Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: radius on May 04, 2008, 10:32:12 pm

Title: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: radius on May 04, 2008, 10:32:12 pm
Hi, everyone. 

This bow has been awhile in the making.  A couple months ago, I rec'd a huge chunk of osage in the mail, and immediately did the preliminary work on a whole bunch of bows.  A couple of them are finished.  Two BBOs, 2 setbackl/recurve bows with rosewood handles (very pretty and smooth to shoot).  And now this Holmegaard.

This one is not based on adb's buildalong, although I have referred to that thread more times than i can count.  The design is based on Dennis La Varenne's paper:  Tillering the Holmegaard Bow.  The main difference is in the way the outer limbs are shaped.  Both designs have short, sturdy handles.  They both have limbs divided in 2 sections:  inner portion bends, outer portion doesn't.  Adb's bow goes dramatically from being thin to being 3/4" thick or so.  La Varenne's design is more subtle, but still the outer limb doesn't bend.  Check out adb's thread in the how-to section.  And if you want to read La Varenne's paper, google the title.

Here are some pictures...don't have full draw pictures (only 2 arms!)...maybe one day i;ll have to build a tillering tree, eh?


Couple shots of the handle before oiling.

(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/hickory%20and%20yew%20one/Osage%20and%20Hickory%20Holmegaard/Picture003.jpg)

(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/hickory%20and%20yew%20one/Osage%20and%20Hickory%20Holmegaard/Picture004.jpg)

The outer limb.

(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/hickory%20and%20yew%20one/Osage%20and%20Hickory%20Holmegaard/Picture005.jpg)

Pin nocks...first try at these, i like 'em!

(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/hickory%20and%20yew%20one/Osage%20and%20Hickory%20Holmegaard/Picture006.jpg)

Handle after oiling

(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/hickory%20and%20yew%20one/Osage%20and%20Hickory%20Holmegaard/Picture011-1.jpg)


(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/hickory%20and%20yew%20one/Osage%20and%20Hickory%20Holmegaard/Picture010-1.jpg)

I'll try to get a full draw photo soon.


Here are the specs:

62 "  OAL

Inner bending limbs:  approx 16" each.

Outer limbs:  about 12" each

Handle:  about 6"

draws just under 50# at 28 " with NO stack.  This is apparently the main benefit of this design:  the draw is smooth from start to finish.   After having made 2 osage/bamboo bows 70# plus, and another osage, hickory recurve at 58#...this one feels like a kid's bow to me, but it slams arrows, man, slams them!


Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: radius on May 04, 2008, 11:08:56 pm
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/hickory%20and%20yew%20one/Osage%20and%20Hickory%20Holmegaard/Picture012.jpg)

(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/hickory%20and%20yew%20one/Osage%20and%20Hickory%20Holmegaard/Picture013.jpg)

(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/hickory%20and%20yew%20one/Osage%20and%20Hickory%20Holmegaard/Picture014.jpg)
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: david w. on May 04, 2008, 11:25:56 pm
thats a very fine bow
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: radius on May 04, 2008, 11:30:29 pm
well, thank you david w.

that's a very fine compliment
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: david w. on May 04, 2008, 11:31:23 pm
i really like your osage lam bows  and buildalongs
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: radius on May 04, 2008, 11:34:35 pm
thanks!

Do you use osage lams, too?  I started using them for 2 reasons: 

1:  With thin strips, you can have all sorts of fun with jigs

2:  Osage is hard to come by here, so I wanted to make the most of what I had.

I'm not turning back.

I've got a whole swack of yew laminations, too...god knows i'll be pumping out the bows this summer.  The archery shop where I live has spoken about making me their exclusive supplier of hand made wooden longbows.  I'm excited!  Meeting next week.   Wish me luck.
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: CutNShoot on May 05, 2008, 12:49:12 am
I know what you mean about that design really slammin arras home. I built one out of an oak board with no back and it was amazingly fast for what it was. I think it's possibly one of the best design around . To be a 6 to 8000 year old design it's simply amazing.  Very nice Holmie you made there by the way.
 Holmies Rock!    ;D
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: radius on May 05, 2008, 01:00:17 am
Thanks,

Yeah, I'm gonna start making more of them.  I'm setting up a "product line" right now...and I definitely think Holmegaards will be part of it.
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: radius on May 05, 2008, 01:35:07 am
the handle overlays are black walnut and cherry by the way
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: Sparrow on May 05, 2008, 03:39:21 am
That's a nice lookin' bow !  Frank
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: Marc St Louis on May 05, 2008, 08:42:08 am
Nice bow
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: adb on May 06, 2008, 12:24:27 am
Very nice bow. Your Holmegaard interpretation is fantastic. Well done... excellent tiller.
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: radius on May 06, 2008, 01:58:06 am
thanks, adb!  That means alot coming from you.  I really like this style....looks cool, smoooooooth draw, and man, do the arrows ever fly!!  I have another similarly reflexed osage/hickory stave which i was originally going to make as a simple longbow, but now i think i'll make another holmie.

Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: DanaM on May 06, 2008, 12:39:41 pm
Looks real nice radius well done eh.
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: Pappy on May 06, 2008, 02:11:56 pm
Very nice,love the detail in the finish work.Good work
   Pappy
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: GregB on May 06, 2008, 02:44:30 pm
Very nice job all around! ;)
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: radius on May 06, 2008, 10:31:47 pm
thanks for the kind words...around here i don't have many peers so it's good to get some feedback
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: cowboy on May 06, 2008, 10:49:26 pm
Cool bow! Something I'll have to try. Good luck with your marketing :).
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: rattlesnake on May 06, 2008, 10:53:24 pm
its beautiful!!!!  ive heard of people calling a bow sexy?...man that bow is sexy , i love the sleek slim handle and everything about the bow!!..should go into bow of the month contest!!  would like a face veiw of the back of limbs??...snake
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: radius on May 07, 2008, 12:19:02 am
you like the bow so much, you know...i could maybe arrange for you 2 to meet...
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: OldBow on May 07, 2008, 01:20:20 am
Wow - the full draw shows the bottom line - Great Tiller! Truly a candidate for May Laminant Bow of the Month
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: radius on May 07, 2008, 12:12:51 pm
couple more pictures.  Note the grain pattern of the hickory backing.  No problem.

(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/hickory%20and%20yew%20one/Osage%20and%20Hickory%20Holmegaard/Picture018.jpg)

(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/hickory%20and%20yew%20one/Osage%20and%20Hickory%20Holmegaard/Picture021.jpg)

I like this bow alot!   I realized yesterday I can't make a couple more holmegaards just now, because I have already precut the profile of the waiting staves to simple pyramid shape...ah, well, they'll probably be fun bows, too

Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: radius on May 07, 2008, 12:20:30 pm
all my bows are tillered in the mirror...gives you good shoulders to pull so many times!  i'm in a rush now to finish a bunch more bows out of the material i have available...because i have to move soon...what a hassle!
Title: Re: Osage and Hickory Holmegaard
Post by: jwillis on May 07, 2008, 12:44:08 pm
That is a really good-looking bow!  Jim