Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: DanaM on January 11, 2008, 07:09:26 pm
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This set of bows started as a single bow when my sister-in law asked me to build a bow for her daughters fiancé as a wedding present. It was supposed to be a fall wedding as I didn’t have any staves dry I put a call out on the forum for a stave. Pappy being the southern gentleman that he is, answered that call and sent me not one but two prime Tennesse hickory sister staves. So I decided to build them each a bow for their wedding.
At the time Scott was serving a tour in Iraq but was due home shortly, but before he could make it home my niece Sara was called up to go to Iraq, so that moved the wedding to sometime this spring. So sara’s daughter Lilli had to stay with grandma while her mom was serving her tour as a result my wife and I had Lilli once a week, as I worked on the bows Lilli would visit me in the workshop, and wouldn’t ya know it she wanted a bow also and become my little helper and she helped me name them. Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear. Hope you all enjoy them as much as I did making them.
Papa Bear
Pignut hickory 67” NTN, 55# @ 28”, 1 5/8” at fades straight taper to ½” nocks. Has about 1.25” of string follow after unbracing. Buffalo horn and bone tip overlays, black dyed cordage handle wrap.
Mama Bear
Pignut hickory, 58 ½” NTN, 42#@25”, 1 ¾” at fades straight taper to 5/8” at nocks. Has 1” of string follow after unbracing. Buffalo horn and bone tip overlays, black cordage handle wrap.
Baby Bear
My favorite of the three, Maple board, linen backed and birch bark over the linen. 52” NTN,22#@22”, 1 ½” from fades to 5/8” at the nocks, buffalo horn and bone tip overlays.
As you can see it’s a bit strong for Lilli but by spring it should be just right. Her smile was all the reward I needed.
Would like to say Thank You to Scott and Sara and all the serviceman and women for serving our country.
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Mama Bear
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Baby Bear
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Nice work Those tips are beautiful.I have a hard time finding hickory around here there is some shag bark but its all on private land. Again great bow it looks like the same bow just shrunk each time.
Jesse
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WOW!!
You should be very proud!! You have made a very unique collection of bows. I really like the kids bow, the birch bark backing is stunning. Yes, seeing that big grin is reward enough! Nice job. Your passion and enthusiasm is obvious.
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Nice work Dana.
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Nice set of bows! Ron
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Dana, these are all beautiful bows. The look on Lilli's face is awesome!
I hope all your family members take good care over in the sand box, and come home safe and sound.
Dane
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;D So that's what a Yooper looks like! ;D
Dana, them's some fine looking bows, and a beautiful young lady to boot. You've got a lot to be proud of and so do they. Well done. Shannon
BTW, you have 35lbs of steel on the way.
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Fine set of bows Dana. Those tips are beautiful!
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Awesome bows Dana. Very inspirational. I need to get into my shop. I really like the kids bow as well. The backing looks great.
Mike
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Beautiful set of bows, Bro. You are one hell of a guy.
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............Y'all are one hellva uncle Dana !....Very nice bows........................bob
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Very nice.... especially the smile on the girl!!!
Great gifts.
Have been thinking about backing with birch. A lot of birch went down around the area from ice storms. Does it work good???
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That would be impressive for a regular guy, but for a yooper that is freekin amazing. ;D
You did a great job Dana, the bows are beautifull. I love the tips and the birch bark is really nice. Justin
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What a great story. Kudos to you for giving those bow away as gifts. Beautiful bows - every one of them.
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You are quite a craftsman Dana. Beautiful details. Way to represent the mods!
J. D.
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maybe some day "us trolls" down here can make such nice bows!
lol
great set dana.
jamie
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hey dana! - this is one beautiful set of bows! great tiller all of them and the tip detail are real eyecatchers!
frank
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Thanks guys your coments mean an awful lot to me. This was a fun prject for me, I also made 3 arrows apiece for the adult bows.
Scott is a compound shooter maybe this will bring him over. Sara has never shot a bow, and Lilli is a fantastic kid with a great sense of humor.
She is a pleasure to have around the house. Ya Shannon dats a Yooper eh ;) I was wearing my sunday best also ;D
We can't do enough for the fine men and women that have served our country in my opinion, Scott's done 3 tours and Sara is on her first.
Looks like it might be a June wedding can't wait to put the bows in thier hands and get them shooting. ;D
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Hi Dana, My name is Goldylocks (I have a 28" draw) and I really like the three bears bows. Do I get one too!!?? Excellent looking bows. I really like the tips and the backing on baby bear. Your work is very inspiring. I hope your family will get a lot of enjoyment from their new gifts. I think you're everyone's favorite uncle. 8) Joe
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Staver thanks for the compliment, I have relatives lately that I never knew existed ;)
Next few are going to be for me ;D well maybe :-\
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Looks like a fine set of bows to me. All bookmarked for Jan Self Bow of the Month, too.
You've got the same problem I've got. Too much snow and I can't shoot arrows outside.
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Great looking set of bows.Love the tips and the big smile on Lili's face.tradrick
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Dana...that is fantatic. Very nice job as usual. I know they will cherish them for life. Lot a love put into those bows. Danny
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Sweet bows Dana..that smile on her face says it all....Brian
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Great set of bows, the little girl is a doll, now, have them take those bows and wipe out the three little pigs lol!
VB
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The first one shoots too hard. The second one shoots too soft. But that third one is just right. Great work. I confess that I don't know what the shape of your maker's mark is.
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Lennie my makers mark is the outline of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan or as we call it Yooperland ;D
VB porkchops fer dinner eh. ;D
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Excellent Dana...both the bows and the gesture. 8) I don't know how I missed this before. ??? Pat
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Thanks Pat, ya know as you get old the mind is first to go ;) :)
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Thanks Pat, ya know as you get old the mind is first to go ;) :)
That aint the only thing that goes ! :'( :'(........bob
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Nice job on those Dana.
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Very impressive Dana, Can ya make snow men for target practice, or actually snow Deer, No easier to make a snow man. Workin on my cable back it's gonna be different than one would think of a cable back.
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Beautiful set of bows, just that little girls smile would have been payment enough for me! Steve
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Very well done Dana. You tillered those out nicely
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Thanks PK we have wet heavy snow again today >:(
Badger thats how I felt, she's a great kid.
Marc coming from you that is a great compliment and your advice on putting the Birch bark over the linen was much appreciated.
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Great looking bows!!
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That was very thoughtful and selfless Dana!! That's a fine set of bows and they all look great! It's all about the giving and seeing the smiles on people's faces (reward enough) - here's a toast to you man!!!
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Mike thanks it was fun making them
Cowboy I seem to have a problem I keep giving my stuff away ;D You buying? ;D
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I have the same problem - have yet to buy or sell much of anything, but am always tradin or giving ;D.
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Dana those bows look great,you've been busy for all the right reasons.
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Speak for yourself Bob. I resemble that remark! Pat
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..........Lol Pat ! Was speakin' fer self, cant see worth a damm anymore ! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D .........bob
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I hear ya there bob, I'm not 50 yet and I need one of those big lighter magnifying glasses.
At leats I have most of my hair ;D
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Just beautiful Dana,I know they will love them.You done a fine job on all. :)
Pappy
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Thanks Pappy, the hickory ya sent me was a pleasure to work with.
Thanks again for your generousity.
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Not a problem,glad it worked out so nice.Tennesse Hickory gone North and looks like it is very much
at home there. ;D ;D ;)
Pappy
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Very nice work Dana, they all look great. Nice job.
Alan
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Dana, wow! I'm like Pat, just now found this thread. Fine looking family of bows, and I love the expression on the little girl's face. I do believe you just went and made somebody happy. :)
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Thanks Alan
Steve she is pleased as peaches, I have more kids bows in my future, the joy they get makes it worthwhile.
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awesome bows - howd'ya go about applying / sealing that birch bark?
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As for the birch bark first you have to harvest some, late spring or summer, cut around the tree with the circumferece, peel it off and seperate it
into layers you don't want the full thickness just a thin layer. Size the back of the bow with TB III, lay the bark on, then I clamped at the nock and worked the air out to the other end. Then I put a thin slat on top and clamped that down with light pressure, after about 30 minutes remove the clamps and trim to size with a razor knife.
As for sealing I used TruOil but don't think any sealer is necessary as Birch Bark is waterproof. This bow took 4 pieces of bark I just butt joined them and wrapped the seam with thread.
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Thats a very nice "family" of bows!! ;D ;D
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very nice work.
Ps: does Lilli have finnish blood in her? the name sure is finnish.. ::)
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Those are awesome!
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Thanks tproof I hope I converted a few more ;D
finnish native I have no idea if she does or not, but I may have ;)
Joe thanks for the compliment, they were a fun project
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Wow Dana those are really awesome
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Thanks David :)
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Dana, I'm sorry I didn't read this thread earlier...I really enjoyed the story of the "3 Bears"! ;)
All three bows look very well tillered and a great job on the tips. I too liked the "Baby Bear" bow the best. PatB gave me some birch bark last year and I just haven't had the opportunity to use it yet. You've inspired me to give it a try now when the right piece of wood comes available. I don't guess the birch bark needs to be wet when applied as with snake skins, you mentioned it was water proof. I might would still wrap it with an ace bandage perhaps. :)
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Thanks Greg, nope no need to wet the bark, I used a slat of wood when gluing it down but it was a board so was nice a flat.
On a stave I think an ace bandage or innertube would work better. I will definately be harvesting more this summer :)
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Heard from my niece Sara, she ought to be back from Iraq in April, can't wait to put mama bear in her hands
and have a shooting session with all three of them, I will get pictures as I can. High resoulution ones ;) ;D