"Two Tips"

Pat B · July 07, 2010, 11:29:00 PM

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"!

Pat B · July 07, 2010, 11:34:00 PM

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...

new bison horn tip overlay

string groove in recurve

Thwackaddict · July 08, 2010, 01:09:00 AM

Pat I really like those static tips.Do you use tung oil as you heat em?

walkabout · July 08, 2010, 01:43:00 AM

another amazing bow pat. i always look forward to seeing your latest posts.

Osagetree · July 08, 2010, 04:43:00 AM

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!

ranger 3 · July 08, 2010, 07:38:00 AM

Love it Pat, you always amaze me with your talent

SteveD · July 08, 2010, 07:50:00 AM

Great Bow Pat. Very Nice work

Shaun · July 08, 2010, 08:03:00 AM

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.

Stiks-n-Strings · July 08, 2010, 08:42:00 AM

Nice Pat! those slats actually look pretty cool.

kmc06005 · July 08, 2010, 10:36:00 AM

Gorgeous bow Pat.

AZ_Shooter · July 08, 2010, 10:58:00 AM

Great job Pat! Two tips has tons of character, and is beautiful to boot.

ChristopherO · July 08, 2010, 11:09:00 AM

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?

Apex Predator · July 08, 2010, 11:24:00 AM

Wow! I wish I could do that!

tradbower · July 08, 2010, 11:33:00 AM

Great Job Pat!!!! Like Apex said ,Wish I had that talent!

Dan Landis · July 08, 2010, 11:57:00 AM

Wow! Great save, love the way the two colors of osage come together. My mistakes usually end up as firewood or kid's bows.

Bert Frelink · July 08, 2010, 12:05:00 PM

Pat,
Congratulations!!!!
That is some mighty fine work>

Bert

Swissbow · July 08, 2010, 12:41:00 PM

Awesome job, Pat ! You sure know how to build nice looking bows.

----------
Andy

twitchstick · July 08, 2010, 12:50:00 PM

That is a great looking bow Pat. Someday maybe I can make something that nice.

frank bullitt · July 08, 2010, 08:17:00 PM

That is one of the finest looking 'curves I have seen! I think Nels would give the nod!

Pat B · July 08, 2010, 11:37:00 PM

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.