This is a bow I built early on in my bow building addiction (about 7 years ago), a one piece 60" bingham recurve for my son. The other day I pulled it off the bow rack and had to admit it was closer to being a bow blank than a finished bow-- the riser was bulky, the limbs were excessively wide, the tips- well no wonder the bow shot below average. On the plus side all the glue joints were good so I went to work on it, I ground off the tip overlays and added an overlay to the riser, Reshaped the entire bow and retillered- the only bright idea I couldn't change was the stamped lams under the clear glass (skins maybe?). The bow finished out 37# @28"s and shoots like a dream now- I still need to put the final finish on it- bocote riser with elm lams- I'm guessing my son will be happy with the changes I made to it.
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll259/truxturning/Matts%20bow%202011/MattsBow2011001.jpg)
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll259/truxturning/Matts%20bow%202011/MattsBow2011002.jpg)
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll259/truxturning/Matts%20bow%202011/MattsBow2011003.jpg)
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll259/truxturning/Matts%20bow%202011/MattsBow2011004.jpg)
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll259/truxturning/Matts%20bow%202011/MattsBow2011005.jpg)
Nice!
Very nice!
It sure doesn't look like a bow-blank anymore. That's one nice looking recurve, it makes me wish I had saved more of my early bows.
Looks great!
I've got my first one hanging on the rack too and it also looks like a bow blank. I keep it there for the days when things aren't quite going right in my basement shop just to remind me that I have gotten better in this craft. (Then I look at my custom Great Plains to get an idea of where I want to be.)
Beautiful bow David. I'm sure he will cherish it.
Shawn