« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2

Author Topic: locust sapling bow  (Read 6814 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline DirtyDan

  • Member
  • Posts: 373
locust sapling bow
« on: August 24, 2008, 12:43:24 pm »
Pat suggested that I put this bow on this site.  I had it on TradGang and it seemed to create some interest.  I cut this sapling over by the railroad tracks and I am not sure whether it is a black or honey locust, but I know from the leaves that it was a locust.  I took off the bark and sealed the whole thing with spray shellac and put it in my drying box for a week.  I then split it down the middle and left the rounded outer half as the back.  I cut off one end, split it, and glued it on as a handle.  I have been amazed at how will this arrangement has worked.  I think the sapwood makes a good backing for the heartwood.  Even though there are several knots, the bow is very solid.  64" long, 54# @ 26". 
Logged

Offline Ryano

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,578
  • Ryan O'Sullivan, North Western Pennsylvania
Re: locust sapling bow
« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2008, 12:45:01 pm »
Thats a fine looking bow.  :)
Logged
Its November, I'm gone hunt'in.......
Osage is still better.....

Offline cowboy

  • Member
  • Posts: 7,035
  • Paul Wolfe. Springtown, TX
Re: locust sapling bow
« Reply #2 on: August 24, 2008, 12:48:05 pm »
That is a good looking bow Dan. Is thier any heartwood? I can't really see anything but white in the pic's - interesting..
Logged
When you come upon a track or trail you do not know, follow it to the point of knowing.

Offline DanaM

  • Member
  • Posts: 9,211
Re: locust sapling bow
« Reply #3 on: August 24, 2008, 01:01:57 pm »
Looks great dan :)
Logged
"Prosperity is a way of living and thinking, and not just money or things. Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of money or things."

Manistique, MI

Offline OldBow

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,216
  • I'm just an old retired biology teacher.
Re: locust sapling bow
« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2008, 01:18:25 pm »
Glad you took Pat's advice. This is a fine primitive bow and well done. Bookmarked for Aug Self BOM, too :)
Logged
When you're retired, every day is Saturday

Offline Gordon

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,299
Re: locust sapling bow
« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2008, 02:54:28 pm »
That's a beauty and the handlework is very elegant.
Logged
Gordon

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,637
Re: locust sapling bow
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2008, 02:58:04 pm »
 I told ya'll so! ::)  This is a very cool bow and especially because it is made from a "you can't make a bow from that" wood and to top it all, is just a few weeks at most!  8)  Very cool, Dan!  Thanks for posting this beauty here on PA.        Pat.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline mullet

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 22,913
  • Eddie Parker
Re: locust sapling bow
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2008, 04:09:03 pm »
  That's a heck of a nice loking bow Dan, And I have to agree with Gordon, beautiful job on the handle.
Logged
Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?

Offline Keenan

  • Member
  • Posts: 4,824
Re: locust sapling bow
« Reply #8 on: August 24, 2008, 04:28:47 pm »
 Very nice Dan. Good for you for pushing through the norm and attempting something new. The handle wrap is especially nice. Congratulations on a fine bow.   Keenan
Logged

Offline Hillbilly

  • Member
  • Posts: 8,248
  • I like tater tots.
Re: locust sapling bow
« Reply #9 on: August 24, 2008, 04:31:18 pm »
Great looking bow, Dan. I've wondered if locust sapwood wouldn't even out the tension/compression thing that causes locust to chrysal sometimes. I've got a stave that still has sapwood that I've been thinking about making a sapwood-backed Cherokee bow from. I've read that a lot of the locust native bows still had sapwood on the back. Again, mighty fine looking weapon. 8)
Logged
Smoky Mountains, NC

NeolithicHillbilly@gmail.com

Progress might have been all right once but it's gone on for far too long.

Offline medicinewheel

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,629
Re: locust sapling bow
« Reply #10 on: August 24, 2008, 04:40:01 pm »

nice bow!!
frank
Logged
Frank from Germany...

Offline acker

  • Member
  • Posts: 221
Re: locust sapling bow
« Reply #11 on: August 24, 2008, 06:05:38 pm »
Great bow you have build there. :o

I have read in a german archery forum about Black locust sapling bows,
well when i think, they weren`t all totally out of sapwood -only the back and the results were from good to bad when I remember that the right way.
I gonna get a nice  Black locust tree in a couple of weeks -my first one.Then I will see whats the story like with that kind of wood my self
Gruß Acker
Logged

Offline Ryano

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,578
  • Ryan O'Sullivan, North Western Pennsylvania
Re: locust sapling bow
« Reply #12 on: August 24, 2008, 11:08:45 pm »
I'm guessing the rounded back and flat belly probally helps too....
Logged
Its November, I'm gone hunt'in.......
Osage is still better.....

Offline Woodland Roamer

  • Member
  • Posts: 634
Re: locust sapling bow
« Reply #13 on: August 24, 2008, 11:39:41 pm »
Great bow Dan! Thanks for posting it here. Think I'll try locust with sapwood soon myself.

Alan
Logged
Alan Shook-Taylorsville NC

Bring back the Stone Age!

Offline DirtyDan

  • Member
  • Posts: 373
Re: locust sapling bow
« Reply #14 on: August 25, 2008, 12:44:58 am »
Thanks, guys.  Cowboy, there is 1/8 to 1/4 inch of heartwood, thicker, of course, on one limb than on the other, but I think most of it is sapwood.  But it is surprisingly strong, takes hardly any set, and retains its strength after many shots.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2
« previous next »