Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Gordon on May 19, 2013, 07:05:52 pm
-
Here are some pictures of the trade bow that I completed this weekend. It is 68” ntn and is made from vine maple. The tips are water buffalo horn shaped like arrow heads (John Strunk style). The handle wrap is mahogany dyed deer hide and the accents are rattlesnake skin trimmed with red serving thread. I used brown leather dye on the limbs and riser and finished it off with Tru-Oil. The bow pulls 55# at 30” and holds a surprisingly amount of reflex for that draw length. I hope my assigned victim likes it.
(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5180137.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5180137.jpg.html)
(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5190192.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5190192.jpg.html)
(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5190197.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5190197.jpg.html)
(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5190239.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5190239.jpg.html)
(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5190243.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5190243.jpg.html)
(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5170117.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5170117.jpg.html)
(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5190202.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5190202.jpg.html)
(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5190212.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/PA%202013%20Trade%20Bow/P5190212.jpg.html)
-
Thats a real beauty, Gordon. Anyone will be happy with this bow. 8) Don't bust a gut getting it to 30", Gordon. That would be a task for my 26" draw muscles. ;)
-
No worries Pat, I'm only drawing it to about 28" in the picture. ;D
-
Very nice Gordon. I always love seeing your creations and the graceful bends your bows have. This one looks like a really smooth pulling arrow launcher. I'd be happy to see that at my mailbox for sure. ;D
-
nice! i love that handle, the tips look awesome too.
-
beautiful
-
stunning!
-
WOW!
-
Oh my! Words can't do it justice! Josh
-
Someone's gonna be one happy lucky dude ;). Thanks for being a part of the trade this year Gordon ;)
-
Wait did this bow come from heaven? No earthly man could create such a masterpiece! >:D Incredible bow Gordon! You are truly gifted.
Jon
-
Dang, that is one cool bow. The tips are wicked.
-
Nice bow like the way you did the tips.
-
That is a real beauty. Great work!
-
Thats one fine piece of bendy wood!
-
Beautiful bow Gordon. Judging by the specs, it won't be coming to me :'(
-
Art Work..............Craftmanship................ Fantastic
-
Quite a "stick", Sir. A real sweet bend, for sure. I expect most "righties" are already licking their chops for that one!! You really outdid yourself on this one. I echo Blackhawk's sentiments about you participating in this year's trade.
-
I certainly wish I was the "assigned" victim. That is an awesome bow especially with that amount of reflex. man its probably really fast.
-
Once again you set the standard for the rest of us to live up to Gordon. Fantastic work! Thanks for sharing.
-
I just love your bows Gordon. Beautiful in every respect.
-
Very nice. someone is going to be very happy.
-
Beautiful bow Gordon!
-
Another fine masterpiece from a master bowyer.
Grady
-
They just keep getting prettier. I like the skin accents.
-
Gordon you can bet that ****** will enjoy that fine piece of art for years to come.
Fantastic work my friend!
One of these days I'm gonna have to add an original "Gordon Ferlisch" bow to my collection.
Along with a few others on this forum.
-
Very nice job as usual Gordon, we have come to expect no less, some lucky person should love that. :)
Pappy
-
wow, beautiful bow and some great inspiration!
-Drew
-
Nice Bow
-
that is a stunning bow, i would be well pleased to recieve that.
-
I've started working on my first vine maple - it's beautiful wood. I think I'm going to have to go with that brown leather dye. It's beautiful on that wood for a finish!
-
Good God that's a nice bow. Looks very functional. I like what you've been doing with the snake skins lately too, it fits perfect with this bow.
-
Top notch as usual, very nice indeed.
-
Simply stunning......and fits my specs to a T. I would love to have it headed my way.
-
Your finish work is simply amazing! I do not have a 30" draw but I would sure try if it showed up at my house. Top notch work!
-
Thank you guys. I very much appreciate all your really nice comments.
-
Man I love VM and Gordon you own it!!!!
That is gorgeous sir :)
-
You are truely and artist!!
-
To think you put so much of you love and energy into something so beautiful, only to give it away to a stranger. WOW....
I do truly love this site and all of the gifted talent and generosity. Man oh man. I am very thrilled to be a part of something so selfless, in a world, with mostly the opposite. :).... Next year ::)
-
Top notch as per usually gordon!love the finish work!
-
WOW Gordon that is stunning and hold great reflex!!! Someone is going to be so happy!
Josh
-
WHAT,you found a piece of vm that is clean and 68''..SOME PEOPLE..LOL...great work gordon...the skins really jump out at you..john
-
WHAT,you found a piece of vm that is clean and 68''..SOME PEOPLE..LOL
Actually John, I spliced two billets together. I don't think I have ever seen a clean VM stave that long ;D
-
another masterpiece godon..i dont post alot but when i see one of your bows i just have to.you have been an inspiration for years.
-
Absolutely spectacular Gordon.
-
Lovely as always.
Might find this strange but a couple of months ago I met another bowyer on a peninsula in the middle of a remote Scottish loch in what was more like winter than spring. Over a few arrows and a beer we got to discuss whos work we admired. Pretty much at the same time we both said "Gordons"
-
Beautiful work as always Gordon. Did you see that it made the PA Facebook page? So what do you think of vine maple in that design? Looks to me like it works quite well.
-
Very nice Gordon...the vine maple I have that John completed for me has taken some set but likely from my long draw...and using it in our hottest turkey seapon in 10 years..two years ago. I am going to have him make me another out of vine maple or osage and put a backing on it...so my 29.5 inch draw does not mess it up. LOL
hope one day I can do as good of work as you have there on these pages... thanks for sharing.
-
That's funny dwardo. I would have never guessed that someone living in some remote Scottish lock would know who I am. The wonders of the Internet...
Hey Carson I checked out the page. That's pretty cool to see my pictures there. I've used this design with vine maple bows before to good effect, but I never seem to be able to hold on to them for very long.
Hey Brock. Ask John to make the bow a little longer than he usually does. That should take care of your long draw.
Thanks guys for your really nice comments.
-
Gordon, that bow looks so good that I'm hating you now. Way to set the bar!
Michael
-
That's funny dwardo. I would have never guessed that someone living in some remote Scottish lock would know who I am. The wonders of the Internet...
I remember the conversation well (and the 2meter high snow!), you do build consistently fine bows sir, this one being no exception.
-
Well thank you Nathan. Do you ever get a chance to fish for sea trout and/or salmon? I've always wanted to visit your part of the world.
Thank you Michael, what a nice compliment.
-
The term Master may get bandied about rather liberally, but in your case it is very accurate, Mr. Ferlisch. The only bow you could not turn out is the one I wouldn't like! Thanks for all your bows, Gordon! Great inspiration for all of us.
-
Well thank you Nathan. Do you ever get a chance to fish for sea trout and/or salmon? I've always wanted to visit your part of the world.
Thank you Michael, what a nice compliment.
Yes Gordon I do! Every spare moment is spent down the river 5mins from my cottage. Mainly had brownies so far but am trying hard for salmon. Last Monday had the river to myself all day. With the odd patch of snow still on the mountains & alpine blue sky, it was a good day to be alive and there are no midges yet! If you are ever over this way stop by you would be very welcome :)
-
Excellent work again Gordon. Thanks for sharing.
-
Nathan, I would dearly love to ply your rivers for salmon with my double handed rod and flies. And my wife is a piper and wants to visit Scotland something terrible. You might just have some company drop by!
What a nice compliment JW though I don't think I've made enough bows to be worthy of such a title. But thank you.
Thank you Dvs.
-
Excellent as ever! Dang but you can build a bow
-
Beautiful bow, I love the snake skins and the tips!
Kevin
-
Absolutely stunning! I like how you did the tips.
-
A bow to be proud of, Both to maker and wielder!
I might steal the overlay idea :)
Mikael
-
Sweet bow, elegant lines, that one looks swift.
-
Great bow, great work, great pics.
Your work is always a pleasure to look at.
-
Absolutely stunning! I like how you did the tips.
-
Another beauty!
-
Thank you all. I very much appreciate all your really nice comments.
-
Great looking bow, as expected I might add...never seen a bow posted by Gordon that didn't look like a piece of art.
-
Great looking bow, as expected I might add...never seen a bow posted by Gordon that didn't look like a piece of art.
What do you mean "look like a piece of art", they are pieces of art.
Grady
-
WHAT,you found a piece of vm that is clean and 68''..SOME PEOPLE..LOL
Actually John, I spliced two billets together. I don't think I have ever seen a clean VM stave that long ;D
What technique did you use to splice them together?
-
Jorge, I used a Z-splice to splice the billets together.
-
That is a beautiful vine maple bow especially because you were able to work around the bumps. :DI am thinking of making a vine maple bow since I live in the Portland area in Oregon and there is a lot of vine maple here. ;D Should I use the tension side for the back(side of stave that faces upwards).
-
How do you get into this tradebow thing . I dont make bows thT nice but would love to maybe trade two of mine for one of those he he ..... but how does it work. Is it a drawing or what ? Do you have to sign up somewhere or something
-
Once a year we have a bow trade. It's something you sign up for. We just finished ours a month or so ago for this year. You need to be able to build a safe and reliable bow and have enough of a history/presence on the forum here so that we have some assurance that you're not a flake as we have had some problems in the past with people signing up, receiving a bow and then disappearing before they send one out to their recipient. There will be announcements when the next one gets under way.
-
Okay cool . Thnks . I take honer i. Archery and would never steal a bow. Which is exactly what that would be . Also my bows shoot great and do t usually break . I sell alot of them and test shoot them at least 100 times before the sale . So . I dont have it on my shoulders . But i understand . And hopefully by next year i will be trustworthy . I have only been on here for about a month and hVe only made about six bows ( in The time i have been on here . Total bows ive made is around sixty. Give or take ten ) so i realize i have not earned my stripes yet . :)
-
Should I use the tension side for the back(side of stave that faces upwards).
Yes, I use the tension side of a log when making a vine maple bow.
-
Gordon,
Nice bow. I've heard you can make a bow out of both the tension and compression side of a VM log. With the compression side you just back it. Is this correct?
I have several Vm's at different stages. All are tension side. This is incredible wood!!! They all cam from logs and I hate to throw out the compression sides if they can make a bow. What's your opinion on this?
-
Gordon as usual you have shown a beautifully crafted bow and the finish isn't too bad either. :laugh:
What I really love about this one is how you went about the tip overlays. What was the inspiration?
-
Dan, I've made bows from compression VM (no need to back) and there is just nothing special about their performance. But when you make a bow from a VM stave that has ample tension, now that is something special. I burn VM in my tipi fire as it burns hot and hardly sparks so I don't waste any compression wood. 8)
Tim, the overlays are copy of master bow maker John Strunk's signature tips.
-
Sorry but I have to ask. What side of vertical tree is the tension side? Prevailing wind maybe?
-
It's the side that faced skywards when cut.
-
I can't quit going back and looking at this one again! Gordon, your work is truly inspiring. Beautiful bow.