Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Floridabowyer on September 22, 2015, 03:14:46 pm

Title: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: Floridabowyer on September 22, 2015, 03:14:46 pm

I'm not sure why I have such a fascination with these short sinew backed bows but they sure are fun to build and shoot. This one is osage with sinew making up about a third of the thickness. It's 40" TTT and pulls #42 at 20" of draw. I did let the sinew season for two months prior to finish tillering. Even so, the tiller changes a little from day to day and it continues gaining reflex which now stands at 3" freshly unbraced and rises to almost 4" overnight. I've read where short sinew bows can be "tweaked" by gently placing the bow over a knee and adjusting which has worked just fine.

It is not a replica of anything but just a neat little bow. Oh, the skin is from a smaller Florida cottonmouth which has a nice color pattern.

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: Floridabowyer on September 22, 2015, 03:15:41 pm

full draw

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: IdahoMatt on September 22, 2015, 03:30:13 pm

Looking like a pretty cool little bow.  Can't wait to see the full draw

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: blackhawk on September 22, 2015, 03:49:23 pm

KEWL!!! :)  thatll fit nicely in your back pocket  :laugh:

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on September 22, 2015, 04:32:47 pm

Sooo cool....nicely done.

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: JonW on September 22, 2015, 04:34:35 pm

Sweet. Man I dig that.

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: Badly Bent on September 22, 2015, 05:58:32 pm

Nice work on that shorty, looks like a deadly weapon and the tiller and finish look great as well. I love the picture of it sitting atop the pop can, really shows the scale. :)



 

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: bradsmith2010 on September 22, 2015, 06:16:37 pm

very nice congrats,, I am tillering a 40 inch black locust with sinew,, it is 60# at 20 inches right now,, I need to take some weight off,,, what kind of arrows are working best for you,, thanks B

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: Pat B on September 22, 2015, 06:32:28 pm

Cool little bow!   8)

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: Danzn Bar on September 22, 2015, 07:21:30 pm

Yep .....very nice............. full draw says it all
DBar

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: Floridabowyer on September 22, 2015, 08:22:00 pm

Thanks folks for the kind words! Sure do like looking at everyones work on here for direction and inspiration.

Bradsmith, I've been using tonkin cane arrows with standard sinew wrapped 3 fletch out of this bow with good results. Also been using osage scraps as foreshafts for target practice and have a few points I knapped out of chert mounted to a few of the tonkin arrows. The cane arrows really fly well maybe because most of my bows have the string tracking closer to the side the arrow is to be shot off of.
Can't wait to see that Black Locust you have going.

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: bowandarrow473 on September 22, 2015, 08:23:25 pm

Very cool bow!

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: osage outlaw on September 22, 2015, 10:10:21 pm

Nice looking bow.  I really like short sinew backed bows.  The skins looks good on it.  I've acquired a few cotton mouth skins this summer and can't wait to put them on a bow.

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: tallpine on September 22, 2015, 10:49:48 pm

Nice job on that little bow. They are addictive, I just finished one and have started another. 

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: Knoll on September 23, 2015, 12:30:40 am

40" and pullin' over 40# at just 20" ... that's insane! Insanely beautiful. Congrats!!

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: Pappy on September 23, 2015, 03:21:12 am

Very nice work,beautiful bow. :)
  Pappy

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: Floridabowyer on September 23, 2015, 05:21:03 am

Thanks again guys for the compliments! It means a lot coming from you all! Looking forward to starting another rocky mountain juniper with sinew soon.

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: alwayslookin on September 23, 2015, 10:03:13 am

Sweeeeeet man killer work. I'm digging that reflex looks like a little powerhouse.

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: Marc St Louis on September 23, 2015, 07:30:19 pm

That is a very nice little bow

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: rps3 on September 24, 2015, 09:51:30 am

Cool bow. You have me thinking about trying one that short myself.

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: simson on September 24, 2015, 04:07:10 pm

WOW, Mister Florida - that is a looker.
All my respect that is a fine bow.

Title: Re: Short sinew backed osage (cottonmouth)
Post by: Floridabowyer on September 24, 2015, 04:33:32 pm

You guys are too kind! Really means a lot coming from all of you extremely talented gentlemen!
Simson, all of your excellent bows have been a tremendous inspiration!