Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: NorthHeart on August 04, 2018, 09:09:26 am

Title: Dragon Bow
Post by: NorthHeart on August 04, 2018, 09:09:26 am
Dragon Bow, because as i was building it it reminded me of a dragon, to the extent i did the artwork to look like scales.  Its Osage, sinew backed with rawhide and Sturgeon skin, antler tips.  51" OAL. 42# @ 23"(arrow is 33.5" in the pic).  Probably could have pulled it further but didn't want to loose anymore weight at the shorter draw length.  This was my first time working with Sturgeon.  Seems to be stiff around the spines or whatever they are called, stays flat and doesn't like to adhere to the bows curve as well in those areas.  Using TB3 on them, got it to work on this bow but i wonder if there's a better method- maybe a gap filler for this purpose, epoxy, putty?  Anyhow, hope you like.
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: NorthHeart on August 04, 2018, 09:10:10 am
more pics...
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: NorthHeart on August 04, 2018, 09:10:43 am
last pics...
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: High-Desert on August 04, 2018, 09:30:28 am
Very cool! And very creative! Great job on this guy.
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Post by: Stixnstones on August 04, 2018, 11:16:28 am
Love it...
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Post by: Sidewinder on August 04, 2018, 01:05:09 pm
Very cool looking bow. Hows it shoot?
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: upstatenybowyer on August 04, 2018, 02:46:27 pm
That's awesome.
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Post by: gifford on August 04, 2018, 05:19:39 pm
Very striking pattern and color, beautiful bow. Kudos.
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Post by: Trapper Rob on August 04, 2018, 08:46:24 pm
That is a beautiful bow those skins really set it off.
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: Rākau on August 05, 2018, 12:02:43 am
Those skins are awesome, So are the bends on that bow.
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: simson on August 05, 2018, 04:08:33 am
Looks beautiful!
Is it shocky - seems you hav econcentrated the most bend in a little area ...

If I could make a choice, I would prefer 'Devil's Stick'.
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: mullet on August 05, 2018, 08:00:24 am
Well, that's different! Nice job.
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Post by: selfbow joe on August 05, 2018, 04:38:32 pm
Beautiful bow
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: burchett.donald on August 05, 2018, 06:16:14 pm
 You spent some time on that bow's back...Nice artwork and skins...That took patience
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: NorthHeart on August 05, 2018, 07:20:51 pm
Thank you for the compliments guys, and i hope your all having a good weekend.  The best part of mine was presenting "Dragon Bow" to its new owner, Kate at her birthday party last night. You see, my buddy asked me to build a bow for his girlfriend.  Considering the time constraint involved, i had to re-purpose one that i had already been working on for some time.  She had seen my bows before and liked that i was experimenting with Sturgeon skin.  He told me her favorite color was Teal, so i started on the artwork and added the scales when i realized it was to resemble a Dragon.  She happens to like Dragons too, and we are hoping it will turn some heads at Renaissance fairs and such.

As for handshock, its quite minimal to non existent IMO.  You can feel it bend through the handle, and it is not as docile as say a stiff handle bow, but nothing uncomfortable at all, nothing i would refer to as shock or even jumpy in the hand.  You might remember a bow of similar shape i did a while back, black with white stripes and viking runes, that one was a bit more jumpy in the hand.  I am up for advice on tillering these types of bows in the future, since i clearly like this shape.  I am not sure how removing more material in the reflexed sections of the limb and outer portions will affect things, will that encourage set in the reflexed area and loose the reflex?  Do we tiller reflex/deflex bows like this to have no reflex left in the curves at full draw, thus drawing them to an elliptical like profile?  Im always learning from you guys, feel free to advise.

More on how it shoots...this bow is thick and has a ton of sinew, rawhide, sturgeon, and thick antler tips...its fairly heavy in mass weight.  I also realize one of the benefits of sinew is to allow drawing a short bow further than normal to realize its full benefits. But i wanted a low to mid 40# bow at 23" so thats where i stopped.  Heres the part that gets me.  When i hold this bow at draw for a second or two it goes 133fps with a 520 grain arrow, not super impressive. However when i draw back and release, "snap shoot" or whatever you want to call it i get 145-147 every time.  Im drawing it back to the exact same place as far as i can tell and confirmed this result time and time again.  I realize that all-wood bows loose weight as their held back at draw(seen this phenomenon first hand on my tillering scale).  But to this extent struck me as odd.  It went from being a bit slouchy to quite a shooter, so long as you draw and release immediately.
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: burchett.donald on August 06, 2018, 03:46:48 am
  240,
          Your reflexed outers are working...I can see movement at brace and more at full draw...If it works for you and feels good stay with it...Here's a series of pics showing the reflex working...
         Kate looks very happy, nice picture...
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: NorthHeart on August 06, 2018, 08:52:27 am
Thanks Don.  You have such an eye for tillering, something i try to get better with each bow.
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: JW_Halverson on August 06, 2018, 02:47:03 pm
Stop dragon my heart around!
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: TorstenT on August 07, 2018, 09:26:01 am
That‘s a cool bow! Great job on the artwork!
Maybe we should mate your bow and mine... ...that should give some cute green dragonlings...  ;D
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: ntvbowyer1969 on August 07, 2018, 09:54:03 am
Great job on a  inventive bow.
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: Hawkdancer on August 07, 2018, 12:29:34 pm
Great job, happy lady!  I like the artwork!
Torsten, excellent job carving those dragon nocks -  dragonlings?, Hmmm! Very interesting!
Hawkdancer
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: M2A on August 07, 2018, 09:08:35 pm
Always enjoy seeing a new bow you post 240. Always have nice details on the paint work and this one is no exception. Mike
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: NorthHeart on August 08, 2018, 12:12:27 pm
Thanks M2A, Hawk and others!  Torsten that would be pretty wild! PM sent >:D
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: Jake on September 01, 2018, 03:49:40 pm
I gotta go with this one.

Each of these is unique, this one just has it all coming together.

Jakew
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: selfbow joe on September 03, 2018, 08:16:09 am
Very cool
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Post by: Tillstave on September 04, 2018, 04:08:32 pm
Love the bow. Weylin Olive uses Sturgeon a lot. You might ask him how he glues it down.
Title: Re: Dragon Bow
Post by: PeteC on September 04, 2018, 05:49:09 pm
Very unique,but I like it. Nice artwork too. GodBless