Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Adam Keiper on August 08, 2008, 10:11:26 pm

Title: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Adam Keiper on August 08, 2008, 10:11:26 pm
I made my last West Coast Indian bow back in 2000, and decided it was time for another.  With a self-imposed aversion to glues and sticky mess, and an affinity towards unyielding osage, I decided make an unbacked bow rather than a sinew backed bow, as were perhaps the majority of West Coast bows.  I perused the Bowyer's Bibles for ideas, and came up with what seems to best fit the Modoc style.  I came up with my own painted design, loosely based on geometric shapes from similar bows.  "Warrior", as I named it, is 50" long, with a semi-bending handle and pyramid shaped limbs, and draws 65# @ my 25" draw.  The 1-13/16" wide limbs took just over an inch of set.  I finished this bow at the end of last month, put it through its paces at the Eastern Traditional Archery Rendezvous, and have been shooting in the weeks since.  Being so short, the draw weight stacks in the last couple of inches, but I quickly grew used to that, as if it were a built in draw stop.   :D   Due to the wide handle, I kept the string slightly off center so that it would more closely mimic the shooting manners of my rigid handled bows.  It has in fact, and I've been pleasantly surprised with the accuracy that I'm getting out of it.   So much so, that I'm considering making it my go-to hunting bow this fall.   :)

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Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: snedeker on August 08, 2008, 10:17:58 pm
Wow.  Really spectacular.  What a beautiful semi circ tiller.  And great decor.

Dave
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: El Destructo on August 08, 2008, 10:27:45 pm
Well Adam.........nice Bow..............If you have seen the Bows I build ....then Ya know what I like....and the Wide Limbed Westies and Wampanoag Bows are the Bestest in my Book......great Tiller.....Nice Paint Job.......hope ya fill your Tags with it this Fall

P.S...........I hope you werent aiming that thing at your Wife........ >:D
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: cowboy on August 08, 2008, 10:57:28 pm
Whata bow! Nice shorty and tiller - like that artwork also. May have to give that a try some time.
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: mullet on August 08, 2008, 11:05:26 pm
  Wow! Adam, it's been awhile. It's another nice one as usual.
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Traxx on August 08, 2008, 11:07:14 pm
Fine lookin bow indeed.
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: kayakfisher on August 08, 2008, 11:07:50 pm
Very nice looking bow ,great paint job and a very serious look on that full draw. Who were you aiming at.
            Dennis
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: koan on August 08, 2008, 11:12:51 pm
 :o WOW!! I likes it alot.....Brian
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Justin Snyder on August 08, 2008, 11:21:22 pm
Very nice looking bow, great color.  Justin
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Dano on August 08, 2008, 11:22:34 pm
Beautiful bow! on all counts
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Badbill on August 08, 2008, 11:24:16 pm
Wow! Sweet tiller!
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Ryano on August 08, 2008, 11:54:43 pm
Nice bow Adam. Sorry I didnt get to check out your stuff at Denton this year. I always enjoy looking at your work.
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Pat B on August 08, 2008, 11:59:21 pm
Great little bow AK. The tiller is beautiful and the geometric design work and color contrast are  striking.  8)
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: NOMADIC PIRATE on August 09, 2008, 12:14:43 am
THAT ARC IS FANTASTIC !!!!....can't beat that !!
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Pat B on August 09, 2008, 12:20:03 am
I agree, Manny!!! 8)
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: The Burnt Hill Archer on August 09, 2008, 01:16:49 am
ah ha! there it is! i didnt get to see it in action at Denton, but i was eyeing it over pretty heavy. let me tell you guys, its even more purdy in person! very cool man.

Phil
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: burn em up chuck on August 09, 2008, 01:57:01 am
i am in awe !!! i am dumb struck buy the picture perfect tiller. if that bow is any kind of indicator you can expect a trophy buck this hunting season. congrats and good luck         evldwrf
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Dustybaer on August 09, 2008, 04:49:43 am
yep, that's what it's all about.  it never ceases to amaze me how beautiful a bent stick can be.  love the tiller.
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: DanaM on August 09, 2008, 09:39:16 am
Incredible bow from the tiller to the paint job :)
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: OldBow on August 09, 2008, 11:58:15 am
Yahoo! Adam's back...You've been missed!  and what a bow! Bookmarked for August Self Bow of the Month for sure!
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: cracker on August 09, 2008, 12:04:49 pm
Nice bow sir I like the wide ones myself.
R.C.
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Okie on August 09, 2008, 07:04:51 pm
Wow!!! Exceptional job on the tiller and the art work.


John
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Gordon on August 09, 2008, 07:43:54 pm
I love it when art and function come together as they have in this bow.
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: ricktrojanowski on August 09, 2008, 09:16:58 pm
What a beautiful bow.  Tiller looks absolutely perfect.  I really like the paint job.  And 25" from a 50" bow. :o.  Really great job.
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Susquehannock on August 09, 2008, 09:46:39 pm
That's a sweet little bow. Awesome tiller.
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on August 09, 2008, 10:04:09 pm
That is an exceptional bow, Adam, and the the tiller is really excellent. Sorry we missed at Denton.  Jawge
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: PeteC on August 09, 2008, 11:02:07 pm
That is one excellent bow!! Every aspect.  God Bless,   Pete C
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Adam Keiper on August 10, 2008, 10:47:08 am
Thanks folks.  George, I kept an eye out for ya at Denton.  Too bad our paths didn't cross. 

I actually cut the stave for this bow back in 2001.  One end had a hard 70 degree twist, so it I let it set in my stash of yellow sticks all these years.  The rings were nice and thick though, and the back had a low crown.  I knew that if I kept it short, I could lop off the worst of the twisted end.  It almost begged to be this bow. I still had to heat a good degree of twist out, and in the end, nearly removed it all.
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Pappy on August 10, 2008, 11:32:31 am
Beautiful bow Adam very nice work in all aspects. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Blacktail on August 10, 2008, 01:36:55 pm
great work on the bow...i think billy b and steve alley would be proud of you.john
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: richpierce on August 11, 2008, 12:24:38 pm
OK, now I am inspired!
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Hillbilly on August 11, 2008, 01:00:45 pm
Sweeeet bow, Adam. Great looking overall, excellent artwork, too. Man, that string angle looks scary at full draw with those pin nocks!  :o
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: adb on August 11, 2008, 01:36:42 pm
WOW!! That is a super nice bow. Your tiller is perfect. The art work really makes it special. Very nice!!
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: Shaun on August 11, 2008, 10:24:44 pm
The tiller just makes me sigh, oh so sweet arc. Very nice work all around.

I have found that I really like that style of wrapped handle, but I have been making them by starting at the bottom and wrapping up and counter clockwise. This puts the overlap edges facing down and angles the same way as my fingers (left bow hand for right handed draw) lay on the handle, that is angling down towards my finger tips on the back of the bow.
Title: Re: 65# Osage Modoc Selfbow
Post by: a finnish native on August 12, 2008, 08:44:58 am
this bow is one of the nicest I've seen on this board. a beautiful simple desing and a great tiller. the paint job is also lovely. the contrast with yellow osage is very neat. :P