I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do today in the shop then I thought my Grandson turns 1yr old this coming Thursday. I better make him a bow. I selected a snakey short stave that I had been working on for his bow.
My brother recently speared a carp in the Ohio river with his bamboo spear. It wasn't a grass carp nor was it very long but because he got it in a primitive fashion I asked him to skin it for me and he did.
So, I would put his great uncles carp skin on the bow his grandfather made him for his 1st birthday!!
I got the little 51" snakey bow tillered out and was shooting a 22" arrow at 25lbs. Just for safety reasons I tested the bow to 25" and it held up really well taking no set at all.
Soaked the carp skins in warm water for awhile then scrubbed them with steel wool and dawn dish liquid to remove some of the oils from the skin. Glued them down with titebond II. After they were dry I trimmed up the edges and wrapperd the ends with gold B-50.
Cut me a piece of leather for the handle and I'd say I'm about done for the day. I'll let the bow dry for a few days before stringing it again.
Oh yea,,, I also stained the backing at the tips with a little dark stain but I left the belly raw yeller wood.

Oh, I had to make him a rubber tipped bush arrow too... by the way his 1st arrow with flethings from a turkey his grandpa took a few years ago.

   
   
   
   
   
   

This week I'll finish the black leather handle with the same gold B-50 used to wrap the skins, make a new string (black & gold) & give it a few coats of finish.

Sabastian will only be 1yr old but, I had to make sure he got his 1st bow on his 1st birthday... Just glad his first could be one of mine!!!

I'll try & post some more pics of it finished off and in the hands of the birthday boy soon!

very cool, im sure hell enjoy that bow when he can shoot it.

That is really awesome, can't wait to get together an start making bows again pal.

Tony

That is just fantastic. Good to see. Jawge

way to go Brother i think he is going to love it because you made it. jeff      

So much history in his first bow and arrow.  He'll have something amazing!

It's an heirloom, for sure.

Joel

Nice little bow...he will have a nice keep sake to look back on...You self bowyers have my respect for the bows you build.

Cool little bow, Joe. Those skins and their placement on the limbs looks great. Lucky grandboy!!!.  d;^)

That's great Joe!

Nice little bow for a good little feller I'm sure.

Stiks

...What a way to start him off .....  

Amazing, Joe! I'm sure he'll love the bow and arrow. Reckon he'll follow in grandpop's footsteps?
Stan

Red, I can only hope so. If I'm still alive when he's big enough for the draw knife, he'll have no choice about it!

Here it is Sebastians 1st bow all finished up
 
 
 

Priceless

 
 


And meet my grand daughter Sailor Belle, she got a new bow too

 

Hunting partners for life
 

...a well organized militia! d;^)

Joe makes a greta bow...

sorry its a "great" bow

very cool great job on the bow. im sure it he'll enjoy it very much.

That is so cool!