Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Pat B on June 10, 2008, 01:02:00 am

Title: A thoughtful gift
Post by: Pat B on June 10, 2008, 01:02:00 am
While we were unloading Alan's truck at his house after the Hickory shoot, Alan came out of his basement with a full bow sock. ??? We were supposed to be putting stuff in his basement! ??? Well, Alan handed me the loaded bow sock and said he wanted me to have this......
   When I pulled this bow out my jaw dropped. :o  8)  I've been drooling over this bow for years. I don't know where Alan got it but the claim is that it is a Jay Massey original. There is no writing on it.   It is sinew backed osage with halibut skin backing. It has a sinew wrapping through the handle area and out past both fades and a leather handle wrap with folded under top and bottom and leather lacing.The strike plate is thin, burgundy leather. There is also sinew wrappings just below each nock.  The bow is 58" t/t(56 1/2" n/n),  1 7/8" at the fades with a slightly curved taper to 1/2" tips. The belly is radiused with almost a ridge going down the center of each limb and there are severe drying checks down both limbs. I remember reading something Jay had written about the effects of sinew backing on very dry, well seasoned osage. As the sinew dries it almost curls the limb to the back, pulling the belly and causing these belly checks. Here are a few pics I took today........

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: Justin Snyder on June 10, 2008, 01:31:23 am
I guess your kindness is comming back at you.  ;) Justin
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: Pat B on June 10, 2008, 01:48:40 am
Well, its about time! ::)      Alan told me that if I die first, he wants it back! :o   I told my wife! ;D
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: Hillbilly on June 10, 2008, 07:42:48 am
Wow!!!  :o !!!
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: GregB on June 10, 2008, 09:05:41 am
That gift's got to mean a lot to you!
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: sonny on June 10, 2008, 10:55:39 am
Pat, as you well know those dimensions are similar to Massey's Medicine Bow. another similarity is the sinew wrapping at the tips.

I wonder what kinda stories that bow could tell....like if it's been down the Moose John River for instance.
glad for ya Pat !!
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: Pat B on June 10, 2008, 11:27:02 am
Sonny, I don't even know for sure if it is a Massey original but from the first time I saw it, that is what I thought. 8)
Greg, The gesture of this gift from my friend Alan is as overwhelming as the bow itself.
  Steve, I'll let you touch it in July if you are a good boy! ;)     Pat
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: OldBow on June 10, 2008, 02:06:34 pm
Nice guys like you do deserve the Good Stuff :-*
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: Pat B on June 10, 2008, 02:19:22 pm
Thanks Don!  :-[     Pat
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: Ryano on June 10, 2008, 03:01:27 pm
Thats pretty cool Pat. Is it still shootable? or just a wall hanger?
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: Pat B on June 10, 2008, 05:11:03 pm
Ryan, It might be shootable but I'm not about to string it up. :o Don't want to take a chance. The checks in the belly are pretty severe also and that could be trouble if I tried to shoot it.     Pat
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: DBernier on June 10, 2008, 05:34:37 pm
Nice going Pat. You deserve it.   ;D

Dick
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: George Tsoukalas on June 10, 2008, 09:23:00 pm
Wow! Looks like a piece of history. Jawge
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: mullet on June 10, 2008, 09:30:27 pm
   You Lucky Old Dog! :o That is a nice piece of history to have. I've met Alan twice and I don't think I've met that many down home nice people before, except you . ;)
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: cowboy on June 10, 2008, 09:32:13 pm
That's what I was thinking - a peice of history. Looks like somebody could have stole it out of a tipi a couple hundred years ago :). Nice gift!
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: Dano on June 10, 2008, 09:46:01 pm
What goes around, comes around Pat. Don't think I'd string it and shoot it either, some wallhangers just deserve the rest.
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: Blacktail on June 10, 2008, 09:51:11 pm
holy cow pat,it shows what kind of guy you are...and you must be one heck of a nice guy....john
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: Pat B on June 11, 2008, 01:02:29 am
Thanks for the nice comments everyone. Alan's got me beat by a mile! He is the good sorta "one of a kind"!!! ;)  Those who have met Alan know what I'm talking about.  8)
   Dano, If I strung this bow and it broke I guarantee I'd die first and Alan would be pissed!!! >:(  ...but if that were the case I could just ask Jay! 8)     Pat
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: Dano on June 11, 2008, 10:21:53 am
Yep, the mystery would be solved but we'd miss ya Pat. :'( ;D
Title: Re: A thoughtful gift
Post by: Hillbilly on June 11, 2008, 11:18:53 am
Yep, and you ain't allowed to croak anyway until you will me your cane patch, wood stash, and mummified rat.  ;D