Yesterday Bryan Briand and I had planned to go turkey hunting together. When he came by my house to pick me up he handed me a small tube and said he hoped I liked it. When I removed the item from the tube I was completely floored. It was an amazing hand-crafted primitive arrow. The shaft is Oregon river-cane, the fletching is made from Oregon turkey primaries, and the head is carved from an elk leg bone.
There is a story behind the bone that made this gift particularly meaningful. Brian was with me two years ago on the last day of the elk season when I shot my first (and only) elk. It looked like I had made a good hit from the initial blood sign, but 9 grueling and heartbreaking hours later we broke off the search when we could not find any trace of the animal. The following spring I was scouting in the same area I came upon a pile of bones which I believe were the remains of the elk I had shot. I brought a few of the larger bones home with me and showed them to Bryan. He asked me for one of the bones and said he would make me something to remember the elk and our experience together.
This is one of the nicest gifts I have ever received. Bryan, you are truly a fine craftsman and a great friend. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Arrow/FriendArrow2.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Arrow/FriendArrow1.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Arrow/FriendArrow4.jpg)
Absoloooootly beautiful arrow bud,, :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
Man thats cool :0) :notworthy: :notworthy:
SAAWEEETT. Very Beautiful. Hope you use it on your next Elk hunt.
wow that is a sweet arrow, and story to boot... Yeah theres still a few nice people out there .....few... but they're there....
Exquisitely crafted, truly a magnificent gift from a very big heart. Thanks for sharing its story.
Killdeer :campfire:
Very beautiful arrow craftsmanship and love the story... even though you felt a loss, you surely gained quite a treasure from this. Thanks for sharing :)
Stunning.
It never ceases to amaze me at the craftsmanship and skill of members on this site. It's rare to find people who can take items that would be discarded by others and turn them items that others admire and envy.
That is a dandy arra, and a fine freind.
Beautiful!! Arrow and story!!
Thats a real treasure, nice!
Awesome!!
very nice !!!!
good job bryan :clapper:
Thanks for sharing the story...It looks to me like you've got a few "keepers"...The memory of the hunt, the arrow and a real good friend!
Can I also be a friend to Bryan?
Now that's a heckuva arrow! Folks, both the giver and the receiver of that gift are aces. Two finer gentlemen you're not going to meet. I feel fortunate to have spent time with them.
BTW, you guys see any turkeys?
Stan
WOW - that is totaly awesome arrow and story!
that is way awesome :clapper:
friends do that kind of thing for one another, this friend is a keeper
Gordon-
I'm so glad you enjoyed your arrow.
It was my pleasure to make you something to celebrate such a wonderful weekend hunting. We didn't get to toast a nice 18 year old scotch over elk back straps, but that is a day I will never forget.
I actually feel like a very fortunate person to have such a great hunting partner, friend, and bow making mentor.
PS. I still have that nice scotch to toast with, after I help you pack out your elk this fall.
Bryan
Very, very nice...
Don't know how I missed this.
Love cane arrows. A lot of work, and worth every minute of it. That's an exceptional one from what I can see.
Bryan, could you go into details on how you made the bone point? and what did you use for coloring on the arrow shaft/nock?
beautiful work, and a thoughtful gift.
I echo what everyone else has said, very very nice, great story.
Gene
Beautiful arrow,love the flaming on the cane.
Absolutely spectacular bone broadhead!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you everyone for the nice comments on the arrow. Those are very nice compliments comming from the likes of you all.
Ferret-
I should have taken pictures to document how it was made, however I will try and explain. The front leg bones of an elk have a nice flat spot near one of the ends. I designed the pattern of broadhead I liked (7/8" wide for hunting minimum width in Oregon)and traced it on the bone. I then cut it out with a dremel tool and mostly hand filed and sanded to final shape. The bone in this area is very dense and strong. There is no pith, and it is over 1/4" thick. I can't imagine have any problems hunting small game or even deer at close range.
The coloration was added with a pencil blow tourch. There is a fine line between adding color and burning cane. If you toast too much it will weaken the cane and make it brittle. This amount of toasting doesn't seem to weaken at all and may even temper it a bit.
Bryan