Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Slackbunny on March 04, 2013, 10:41:05 pm

Title: Six Hophornbeam Kids Bows
Post by: Slackbunny on March 04, 2013, 10:41:05 pm
So I cut down a big hophornbeam last spring, and I salvaged a number of the branches planning to make some kids bows from them. Well those branches have been pretty much the only bows I've worked on this winter, and I finally put the finish on the last one yesterday.

They range in length from 38 inches to 47 inches. The draw weights vary from 15 lbs to 24 lbs and the draw lengths range from 17 to 22 inches.

I had intended to experiment more with this group but I ended up making them a matching set. I am giving them all to my girlfriends young cousins, so I didn't want one to get a cooler looking bow than the other.

They were tricky to tiller at times given the fact that the branches were a little gnarly, but I think they all turned out quite good for what I was working with.

I tell ya, they are snappy little things, and can really fling arrows despite their small stature.

Here's a couple pic of them all together.
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/IMG063_zps000f2f03.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/IMG064_zpsd3687928.jpg)


And here is the Full Draws:
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/IMG065_zps1e9634e5.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/IMG066_zps8a8beb0d.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/IMG067_zps6eaa0b64.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/IMG068_zpsafbf4ce7.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/IMG069_zps2be0e10e.jpg)
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q611/Slackbunny/IMG070_zps2d2c46d2.jpg)

The pics are from my phone so the quality isn't A1, but you get the idea.
Title: Re: Six Hophornbeam Kids Bows
Post by: Sasquatch on March 04, 2013, 10:50:04 pm
Great work on the bows, who are the lucky kids? 
Title: Re: Six Hophornbeam Kids Bows
Post by: lesken2011 on March 04, 2013, 10:53:21 pm
Looks like there are gonna be 6 happy younguns!!
Title: Re: Six Hophornbeam Kids Bows
Post by: seabass on March 04, 2013, 10:58:41 pm
looks like you are gonna put some smiles on some faces.nice job and good on you for passing it on.
Title: Re: Six Hophornbeam Kids Bows
Post by: Slackbunny on March 04, 2013, 11:03:37 pm
Quote from: Sasquatch on March 04, 2013, 10:50:04 pm
Great work on the bows, who are the lucky kids?

My girlfriend has 6 cousins ranging in age from 8 to 13, and I'm giving these to them.
Title: Re: Six Hophornbeam Kids Bows
Post by: lostarrow on March 04, 2013, 11:08:08 pm
Kids are going to love them! Great job. Now on to the arrows ?!?! Can't shoot a bow without arrows! ;)
Title: Re: Six Hophornbeam Kids Bows
Post by: JW_Halverson on March 04, 2013, 11:09:03 pm
Atta boy, well done, well done indeed!
Title: Re: Six Hophornbeam Kids Bows
Post by: toomanyknots on March 04, 2013, 11:09:14 pm
Quote from: Slackbunny on March 04, 2013, 11:03:37 pm
Quote from: Sasquatch on March 04, 2013, 10:50:04 pm
Great work on the bows, who are the lucky kids?

My girlfriend has 6 cousins ranging in age from 8 to 13, and I'm giving these to them.

Man, them are gonna be some happy kids. Beautiful job, really...  :)
Title: Re: Six Hophornbeam Kids Bows
Post by: Badly Bent on March 04, 2013, 11:14:30 pm
Great stuff ! I love post like this because of the excitement the kids always feel when they get a gift like this. Time well
spent on that project Slackbunny, my hats off to you brother.  :)  Oh, almost forgot to mention nice bows too.
Greg

Title: Re: Six Hophornbeam Kids Bows
Post by: Slackbunny on March 04, 2013, 11:19:19 pm
Quote from: lostarrow on March 04, 2013, 11:08:08 pm
Kids are going to love them! Great job. Now on to the arrows ?!?! Can't shoot a bow without arrows! ;)

Ha, I know. I think I'm just gonna do a bunch of cheapies with dowels from Home Depot. Slap on a few feathers and their ready to go.

I don't dare put field points on the arrows I give them because two of the boys are likely to try and shoot each other with them :P. So I'll just sand the points round and leave them blunt. If their parents want to get them arrows with pointy heads they can.
Title: Re: Six Hophornbeam Kids Bows
Post by: Zion on March 04, 2013, 11:40:07 pm
That's awesome dude! Great work on all of em!
Title: Re: Six Hophornbeam Kids Bows
Post by: JackCrafty on March 05, 2013, 12:06:40 am
Love 'em!!   :)
Title: Re: Six Hophornbeam Kids Bows
Post by: lostarrow on March 05, 2013, 03:34:26 pm
Good plan! The 5/16" poplar works pretty good for the kids arrows.