While waiting for my hickory stick to cool last night I pulled a blank out of the corner of shame. This stave was one of my first attempts at a self bow about three years when I was first getting started.
Needless to say I got in a hurry (surprise Pat LOL) and it was gonna be way under weight so I stuck it off to the side and figured someday it would be a kids bow.
Well long story short I started researching and studying composite bows and am in the process of building plains style horn bow so I bought a copy of Jim Hamms books and I was flipping through it last nigh and ran across this little osage self bow that was of the Blackfoot tribe and it dawned on me that little stick would be a perfect candidat for saving
It is 7/8" wide at the handle and runs that for about 13" both limbs and tapers to roughly 9/16". Single nocks as portrayed in Jim Hamm's book. It is 48.5" tip to tip and 47 3/8" NTN.
I got her tillered out to 26" and she came in at 40#. I did flip the tips a hair after these pics to try and gain a few pounds, we'll see what happens. I figure after shooting it in and finish sanding. I'll be happy with 40# cause that's legal hunting weight in most states and I figure it will make a dandy little hunting bow. If it holds together and holds weight I think I know just where to send her to give her a new home.
She did take about 2" of set but I figure with so much bend that's pretty darn good. She also has a little character ( who want's an osage bow with no character LOL)
I haven't decided whether or not to leave her naked or skin her. I will do a leather wrap and a human hair tassle on the top limb per Hamm's book.
