A back-from-the-dead Native American inspired Black Locust "D" bow (62" - 60" n-t-n - 40# @ 27").
Pearl Drums sort of nudged me to back with rawhide what I thought was an otherwise dead bow. In fact, he said if the bow blew up before 2,000 shots he would give me a new stave. A win-win nudge indeed.
I followed his backing suggestions and took at least 200 shots before finally finishing the bow. I used leather dye on both the rawhide and belly of the bow and padded the handle with red wool to eliminate just a touch of hand shock. In other words, the red wool is not simply ornamental. The bow shoots super straight, fast, and snappy. I now more fully appreciate why the Eastern Cherokee in particular fancied Black Locust for making bows.
I shot the finished bow probably another 50-60 times (I am keeping track) today. I am amazed at how accurate the bow is, considering 1) the fact that I all but left it for dead and 2) it is only my forth self bow (and only the second one that I have had to chase a ring). By the way, feel free to offer constructive criticism, especially the eagle-eyed tiller gurus out there. I am just hoping to build bows that are incrementally better than the ones that came before them.
In short, I learned a heck of a lot more about building self bows during the process of building this bow. And, as long as the bow does not blow up in my face and I end up losing an eye or something, I am happy that I at least attempted to bring it back from the dead. On the other hand, if it does blow up, I am hoping that Pearl Drums has a clean stave (preferably Osage
) on hand for a one-eyed shooter. Thanks in advance, Pearly!
