Finished a bow

[WhistlingBadger]

Just finished this one. Turned out rather pretty, if I may say so. Shoots like a rocket launcher, too! This will be my hunting bow next fall. Unless I get another one done before then that I like even better.

Hickory flatbow, 65" long. Pulls 57 pounds at 27". Carved and finished all with hand tools. Stained with aniline pigment; sealed with lard/beeswax/pine pitch varnish.

Bison hoof tip overlays. I got the hooves from the friendly local bison ranch. Absolutely nasty to work with, but they turned out rather nice. Got some nice sinew out of them, too, which will go to back a future bow.

Back. Left some of the inner bark in place for natural camo.

Belly. Handle wrap is braided deer skin.

The tree trunk from which I carved this had a weird little zig-zag in the grain. I put it at the tip of the bottom limb...

...so that the string sits off-center at the handle. This means the arrow doesn't have to paradox around the handle quite as much, which makes for a much more accurate bow.

 

[JuiceBox52]

What do you use for the bow string?

 

[Slaphppy7]

You are a man of many talents, T

 

[Uberhoust]

Your bow looks really nice. What do you hunt with them. I own bows but never hunted with them, not enough animals left in this region, other than the urban deer.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

What do you use for the bow string?

14-strand B-50 poly thread. I learned to twist my own strings last summer. I really want to try making strings from primitive materials like linen or rawhide, but I'm not quite that brave yet. Broken bowstrings can result in broken bows and/or broken noses.

You are a man of many talents, T

Thanks, Matt! I can wiggle my ears, too.

I'm always surprised when I cruise the GC forum and see the variety of talents and interests on here.

Your bow looks really nice. What do you hunt with them. I own bows but never hunted with them, not enough animals left in this region, other than the urban deer.

Thanks! What kind of bows do you shoot? I always thought BC had terrific hunting. Not so? I hunt deer, elk, rabbits, and grouse. I've only killed one deer with a bow, because I won't take a shot unless I'm extremely close and absolutely certain about making it. Deer and elk are extremely good at not dying. Years of very exciting close calls, though. Not the easiest way to hunt but it sure is fun.

 

[Sgooosh]

i tried to make a bow out of a stick but then the stick broke
i also tried to make a bow out of fresh fig wood but it bent XD
nice bow i hope to oneday make a bow that actually works ofc

 

[WhistlingBadger]

i tried to make a bow out of a stick but then the stick broke
i also tried to make a bow out of fresh fig wood but it bent XD
nice bow i hope to oneday make a bow that actually works ofc

I can recommend some good books and vids on the topic if you ever want to try it.
By the way, I absolutely love your signature.

 

[otterblue]

I'm not big on hunting but I've got to respect that craftsmanship and artistry. Beautiful!

 

[OliveFish05]

Stunning!

 

[Sgooosh]

I can recommend some good books and vids on the topic if you ever want to try it.
By the way, I absolutely love your signature.

lol found that on a youtube comment somewhere, its just wasting a minute of anticipation

 

[Colin_T]

Finished a bow​

here I was hoping to see a rainbow coloured bow to go in our disco guppy thread

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What do you use for the bow string?

please say cat gut

 

[NannaLou]

That’s very beautiful. How long does it take to make a bow from start to finish..?

I don’t ’do’ hunting, but have no objections when people hunt with good ethics for food, not a supporter of hunting foxes to be ripped apart by packs of dogs, or to get a head of something exotic and rare to hand on the wall…

 

[itiwhetu]

14-strand B-50 poly thread. I learned to twist my own strings last summer. I really want to try making strings from primitive materials like linen or rawhide, but I'm not quite that brave yet. Broken bowstrings can result in broken bows and/or broken noses.

Thanks, Matt! I can wiggle my ears, too.

I'm always surprised when I cruise the GC forum and see the variety of talents and interests on here.

Thanks! What kind of bows do you shoot? I always thought BC had terrific hunting. Not so? I hunt deer, elk, rabbits, and grouse. I've only killed one deer with a bow, because I won't take a shot unless I'm extremely close and absolutely certain about making it. Deer and elk are extremely good at not dying. Years of very exciting close calls, though. Not the easiest way to hunt but it sure is fun.

Did they use to make strings from "Cat Gut". Because they used to make drive bands from it. Plus it would really please @Colin_T

 

[Colin_T]

They made tennis racket strings from cat gut and also used it for surgical thread.

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I don’t ’do’ hunting, but have no objections when people hunt with good ethics for food, not a supporter of hunting foxes to be ripped apart by packs of dogs, or to get a head of something exotic and rare to hand on the wall…

I hunt people for sport and to hang on the wall

 

[itiwhetu]

They made tennis racket strings from cat gut and also used it for surgical thread.

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I hunt people for sport and to hang on the wall

Have you got a dried head collection, from your unlucky Neighbour's