Selfbow Handle Wraps and Rests,,, Ideas & Design

[Osagetree]

I'm kinda getting bored with the cross stiched handle wraps and floppy rests, although effective, I am looking to change it up a bit for a bow I've made for someone else.

I tried this one as an experiment but I don't really like it too much. Saw a sword maker do this to his handles.


Please take time to post pics of cool, unusual or traditional designs for wraps and rests. If we can get a bunch of pics and descriptions this might be a good thread for future reference in regards to wraps and rests!

[Osagetree]

A couple rest pics of mine,,, go ahead and add your pics too!

Cut in shelf and leather pad


Thick super glue soaked leather rest & under wrap

[Eric Krewson]

I roll the leather top and bottom as well as glue the leather on with no stitching. The rest is a wedge of wood glues on and shaped.

[4est trekker]

PM Keenan and ask him to post some of his.  He has some really unique and striking designs.

[c'ville]

Here's what I did with my latest one.  The rest is an elk ivory from one of the elk my dad took before he passed.  Ill definately use one one again in the future because it works well and looks pretty cool.  Pretty good mojo too.

first time posting pics so lets see if it works

 

for some reason I cant get the others to resize right ill try again later

[c'ville]

ok I think I got the other one fixed.

[walkabout]

one type of grip with very positive grip i like is leather strapping thats twisted in a row down the center of the handle. kinda like japanese tsuka-ito(samurai sword handle wrapping) only alot less complicated. ive used the style for a long time on various things because the twists raise and provide good grip. i actually thought about using the cabmium layer of hickory as a handle wrap, got alot of it left over from stripping my staves and have worked with it a little to see what it works well for.looks really neat when its dryed into a shape.

[Steve B.]

I like all of the grips in the pics above.  My next bow will be a takedown using an elk antler grip and tips.  The lower limb will be permanent in the grip with the upper limb able to pop out when unstrung.

[Steve B.]

On this bow I simply spiraled some thin leather from the bottom and trapped a wedge of wood for a rest.  Simple and it really looks and works well.

[PASSTHRU2]

I always thought checkering a selfbow handle would be neet.  shows off the wood and gives you a textured grip.  Someone just did a tutorial not to long ago.  May have been done on that other site.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Steve B. I ain't gonna lie, That elk antler idea is pretty awsome. I would never have thought about that.

Might try it myself.

Stiks

[Thwackaddict]

Heres one I did with a turkey spur for the rest and antler covered with elk hide for the strike plate.    

[scrub-buster]

Here is how I made my last two handles.  The leather is from my wifes old leather coat.  The top and bottom are rolled under and glued.  It is stiched on the back.  The rest is made from several pieces of thick leather glued together.

 

[NightHawk]

Timely topic.  I have some electrical tape that I use at work to help pull underground cable in duct lines. This tape instead of being plastic and slick is cloth and very tacky. We use it to help keep the bulldick on the cable while we pull it in. I have also used this tape on some of my tools, especially the ones I need a good grip on. I'm thinking it would work very well as a bow grip

[Sam Harper]

Here's some of mine:

[Sam Harper]

Here's a bunch done by J.D. Jones:

[Adam Keiper]

Strunkish?

[broketooth]

here is one i did. due to the bulbous handle,i had trouble fitting the leather. so i put the stitch on the belly side of the bow.there is no arrow shelf on the bow. the advantage to the belly stitch is to count the stitches down from the top for propper hand placement the stave came from mr pat brennen.  batman and i did the finish work on it. i just gifted this bow to a young man who is really interested in trad. you should have seen the smile on his face ruddy

[getstonedprimitivebowhunt]

I like the look of BEAVER TAIL .I'm doing a bow now with it

[getstonedprimitivebowhunt]

Anyone ever use aligator...stingray...shark ... croc. skin for handles..I found a site that sells tanned scap pieces big enough i think for two bows. They also have all kind of animal hide scaps.... Thanks for the info. I think I'll try "STINGRAY" it looks cool and tough !!