 04:28:12 pm
Man nice bow.Besides everything looking great constructionwise I like that contrast of the whitewood and the snake skin.
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Dave 55 on November 22, 2012, 04:36:18 pm
That is a very nice bow great craftsmanship.
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: SLIMBOB on November 22, 2012, 04:39:13 pm
Really, really sweet look!  Love the bends in those limbs.  Nice finish work as well.
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: blackhawk on November 22, 2012, 04:46:18 pm
Looks like a sweet shooting rig there ;)
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: H Rhodes on November 22, 2012, 06:13:59 pm
Awesome!  Looks like a fine bow and I sure admire your craftsmanship. 
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Trapper Rob on November 22, 2012, 06:57:28 pm
Sweet bow skins look good with the white wood.
Rob
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Zion on November 22, 2012, 08:26:45 pm
wow, thats an awesome bow! seriously sweet bend!
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: RyanY on November 22, 2012, 09:26:17 pm
I like the contrast of the white and black and also the tiller shape for that profile. I wish my cell phone pics turned out half that good. Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Dvshunter on November 22, 2012, 09:42:44 pm
Thanks for all the kind words.  I finally got the rest of the pics finished.

(http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1312-1-1.jpg)

(http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1221-1-1.jpg)

(http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1302-1.jpg)

(http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1307-1.jpg)

(http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1218-1-1.jpg)

(http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1264-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: SA on November 22, 2012, 10:11:47 pm
that is a nice lookin bow, makes me want to pull out that piece of hackberry i started a year ago thats been sittin in the corner :)
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: bubby on November 23, 2012, 04:11:07 am
sweet bow dvs, i got a pc of hackberry waiting to be a bow, might not have to wait to long after this, Bub
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Eastman on November 23, 2012, 05:41:04 am
That bow looks great. I've got some white stinkwood (celtis africana, related to Hackberry) that i'm gonna try out soon  :)
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Bowman on November 23, 2012, 07:45:12 am
I like this bow. Classy and fantastic workmanship. I like the leather grip. Black leather with simple stringwrap. Very nice. :-)
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: lesken2011 on November 23, 2012, 10:23:38 am
Sweet lines on that one, for sure. Very nice job!!
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: PaulN/KS on November 23, 2012, 06:45:17 pm
Another nice looking bow Dave.
Hackberry is about the only tree here on my place that grows straight and does'nt have thorns... :)
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: missilemaster on November 23, 2012, 10:07:01 pm
Nice full draw shots!
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: steve b. on November 24, 2012, 03:39:56 am
A beauty...
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: coaster500 on November 24, 2012, 11:42:43 am
Dave U make some purdy shooters!!!


SweeeeT!!!
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Dvshunter on November 24, 2012, 12:07:40 pm
Thanks Kip.  I say the same to you.  ;)

Thanks Steve.

Thanks Cody, but the full draw credit goes to my nine year old. ;D. I just cropped out the rooftops.

Paul, I hear ya. I've got loads of the stuff on my farm. Some probably eighteen inches around and not a limb for at least thirty feet! I'm going after one hrs soon. It's to easy to work not to have a bunch of it. Plus it splits well and all mine dried into reflex with the bark left on.
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Dvshunter on November 24, 2012, 12:21:17 pm
Thanks Kip.  I say the same to you.  ;)

Thanks Steve.

Thanks Cody, but the full draw credit goes to my nine year old. ;D. I just cropped out the rooftops.

Paul, I hear ya. I've got loads of the stuff on my farm. Some probably eighteen inches around and not a limb for at least thirty feet! I'm going after one hrs soon. It's to easy to work not to have a bunch of it. Plus it splits well and all mine dried into reflex with the bark left on.

Thank you lesken.

Thanks Bowman. The grip is leather that is sanded down on the edges and wrapped around the grip. No string wrap on this one.  There is a good how to here that I used. They look better than my stitching. ;D


Eastman, Hubby, and sa, thanks. Go get after them bows and don't forget the pics when they are done.



Ryan, l used the editing option and It made all the difference.


Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Sidewinder on November 24, 2012, 12:24:15 pm
That contrast of the black and white looks stunning. Great job.   Danny
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: BowEd on November 24, 2012, 12:29:13 pm
Dvshunter.....Tell us more.What kind of finish?Did you dye the back before you put on the snake skin?Does hackberry like heat treating as well as hickory?It looks ready to get some game.
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Dvshunter on November 24, 2012, 01:05:11 pm
Ed. I didn't dye the back or anything. I just put on a dark skin. I also didn't heat treat this one. I just cut it down and let it season for about two years. I added some recurve to.the tips with dry heat pretty early on. I did have to correct the string alignment about three times though.  I used shellac for the finish for lots of reasons. One being poly doesn't dry well over cocobolo wood, and tru oil takes to long to dry for me. I put on like fifteen coats. They only take like five minutes to dry so it isn't hard to get a good shine.

I'll be hunting the rest of the season here in Missouri with it so hopefully I'll have some luck.
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Carson (CMB) on November 24, 2012, 02:06:28 pm
That is an all around beauty.  I love the bends in that bow. 
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Stalkingfox on November 24, 2012, 04:54:15 pm
A totally astonishing bow!!!  :o I am working on a hackberry short bow myself its 57"s right now Im looking to make it 48" R/Dflex by the time Im done Ive never dont it before any tips?
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: adb on November 24, 2012, 05:03:38 pm
Very nice!! How did I miss this?? Excellent tiller.
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Dvshunter on November 24, 2012, 10:11:44 pm
Dab and cmb, thanks for the compliments. I appreciate it.

Stalking, I wish I could help you out more. I've only made three hackberry bows and none were shorter than 60 in.
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: ravenbeak on November 25, 2012, 12:51:39 am
Lovely bow
well done all around,   tiller looks sharp
I really like that handle wrap
Congrats on  fine bow
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Dvshunter on November 25, 2012, 03:04:12 pm
Thank you ravenbeak. Nice website you have. Some nice looking bows.
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow
Post by: Dvshunter on January 07, 2013, 12:14:22 am
I've been hunting with this one the last half of the season and tagged another deer.

(http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1553.jpg)

(http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1532.jpg)

I like shooting this one late season. It's only a few lbs lighter than my other bow, but it's also longer and its just a sweet draw when it's 20 degrees.

(http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/dvshunter/IMAG1544.jpg)
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow (scored late season)
Post by: Pappy on January 07, 2013, 07:02:54 am
Beautiful bow and very nice doe.Congrats on both. :)
    Pappy
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow (scored late season)
Post by: PaulN/KS on January 07, 2013, 07:19:17 am
Way to go Dave..! :)
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow (scored late season)
Post by: Badly Bent on January 07, 2013, 09:45:55 am
Sweet!!! Nice seeing that fine bow in pics again and doubly nice to see a deer taken with it. Congrats !!!
Greg
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow (scored late season)
Post by: Keenan on January 07, 2013, 12:38:29 pm
Awesome looking bow David, Love the fulldraw and the relaxed pictures. You nailed the tiller and overall one very sweet bow. Congratulations on both the bow and the doe!
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow (scored late season)
Post by: coaster500 on January 07, 2013, 01:14:20 pm
Great job DV !!!

I love the profile of that bow!!!

I know what your saying, I've got summer weight and winter weight shooters....  trying to nurse some extra mileage out of these old shoulders :)
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow (scored late season)
Post by: k-hat on January 07, 2013, 02:27:16 pm
a beauty for sure!!  love the contrast between skins and belly. Well done and congrats on the harvest :)
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow (scored late season)
Post by: Will H on January 07, 2013, 02:59:01 pm
That's just awesome man! Congrats :)
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow (scored late season)
Post by: tom sawyer on January 07, 2013, 06:00:43 pm
Nice bow and kill.  Love the look of that bright red foamy lung blood.

I made a hackberry bow once, dyed it black and scraped the edges for contrast.  Snappy shooting wood.
Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow (scored late season)
Post by: Dvshunter on January 07, 2013, 10:33:47 pm
Thanks guys. I've got one weekend left of the season and before I left the farm I put up a stand so I might just get one more if things work out.

Kip, I can only imagine what mine will be like in a few more years.

Lennie. I dyed one black to and then sanded it some for that contrast. It looked alright, but this one had such defined lunar rings I had to leave it natural.

Title: Re: Hackberry Selfbow (scored late season)
Post by: soy on January 07, 2013, 11:36:48 pm
Wow how did I miss that 1 That thing is sexy... Beautiful curves and deadly to boot >:D Congratulations!!!