Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive on April 24, 2013, 12:46:49 pm
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About 7 or 8 years ago I met a guy online who was looking for a selfbow and I happened to be looking for a black walnut stave to try. He knew where a tree was and offered to cut it down, split and mail it to me if I made him a bow from one of the staves. I accepted and awaited the staves to arrive. never cutting bow wood before, Dax (the guy in mention) must have picked the most twisted and knotted tree he could find and sent it to me. Somewhat discouraged, I still managed to save 2 short, knotted and twisted staves but I knew I wasn't up for the challenge at that point. I told him that the staves likely wouldn't yield a bow but I offered to build him a bow from elm anyways. I mailed the bow out (he still has it to this day) and upon receiving it, Dax invited me to hunt deer or turkeys in alabama as a good faith trade for the bow. I accepted and so a friendship began that has taken us to at least 1 -2 hunts together each year between, FL, AL and MT. A few years later I picked up the best (relative term) stave and made a short recurve from it and shot it a little while. I sent it home with Dax one day as I knew it would likely mean a lot to him as the stave came from his late grandmother's land. Last month I found myself looking at the last stave that had a huge burl, a small burl and about 90 degrees or solid twist. I knew a bow was in there, but just didn't know if I could coax a decent bow out of it or not. Not liking the sapwood color of Walnut, I chased it down to heartwood and began carefully eliminating wood that didn't look like a bow. Once reduced, I steamed and bent as much twist out as possible. The stave was short but I knew it would accommodate my 22" short draw nicely. Once cool and dry I continued with the chopping and scraping until I came up with this as a final product. Perhaps not my "best" bow, but I am very pleased considering the stave it came from and also the story behind the piece of wood. Now, just as planned several years later, we both have a black walnut bow from the deal and the trade is complete. I have gained a valuable friend and hunting partner along the way. We used to joke that those Black walnut staves were bad luck b\c of a couple failed attempts early as well as a bow breaking that had tips made from that tree. Turns out it was good luck all along.
Now that you have heard the story behind the bow, here are the specs of the bow itself. 54" long ntn 58# @ 22". The tips are strengthened up with walnut overlays. I don't normally name my bows, but this one has pretty much adopted the name "Burl" obviously due to it's physical attributions.
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last pics
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Mighty sweet!! 8)
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that "node" in the limb really adds to the character of this bow. this should be entered for BOM, great story behind the bow. SS
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That is beautiful, love everything about it!!! And, if the arrow don't do the job, you could always whack the animal over the head with that huge knot/burl ;)
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nice bow, with some character too.
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wow what a challenging piece of wood...great job!
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Sweet
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Cool story, even cooler bow!
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Wow....... quite impressive work.
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Great bow Ryan, not just because it looks nice, has awesome character, is from a difficult stave and has a good story behind it, but
because it also has perfect tiller to go along with all the other attributes. Nice work on that beauty.
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Looks great. Good read.
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Nice work! Forgive my ignorance ,but I am wondering what the shooting characteristics are on a bow like this?Does the extra weight cause it to "jump" in the hand, or cause any hand shock?
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impressive, beautiful,and impressive ;) :o
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Sometimes it's beauty of the wood. Sometimes it's thrill of the hunt. Sometimes it's the challenge of doing things that are just beyond our rote ability to accomplish. It can be the art or the craftsmanship, the perfection of the simple machine. ...but it is always BEST when it is all of these AND the friendships we can have with likeminded folk.
OneBow
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Great bow!! I like how short it is. :)
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Great story and a circle complete.
Still think your nuts for trying a bow from that but it tuned out great. Got to be the first bow I have seen with a burl in it.
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That's a beauty right there
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Love the bow and the story. Thanks
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Wow thats one pretty bow Ryan, great job!
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That's an impressive bow from such a difficult stave. :o
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Awesome!
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Nicely done! Josh
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That is very cool Ryan :)
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Real nice looking bow.Like that black walnut.
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Beautiful bow Ryan,nice job. :)
Pappy
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Great story, and a sweet little bow!
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thanks guys, I appreciate it. surprisingly the burl doesn't shock too bad during the shot. I think if it was any further down the limb it likely would tho.
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My eyes keep going back and forth comparing the limb thickness between both limbs - - quite the difference - amazing work.
Russ
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thanks Russ, I think what you are seeing is some of the twist still in the bow. the limbs are pretty even in thickness I think. I think you are seeing some of the belly of the top limb in the full draw picture. it def has some twist still in it
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Very nice bow, and great story to make it special.
Kevin