Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Gordon on May 24, 2008, 03:19:08 am
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About a month ago I visited John Strunk to learn how he prepares and lays up his bamboo backed bows. I left his shop with a bamboo backed blank with a core made from vertical bamboo flooring and a belly made from spliced yew billets. The finished bow is 64” ntn, 62# @ 27” and is 1 ¼” wide at the fades gradually tapering to tips that are ½” in width. The handle is made of yew and covered with dyed elk hide. The design is a modified r/d. What deflex it has resulted from tillering as none was glued in. The finish is Thunderbird epoxy. It shoots hard and fast and I believe it will make a fine hunting weapon.
If you ever get an opportunity to spend some time in the shop with John you should take it as he is an amazing bowyer who freely shares his knowledge with anyone. It would have taken me years to figure out what I learned from John in one day.
The tipi and quiver in the picture belong to Dave Cheney.
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio//BB_Boo_Yew/BBbooYew_01.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio//BB_Boo_Yew/BBbooYew_02.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio//BB_Boo_Yew/BBbooYew_03.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio//BB_Boo_Yew/BBbooYew_04.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio//BB_Boo_Yew/BBbooYew_05.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio//BB_Boo_Yew/BBbooYew_06.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio//BB_Boo_Yew/BBbooYew_07.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio//BB_Boo_Yew/BBbooYew_08.jpg)
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another fine bow,Gordon, good job
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I like that profile and full draw much better than the usual R/D ones, much more pleasing to the eye
looks like the tips are even with the handle or just beind it, ...I'm getting to prefer bows without reflex lately ;)
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Very nice bow Gordon, really like the braced profile.
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WOW gordon! really nice bow!
the arc looks just great!!!
beautiful!
frank
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Very nice work. great tiller. How do you like the thunderbird epoxy? I was going to get some but the price I got came out to like $40 per bow. That seemed like a lot for just the finish.
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I agree Mani, I like this profile better than the regular r/d. The tips are just slightly behind the handle. I'm not sure I need anymore setback on this bow - it has plently of power as it is.
Jesse, Tbird is tough stuff so I like to use it on bows I will take hunting. It's a bit of a pain to apply because I mix and then spray it, though I understand it can be wiped on. It is rather expensive ($5 a bow by my calculation), but it makes a bow almost bullet proof.
Thank you all for the nice comments.
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Great bow Gordon, Thunderbird is hard to beat, if a guy doesn't mind the extra labor. $5.00 a bow is what I figured too, not bad for a bow you put your heart and soul into.
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@Gordon
That looks like a fine weapon. Congrats.
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I had the privilage to see this bow in person at the Central Oregon Gathering and it's a real beauty. The glue lines and attention to detail on this bow are absolutely top notch.
Talking to several of Gordons friends that came over, I kept hearing a comment that was very consistent in reference to Gordon. "He is vey meticulous" was stated several times. His patience and time that he puts into every bow is what makes all of His bows a work of art. ;) I do believe that a person's work is a reflection on his character and this is certainly the case with Gordon.
Another great bow Gordon! ;) Keenan
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A typical bar raiser from Gordon. Obviously a serious contender for May Laminate Bow of the Month.
Hmmm boobackedbooyew. So is this, then, a Tri-Lam?
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Keenan, thank you for your generous words. It was a pleasure to look at your work up close. Your sturgeon-backed cascarra bow is as fine a piece of work as I have ever seen - I just couldn't keep my eyes off of it.
Don, this bow is indeed a tri-lam - raw bamboo back, vertical bamboo core, yew belly.
Thank you Andrew.
I agree with you completely Dano, $5 and a little extra work is not too much to invest in a bow like this.
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Yeah Gordon, thats what I ment, I'm beginning to prefer bows that don't have reflex ;D ;D ;D, they still have plenty power
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beautiful..a work of art.
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Gordon awsome bow once again. Joel
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Absolutely gorgeous bow Sahib.
Dave
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I just love looking at the lines on your bows. little bit of heaven right there! :D
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what a beauty. tips are nice but the handle is awesome. love the lines in the fulldraw picture.
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Wow, Gordon! Every time you post a bow, I think it's one of the nicest bows I've seen...then you post another one.
This one is a beauty, I love the slight sheen it has in the braced picture.
Sean
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Very Nice Gordon! It has Strunk all over it.
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Eddie, John seems to favor this particular design and wood combination. I can see why now. He also makes a wicked boo backed yew static recurve - I'll be trying one of those soon also. I really like John's handle wrap, but eventually I'll have to come up with something I can call my own.
Thank you Sean, the Thunderbird finish does rub out well to make a nice finish.
Thank you Marius, I too like the profile on this modified r/d style. It is more pleasing to the eye than the straight limbs you get with the more commonly used design.
Thank you TF, with the reflex closer to the tips, the bow has a sort of pleasant recurve look. But don't let looks fool you, this bow shots as hard as anything I've built todate. I can understand now why John Strunk favors this design.
Thank you for the comments Dave, Joel, and shamus.
Manny, I've made a few highly reflexed bows and frankly I think they are more of a pain to make and deal with than they are worth. They are a *itch to tiller, a pain to string, tempermental, and I don't think they are much faster than a well made bow with a touch of follow.
Thank you all for your nice comments.
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Very nice once again, Gordon. Tell me, will you be hunting with this bow in the Fall? I really like the design. Stan
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Stan, I give most of the bows I make away. But this one I'm keeping. With any luck it will bring me an elk this year.
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Nice bow Gordon
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Thank you Marc.
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Phantastic! You know your handcraft! That takes the biscuit, Gordon!
Regards Uwe
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Wow, nice bow Gordon. speechless...
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very very nice. great looking combination. tips look very smooth as well, just as your always do. a keeper for sure- Ryan
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Beautiful materials and craftsmanship. Great bow!
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$5 a bow isnt bad at all. I spend almost that on a can of spar urathane. Dont know where I saw it but I thought it was much more expensive.
Again nice work. Jesse