Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Jodocus on October 01, 2013, 08:13:37 am

Title: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Jodocus on October 01, 2013, 08:13:37 am
I made this one to test a sinew backing that is restricted to the top of the crown like a cable. The sinew was put on in three fat layers. (Black) Elderberry is quite soft and spongy, an elderbery bow must be pretty thick. So I figured this way, the sinew would work properly without crushing the wood.

It had a little twist after drying that I steamed out, but while the sinew was curing, it crept back on board and always makes the right limb look somewhat stiff.

I painted it with crushed rock and charcoal.

It became a hard shooting little bow with a nice mesolithic touch to it.

Its 49" tip to tip, weighs 14 ounces and pulls 68# at 26".
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Jodocus on October 01, 2013, 08:14:16 am
and the bend:
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Gsulfridge on October 01, 2013, 08:29:11 am
Nice bend!!  Who woulda thunk to use elderberry for anything but wine >:D
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: TimPotter on October 01, 2013, 08:32:22 am
I really like how you did that. Seriously primitive look but well made and tillered.
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: blackhawk on October 01, 2013, 08:50:40 am
Cool bow.....I made one almost exactly like that but with hhb a couple years ago..it has sinew down the center crown only, and even has the same style nocks,and almost same profile...check it out

https://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,27805.0/nowap.html
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: BowEd on October 01, 2013, 09:06:13 am
Outstanding poundage out of 14 ounces.I like it.
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Badly Bent on October 01, 2013, 09:06:32 am
Don't know how some of you guys do it, 26" draw on a 49" bow and you kept the heavy draw weight too. Takes some serious tillering skill for sure. You know, Jon W and Halfeye and now you to name a few.
Love what you did with this one Jodocus, got primitive cool written all over it and she is bending so smooth.
Perfectly dressed up for that primitive look also. NICE!
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Jodocus on October 01, 2013, 09:16:30 am
...it has sinew down the center crown only, and even has the same style nocks...l
dang, that idea felt real fresh!  ;D

Thanks for the compliments guys. Badly Bent, I know I'm a long way from your skills still. I'm pretty sure you just have not tried yet! And thanks for the inspirations on the paint! ;D
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: NeolithicMan on October 01, 2013, 10:07:25 am
So awesome, I gotta try a short bow now for sure. Elderberry must be really compression strong. what other wood might work for a design similar to this?
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: IdahoMatt on October 01, 2013, 10:59:27 am
Nice job.  Very graceful bend.   :)
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: The Gopher on October 01, 2013, 11:12:57 am
what a cool little bow!
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: danny f on October 01, 2013, 11:21:41 am
that is a serious bend great job
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Dan K on October 01, 2013, 11:42:14 am
Sweet little bow!  Hope mine comes out as nice. Great job Jodocus.
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Parnell on October 01, 2013, 12:09:30 pm
I like that very much!  Like the paints, also.  Very honest looking.
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Carson (CMB) on October 01, 2013, 12:12:44 pm
Cool design, nice bend, and heavy little bow!
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: JonW on October 01, 2013, 12:58:22 pm
Very cool little bow Jodocus. Just my style 8) I was thinkg of something similar out of Elm.
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: 4dog on October 01, 2013, 01:13:29 pm
I like that idea, workin an elm stave and was thinking of putting just a couple layers of sinew down the crown. Nice bow.
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: dwardo on October 01, 2013, 03:19:50 pm
What a little pocket rocket. 4 ft of wood out to 26 very nice  >:D
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: dbb on October 01, 2013, 03:33:50 pm
Cool and sturdy little bow. I like looking at shorties,too bad i shoot like $@#% with them
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: rps3 on October 01, 2013, 03:41:29 pm
You take good pictures too. Full draw looks sweet.
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Peacebow_Coos on October 01, 2013, 04:18:02 pm
That's awesome!  I've been waiting to see more elderberry on here, was it red or blue elderberry?  I live in Oregon so I see it everywhere but rarely large enough to make a wide bow without crazy knots/nodes/bends.  Well done man, must have been a large piece?  I don't see a pith line on the belly.  WELL Done sir!
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Jodocus on October 01, 2013, 05:32:11 pm
Thanks for your replies! Coos: It's sambucus nigra. I've tried racemosa, but it took huge set. Nigra is very cool, can be compressed severly without taking much damage.
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Gus on October 01, 2013, 05:41:10 pm
Holy Cow Man!

I Like That One!

-gus
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Zion on October 01, 2013, 08:56:04 pm
Now THAT is a cool bow  8) Unique design ya got there and you pulled it off nice. Great bend and weight!
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Peacebow_Coos on October 01, 2013, 09:02:09 pm
INteresting, thanks for the info.  Does that stuff grow differently then?  Less pith, nodes, etc?
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Jodocus on October 02, 2013, 04:24:31 am
It grows quick, and quite large when it likes the spot. With a thick hollow pith canal that is usually in the way  :P It does not look like most good bow woods do. The nodes must be dealt with too (there's three of them in this bow, one beneath the black dot). And you need to build significntly thicker than with most woods. But it's just so amazingly good in compression that it's worth it. You can do horrible things to it without getting bad set. And it works like a dream, especialy with the spokeshave. Just make sure the back doesn't snap.

Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Josh B on October 02, 2013, 12:38:57 pm
Very nice!  Love the tiller!  Josh
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: ohma2 on October 02, 2013, 01:25:37 pm
i like that all the way around.
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: Peacebow_Coos on October 02, 2013, 02:54:33 pm
Cool, thanks for the info Jodocus I've never seen black elderberry in these parts but I'll have my eyes peeled wherever I go now!
Title: Re: Elderberry tribal shorty
Post by: burn em up chuck on October 02, 2013, 09:39:36 pm
     very very cool, love the profile

                            chuck