So I just watched a Nature episode about Burmese Pythons invading florida and it got me thinking. Has anyone used python skins on a bow? If you have any pics it would be pretty cool to see how they look on a bow.
Brad Merkel aka Little tree has and they look sharp.
I've got a few been itching to use ,but alas I wouldn't waste them on what I've been makeing. Sent a nice redtailboa to Ted Fry still waiting to see what he puts it on
I got a huge python skin from Bernie Shrunk a few years back - he got it from a neighbor who's pet croaked. I have used it on a couple bows. It is as thick as deer rawhide and I use it when backing is indicated. There are probably 6 bows worth in the one skin. Bernie dried it as rawhide and not tanned like most of the python skins commercially available.
Mike at Pine Hollow sells boa skins (this is what Brad Merkel has used) and I have a couple from Mike. They are thinner than python but still work as backing - much thicker than rattlers. One boa skin will do at least one bow, maybe 2.
I used one on a bow and it works just like rawhide...very tough and I'm sure it would hold a bow together.
Bob
I'm headin to Southern florida in a couple of weeks for a Osceola Turkey hunt I'll keep my eye's open for some of them critters
I just had a python and a boa skin up for trade. I have backed one bow with a boa and another with a Albino Reticulated Python skin. I just traded a Green tree python and some ball pythons to a gentlemen to back some of his bows with.
Some skins I've traded
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l144/NDanforth83/025-2.jpg)
BBI with albino retic
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l144/NDanforth83/017-6.jpg)
Boa backed Red oak D bow
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l144/NDanforth83/015-1.jpg)