Author Topic: Character bow  (Read 10094 times)

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Offline african man

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Character bow
« on: April 25, 2009, 06:34:12 am »
I have always loved the look of the snaky character bows that are posted , but don't have access to snaky osage so I've been trying some of the local woods. One that has shown huge promise is "common star apple" or "monkey plumb"  (Diospyros dichrophylla) . It is a very gnarly bush around here and is difficult to find long enough staves . I tryed a 54" branch that I pulled to 28" that would just not break even though it was badly tillered . I then tryed a longer one .... and here it is.

55# @ 28"  67" ntn
nocks - kudu horn 
decorations - Knysna lourie feathers  (road kill)

This bow gave me a few headaches trying to get the tiller right (still not 100% happy with it , but it will have to do ) the next one will be better , I kept on seeing hindges were there weren't any really , due to all the undulations ...  :P

































Chris ... ;)   

we all die but we all don't live

Offline cracker

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Re: Character bow
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2009, 07:08:11 am »
Good looking piece of work. I really like that gnarly stuff.Ron
If we can't help each other what is the point of being here?

Offline african man

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Re: Character bow
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2009, 07:08:38 am »
and a few more ... :P :-\













Xris ...  ;)
we all die but we all don't live

Offline medicinewheel

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Re: Character bow
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2009, 07:54:38 am »

WOW...!
Frank from Germany...

Offline Olschool

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Re: Character bow
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2009, 08:46:34 am »
I also like to work with more challenging pieces of wood. Those knots will keep you busy  ;D
Excellent job on a beautiful bow

Offline Pat B

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Re: Character bow
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2009, 10:10:01 am »
Very cool bow, Chris. I love character bow most of all.  Diospyros is the same genera as our persimmon which is a hard wood and makes good bows.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Jesse

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Re: Character bow
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2009, 11:23:40 am »
thats a lot of bumps and curves on that one. WOW :o I dont think I would be up for that challenging of a stave but you puled it off nicely. Great job.
"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."
    --Frank A. Clark

Offline Timo

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Re: Character bow
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2009, 12:21:19 pm »
Impressed with that one for shore! I'm working on an elm character bow right now that has the twists and turns along it's length, so I can understand what it is you went through while tillering. Ya just don't know what to look at?  ;D Ya did a good job on that one.

Love them feathers,must be a very perty bird that carries them. Also the kudu horn is quite cool. Would love some of that stuff.

Offline Keenan

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Re: Character bow
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2009, 12:29:04 pm »
 Very impressive African man. I love character bows and that definitely has some character. takes allot more time and skill to pull off a bow from a chunk of wood like that and the dips and dives can certainly be a challenge to judge the tiller but you did very well. Congratulations.   Keenan

Offline piper

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Re: Character bow
« Reply #9 on: April 25, 2009, 12:39:38 pm »
VERY NICE

   Curt
It's hard to ride two horses when you only have one ass

                     Western North Carolina

Offline OldBow

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Re: Character bow
« Reply #10 on: April 25, 2009, 12:43:43 pm »
Now THIS is a bow. Character, primitive, new wood, and well made. Bookmarked, too :)
When you're retired, every day is Saturday

Offline Diligence

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Re: Character bow
« Reply #11 on: April 25, 2009, 02:41:24 pm »
Well done!  I really like the looks of that one....hope the finger injury wasn't caused by the bow...lol.

D
"Always do your best and to everyone be kind and good" - Ernst Hjalmer Selin (1906-2000)....my grandfather's words of advice he wanted me to tell my children.

Offline venisonburger

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Re: Character bow
« Reply #12 on: April 25, 2009, 02:50:25 pm »
Thats some character all right! nice one
VB

Offline NOMADIC PIRATE

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Re: Character bow
« Reply #13 on: April 25, 2009, 03:03:06 pm »
Awsome!!!! ...love caracter bows, and looks like you got it bending just right
NORTH SHORE, HAWAII

nickf

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Re: Character bow
« Reply #14 on: April 25, 2009, 03:53:22 pm »
really gorgeous and simply stunning character bow!

well done :D

Nick