Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: simson on July 13, 2014, 10:09:55 am

Title: Cornus mas flat 55/28 (No. 46)
Post by: simson on July 13, 2014, 10:09:55 am
This is another cornus mas bow, in this case a flat with stiff outer limbs.
I have several staves from that wood and will try to find out the best matching design. The wood is extreme dense and heavy.
The back has some character with humps and bumps, the remaining cambium sparks add a bit color on that white wood.
The stave was thin, so I decided to try a leather overlay (two layers) on the back. This wood is so nice to work with – I could't resist doing some carvings on the handle.
Limbs are flat, on the inner halves with a shallow HLD.
This bow is a good average shooter, but I feel the limbs are too heavy for excellent performance. Imo this is not the best design for this wood.
This bow is one of the few bows which took little or no set – it's under ½”, the reason is the super dense wood for sure.

she is 60½" ntn

Enjoy and excuse the graphic fd pic

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020502_zps955eb810.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020503_zps9b546be7.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020504_zpsf1a0b75a.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/graphikfd_zps11b930ea.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020513_zps18b89f64.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020506_zps84b045d1.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020507_zpsd4f9f348.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020508_zpse4d0caac.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020509_zpsc012bbb3.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020510_zps33b7debd.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020511_zps752d66af.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020512_zps7f18fee9.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020505_zps8bd3a9e1.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020514_zps9bd8e78f.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020521_zpsca4bee29.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020522_zps53568439.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1407%20Cornus%20mas%20flat/P1020523_zpsc9100a73.jpg)
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: blackhawk on July 13, 2014, 10:15:54 am
Cool....maybe shave some off the sides in the outers to pick up a lil better performance?  ??? Interesting handle  ::) dogwoods good wood for sure ;)
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: Benedikt on July 13, 2014, 10:16:35 am
Wow! Awesome ;D
Nice eyecatcher ;)
Wo genau aus Bayern bist du? :D
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: missilemaster on July 13, 2014, 10:32:01 am
Nice looking bow Simon. pretty fun playing around with the handle isn't it?
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: SLIMBOB on July 13, 2014, 10:35:11 am
Looks sweet.  Nice work on the carvings.  Looks a bit similar to our Non flowering Dogwood.
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: DarkSoul on July 13, 2014, 10:42:36 am
Excellent! Thanks for posting these two Cornus mas bows, Simon! I like this one a lot. Your staves seem a bit more straight grained than the ones I have, with fewer knots. I like the width profile in this one, although I can imagine it is slightly too wide, given the high specific gravity of this wood. Since the wood is so dense and elastic, it can probably handle a narrower design. I do like the fact that this bow is pretty short. Seems to be good for the wood, right? I really like that tiller; you nailed it!
The handle is pretty interesting. I understand it'll fit only your hand and is made to measure. But is it actually comfortable? It looks so...I dunno...weird.

I've actually worked on my two staves of Cornus sanguinea yesterday. I reduced the 2" saplings I have to help in the drying process. I only made them half round, basically. The wood is still green, but it feels less dense than Cornus mas. Otherwise it looks about the same, with maybe a bit fewer knots.
So what is your next design with this wood going to be like? What would be the best design for this wood, in your opinion?
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: JonW on July 13, 2014, 10:52:09 am
Very cool Simon. The length really seems to suit the wood and bow.
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: burn em up chuck on July 13, 2014, 11:02:49 am
   wow very very cool bow, cool handle

                                   chuck
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: IdahoMatt on July 13, 2014, 12:41:38 pm
Very cool work man. 
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: Weylin on July 13, 2014, 01:00:28 pm
Looks great, Simon. Glad to see your bows again.
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: simson on July 13, 2014, 01:36:29 pm
Cool....maybe shave some off the sides in the outers to pick up a lil better performance?  ??? Interesting handle  ::) dogwoods good wood for sure ;)

Yeah Chris, maybe that's a way. What do you think about reflexing/flipping?

Wow! Awesome ;D
Nice eyecatcher ;)
Wo genau aus Bayern bist du? :D

40km north of Regensburg

Very cool Simon. The length really seems to suit the wood and bow.

Thanks Jon, but I think the bow should be shorter or more like an elb - no flat

Thanks Bob

Nice looking bow Simon. pretty fun playing around with the handle isn't it?

Yes Cody it was fun. This wood is a dream for carving, you can do sharp details on it.

Excellent! Thanks for posting these two Cornus mas bows, Simon! I like this one a lot. Your staves seem a bit more straight grained than the ones I have, with fewer knots. I like the width profile in this one, although I can imagine it is slightly too wide, given the high specific gravity of this wood. Since the wood is so dense and elastic, it can probably handle a narrower design. I do like the fact that this bow is pretty short. Seems to be good for the wood, right? I really like that tiller; you nailed it!
The handle is pretty interesting. I understand it'll fit only your hand and is made to measure. But is it actually comfortable? It looks so...I dunno...weird.

I've actually worked on my two staves of Cornus sanguinea yesterday. I reduced the 2" saplings I have to help in the drying process. I only made them half round, basically. The wood is still green, but it feels less dense than Cornus mas. Otherwise it looks about the same, with maybe a bit fewer knots.
So what is your next design with this wood going to be like? What would be the best design for this wood, in your opinion?

Jorik, I've made those handles now on different bows. Believe me, when friends or customers come in my shop they always say ohh my -  this handle is exactly made for me, it fits perfect.
And yes it is comfortable.

You're right, I also think a narrower design should be tested. I will do it on one of the upcoming projects, I have several stave in my pile.


Thanks Chuck

Thanks Matt

Thanks Weylin, always a matter of time to visit PP (today I'm alone at home, weather is rainy ...) :laugh:
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: 4dog on July 13, 2014, 02:35:35 pm
i love this bow...the handle is an idea i have been kicking around in my head..im inspired..just cool all the way around!!
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 13, 2014, 04:51:08 pm
Very nice work Simon
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: Peacebow_Coos on July 13, 2014, 07:45:43 pm
Nice bow with a sweet handle design.  I like the leather build up
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: George Tsoukalas on July 13, 2014, 08:41:17 pm
Excellent tiller! Very nice handle. Jawge
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: Dvshunter on July 13, 2014, 08:48:29 pm
Yet another from you simson.  Well done.
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: Badly Bent on July 14, 2014, 12:03:01 am
Very nice Simon, good looking wood and tough stuff I've heard. The bow as a whole looks great but I especially like the side profiles, both resting and braced. Also impressed with the tiller, especially for a bow of that length that draws 28" with a stiff handle. Great work as always. :)
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: mikekeswick on July 14, 2014, 03:50:33 am
Another great bow  :)
If you ever have any pieces of cornus mas 12 inches long that you don't need/want please let me know!
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: bambule on July 14, 2014, 04:07:47 am
Wow, great tiller on that bow.
My Dogwoodbow is 72" long and not the best I've done so far.
Chrysaling in the midlimbs after heat treating for correcting - maybe not the best for heat treating...
The interesting things is, that the wood is smelling like fish when you use the rasp. I fished a big Pike and after that a worked on the Dogwood Bow and that smell was really confusing me :-)
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: dwardo on July 14, 2014, 06:01:27 am
Thats a looker  8) Have to give a grip like that a try one day.
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: TRACY on July 14, 2014, 09:15:34 am
Another nice one! Like the custom handle work too

Tracy
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: Pappy on July 14, 2014, 09:27:08 am
Tiller looks great,very nice work.  :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: simson on July 14, 2014, 04:36:38 pm
Thank you all, guys!

Another great bow  :)
If you ever have any pieces of cornus mas 12 inches long that you don't need/want please let me know!

you're a bit late Mike, I've given a pile of leftovers to knifemakers. They polish that wood like Ivory.
Next time you can have it. BTW. what are you doing with 12"? Foreshafts?

Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: soy on July 14, 2014, 04:41:24 pm
Wild!
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: mikekeswick on July 15, 2014, 06:25:17 am
Cornus mas was the wood of choice for the old Turkish hornbowyers. I would very much like to get my hands on some as I have lots of hornbows planned  :) The idea being to place some weight in the center of the bow for stability and cornus mas glues well with collogen glues. Other dense woods not so much so.
I would trade you something nice for some - many thanks.
Title: Re: Cornus mas flat 55/28
Post by: simson on July 15, 2014, 04:32:32 pm
Soy, hi again -- waiting for your next bows ....

Mike your name is on the next ones! I think I will get new c. mas in autumn