This is a bow I built 2 years ago and was going to be my primary hunting bow. I had bought a nice osage stave to build a bow for a friend. When I got it home I split out 3 staves from the one and this was the second best piece of the 3. At this point the wood was 1 month off the stump. Shortly after I began building this bow. When completed she pulled 47#@26" and shot well. After a hundred or so shots I noticed frets in her belly. I'm sure it is because I rushed the drying process. the wood had less than 3 months to dry.
I unstrung her and decided to repair her down the road. David Knight(primalneedarchery) gave me two tapered Argentine osage slats to make the repairs. I ground the belly flat removing the frets in the process and added the slats using Urac. I retillered this bow and christened her "Two Tips".
She is 60"t/t static recurve tips and bends slightly through the handle at full draw. She has choke cherry bark backing and pulls 55#@26". You can see the different color of the Argentine osage on the belly pic.
One of the original tip overlays had come off. Instead of trying to match it I decided to add a bison horn overlay instead...hense "Two Tips"!
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TwoTips002.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TwoTips003.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TwoTips004.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TwoTips006.jpg)
I also opted to make this bow so I could shoot it no matter which tip was up. Here are a few pics of the recurves and tips.
original upper tip...
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TwoTips010.jpg)
new bison horn tip overlay
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TwoTips011.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TwoTips009.jpg)
string groove in recurve
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TwoTips005.jpg)
Pat I really like those static tips.Do you use tung oil as you heat em?
another amazing bow pat. i always look forward to seeing your latest posts.
Excellent save Pat! I'll have to remember that one! I have some slats of US osage,,, now I know what I need them for.
I have never had osage fret but if I ever do I now know how to fix it.
Really a good looking bow you made there!
Love it Pat, you always amaze me with your talent
Great Bow Pat. Very Nice work
Very cool! Did you have to lean that one in the corner for a while or did the repair/save come right away? Love the black & white tips and the choice or up/down.
Nice Pat! those slats actually look pretty cool.
Gorgeous bow Pat.
Great job Pat! Two tips has tons of character, and is beautiful to boot.
Excellent bow and repair job. I love the cherry backing you applied to finish it out. Great job.
I've made two recurve that can be shot either way. There is defineately a preference, though, on which limbs shoots better up top. Have you experienced this with Two Tips?
Wow! I wish I could do that!
Great Job Pat!!!! Like Apex said ,Wish I had that talent!
Wow! Great save, love the way the two colors of osage come together. My mistakes usually end up as firewood or kid's bows.
Pat,
Congratulations!!!!
That is some mighty fine work>
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Bert
Awesome job, Pat ! You sure know how to build nice looking bows.
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Andy
That is a great looking bow Pat. Someday maybe I can make something that nice.
That is one of the finest looking 'curves I have seen! I think Nels would give the nod! :thumbsup:
I was really bummed when the original bow fretted. She was exiled to the "corner..." for nearly 2 years. Everyone needs a "corner of shame" for those bows that just won't turn out right. You would be amazed how much more you know about wood bow building after a few years so those screw ups can sometimes be turned into reliable bows.
Dan, firewood will keep you warm for a few minutes at best. A rejuvenated bow will make you warm and fuzzy for years to come!!!
Thwack, The handle wrap is hemp cord(from Walmart) set in Massey Finish...and I use olive oil and a heat gun for the recurves.
Joe, this is only the second osage bow that has fretted on me in many years. I'm convinced it was the "raw", uncured wood that was the culprit.
Christopher, The original top limb(elk antler overlay) is #1 but by being able to the switch upper limb I believe the stresses are evened out even more so the life of the bow should be extended.
sweet bow pat. Ilm glad the bow trade got you making... Or at least remakin bows again.
Another vote for the "corner of shame". A selfbow is seldom all the way gone unless its busted in two, I even keep those as learning tools.
Robert Frost said, "A poem is never finished, only abandoned."
I find building bows comes in flourishes. There is too much art involved to do it if you are not in the mood.
Wow Pat,
That is a nice lookin' bow. Great work.
Pat, as a science teacher I tell my students not to throw mistakes away. Keep them around so you will know what you did wrong to begin with and don't make the same mistakes over and over.
Stan
Stan that is excellent advice for your students. Most of what I have learned has been the "hard way". Growing up A.D.D.(before they knew what it was, I'm almost 60)I had to learn my way. I've been at wood bow building for 25 years at least and ruined lots of excellent bow wood to get where I am today. Lots of those mistakes I kept and a few ended up like this bow...but I learned from each and every one!
That is very nice Pat,Way to go.
Chuck
Thanks Chunk. I was happy to see her come around!
Yeah DVS I think it got alot of fellers to shaving again and got some started and hooked LOL
Awsome bow Pat!