Last year at the "Great Ohio Rabbit Hunt" Mr. Mike Rizzo had an osage stave he and Ben had played around with. They'd taken a band saw to it trying to work it down to the lines they had drawn out for the profile. They hadn't gotten far the way I understand and place the stave in storage.
At the GORH event he showed me this stave and talked of the attempt he'd made at the bow. i believe his words were, "Man, that is one hard piece of wood".
I talked him out of letting me try and work the stave for him. He provided me the stave and I too had to let it sit for a year.
Well, today I got at it and put in about two hours with the drawknife and rasp. The stave is fifteen years old now and the first thing to go was that 2-97 date he had written on the side of the stave.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Ten%20Year%20Rizzo%20Bow/Rizzoroughout1.jpg)
The grain is a little twisted and there were a couple knots that caused me to use the rasp more than I like. I'll use the rasp when the knife hits a knot or limb. The rasp grinds it off rather than the knife taking out a chunk that you don't want it to take.
The sectional cuts Mike did with the band saw caused the drw knife to hang up a bit but I let it go with the natural twist in the grain and things worked out.
I followed the original lines Mike and Ben had drawn except at the fades. They were about 3" long and so I changed that to 1 1/2" so we'd have the limbs working more.
Here's the stave before I started. You can't tell by the pic but, it was as dark a peice of osage as I have ever seen. My osage never lasts ten years on the shelf.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Ten%20Year%20Rizzo%20Bow/Rizzoroughout.jpg)
And the roughed out result of my efforts today.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Ten%20Year%20Rizzo%20Bow/Rizzoroughout4.jpg)
Gonna have to put this thing on a caul this week. Hard telling when I'll get it floor tillered but I hope to update you guy's as I progress. :wavey:
Good start on a nice piece od aged osage, Joe. Looking forwardc to the end results and the journey to get there.
Oh,,, here's the front profile.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Ten%20Year%20Rizzo%20Bow/Rizzoroughout5.jpg)
Looks like a great start on a nice bow to me Joe. If anybody can work it right, you're the man for the job. :thumbsup:
Looks like it's gonna be a sweet one Joe got some good looking reflex going already.
Looks like you got a great jump on that stave.
Great start Joe - looking forward to seeing the progress.
I look forward to following this one!
Dan
There aint NOTHING like working osage that is at least 8-10 years old. Thats going to be one straight standing beauty Joe.
Man,if that was me id have to at least flip the tips on that one. That says 5 curve all the way to me. Maybe even a sinewed 5 curve at that. Love me some real properly cured hedge...good thing I got me a good stash
:coffee:
Spread out that natural reflex with the 1st heat treatment
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Ten%20Year%20Rizzo%20Bow/1stheattreat2.jpg)
Got around to getting this tillered out this morning. My Son and I shot it all afternoon.
I shot right handed and still did pretty good.
It's 56# at 28".
Gonna thin the tips a bit more, add some real thin rawhide backing after my dinner and let that dry till tomorrow.
I don't have any skins so I'm usure what I'll do for a finish. Anyone got any suggestions for the rawhide? Will it take a stain and true oil?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Ten%20Year%20Rizzo%20Bow/DSC_1307.jpg)
Here's the profile after shooting it for several dozen.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Ten%20Year%20Rizzo%20Bow/DSC_1308.jpg)
Very nice Joe...
Thats one heck of a nice looking stick.
Looking good Joe. I need to give you a call and shoot the bull sometime buddy.
Holy cow Joe!!!!!!!! How did I miss this post. That baby looks awesome!!!!!! I knew that if anybody could do it,you could. I can't wait to shoot it.
We cut that stave a long time ago. It was a great piece of wood that I was excited about. I worked it down and had it layed out then it sat. It made it through 4 moves without damage. I knew somebody would get it to bow stage and Joe was the man. I'm pretty excited about this.
Awesome bow! Jawge
Looks great Joe!!!
seasoned wood, well tillered!
Thanks guy's.
The stave a had a few unseen flaws. Sometimes you dont see that stuff till you dig into it. A deep knot at the limb end of the fade had to come out. When doing such, it kinda took some of the limb with it. The bow is just over and inch wide and has an oval radius to it, belly and back.
Tiller might be good but, I struggled with the extreme natural reflex even though I heat bent the majority of it out. Even with the set, the tips still set even with the handle.
This was a tough one to keep from fouling up and I almost did!
Glued on some thin rawhide for backing today. I'll have to wait several days before unwrapping it.
Sure would be nice to have some skins to put on her. Anyone got any they might trade me for something?
Nice job there, Joe...you might try some water based stain on the rawhide if you can't find skins. I've had good luck using it on bamboo....minwax makes some in a variety of colors.
Anybody got any skins for this baby? Shoot me a PM and I'll buy em from you.
give me a few days Joe and I'll look through my skin stash and see what I can let loose of. You might drop snakewood3 a line and see if he's got some. I got some diamond back watersnakes from him that look great on a bow.
heres what they look like.
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh24/krischris123004/006-3.jpg)
I might have another pair of these if he doesn't. I'll have to look.
Those look great Kris! If you have some more I'll take care of you. Thanks.
Mike
Skins are enroute! Thanks Kris!!
Here skinny skin skins, where are you? :smileystooges:
Sorry it took so long Mike. "Time" got in my way several times!
I promise I'll get it mailed out tomorrow.
Thanks for the skins Stiks!
55@28 OSAGE & watersnake skins, with asian horn tips and shelf. Hand twisted flemish string, sporting a leather wrap and some mink silencers.
I left the wrap thread long so you can tie on something if you like. Cut it off if you want.
Shoots best at about 26" or 27" with a 50lb spined woody.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Ten%20Year%20Rizzo%20Bow/finishedRizzobow.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Ten%20Year%20Rizzo%20Bow/finishedRizzobow6.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Ten%20Year%20Rizzo%20Bow/finishedRizzobow1.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Ten%20Year%20Rizzo%20Bow/finishedRizzobow2.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Ten%20Year%20Rizzo%20Bow/finishedRizzobow3.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Ten%20Year%20Rizzo%20Bow/finishedRizzobow4.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Ten%20Year%20Rizzo%20Bow/finishedRizzobow5.jpg)
I always like the saying "good things come to those who wait".
Joe that bow looks absolutely fabulous!!!!!! I don't know how I can ever repay you for work like that. Those that don't know Joe, he won't accept money for his bows. This one was special to me hence the inscription. The name "time" boy I love it Joe. I'm completely at awe right now. This was more than I could have ever expected. Thank you so much my friend.
Kris, the skins look great! Thanks.
thats one fine bow. wish we could get osage on this side of the border :p
Joe that turned out fantastic! Them watersnakes do look good on there too. Look forward to seeing trophy pics Mike.
Reminds me of a piece of thin ringed osage I got from John Scifres years ago. It was stovepipe straight and had perfect reflex, until I started getting into it. I just got some thin rawhide at MOJam to put on it.
beatiful bow joe.
Very nice! This reminds me that I have a hop horn beam stave roughed out sitting at my parents house for about 12 years, and I may get a chance to work it in the near future. Hope it turns out half as nice as yours, great job!
WOW it looks incredible :eek:
That is a beautiful bow. Something to cherish.
Sweet bow Joe!
Well done, Joe! I love your work.
man Joe I always love your work. Now make sure you save some time in your bow schedule for next years swap.