53" sinew backed osage

[Pat B]

Last year at the Tennessee Classic Gary Davis walked up to me and handed me this 53" osage stave and said he wanted to see what I could do with it. As usual with Gary's staves it had a bit of backset but had straight limbs and was in good shape to begin tillering. It was obviously meant to be a kids bow as Gary had marked it with "35#". When I saw it I immediately thought a short sinew backed bow.
 I flipped the tips a bit and did a little tillering to insure both limbs were about the same. I made a small loop of sinew which I used to draw the handle down and attach to a small cup hook while lifting the tips up on blocks giving it about 5 1/2" of backset.
 About a month ago,I began adding sinew I recovered from my second failed attempt to sinew back Elkie, a bow I made for a 2006 elk hunt. Just the other day I added about 3 or 4 back strap sinews over the first layer. I will let the hide glue/sinew cure out for at least another month before completeing this cool little bow. I plan to add snake skin backing, tip overlays and a handle wrap but those will be later. Here is how she sits now...




...this pic shows the sinew loop around the handle and under the cup hook. I will cut the loop when the curing is done...

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Looking good Pat.

How you been bud?

[KellyG]

Well now that is going to be a nice little bow. I can't wait to see just how much weight is added.

[Pat B]

Doing good Kris. Haven't hunted since Colorado though. d:^(
 Kelly, I'm shooting for about 50#@26" but we'll just have to wait and see.

[broketooth]

im lookin forward to the next installment, and anticipating the the outcome, looks great mr pat. rv

[Pat B]

Thanks Ruddy. You need to try a shorty!

[coaster500]

That should make a sweet little brush bow?

Pat is a month long enough for sinew to cure?

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I hear ya on trying the shortie, I love that little yew shortie I finished up to hunt with.

Pat you better get the rest of your sinew on and set her aside till after season and get to the woods. I been working on learning to flint knap and working a super snakey stave and I have to make myself quit to go get in the woods LOL.

[Eric Krewson]

I have a sinew falure bow, how did you recover the sinew from your failure bow? I have another sinew bow project in mind.

[Pat B]

Eric, the sinew peeled off the bow in a sheet. I just soaked the sinew in warm water, pulled it apart then layed it out to dry.
 Coaster, I'll know in a month if it is enough time. On other sinew backed bows I gave them a month between each layer and that seemed to be enough. This time of year is pretty dry and that and my wood stove should get most of the moisture out.
 Kris, too much "other stuff" getting in the way!

[broketooth]

i have a shorty in mind mr pat. there is a peice from my hickory haul that's a prime candidate

[Pat B]

Well, I'm a little farther along. After another month of drying I thought it was time to finish tillering. I got her to brace and everything lined up just fine so I continued to tiller. Got her tillered out to just past 26"(my draw) and put about 24 arrows threw her. She shot the mismatched arrows pretty good. I left her braced for another 3 hours and when unbraced she layed flat but soon settled in at 1" of backset. I'm pleased!!!
 A few days ago I added Am. bisom horn overlays and shaped the tips. Today I added a coachwhip skin over the sinew. I used hide glue for the first time on skins and really like the way it works. I'll use it again. I did use TBIII for the horn overlays but other than that everything is natural.
 Here are a few teaser pics...

[Justin Falon]

Good luck Pat.  My 54" sinew backed osage bow blew out on the belly.  I tried to string it too soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Sinew cannot cover up every bowyer's error.  Great lookin' bow by the way.  

I am sticking to 62" selfbows for a while.......

[PEARL DRUMS]

It looks fast Pat

[b.glass]

Wow Pat, that's look'n good!

[Pat B]

I'll give her at least another few weeks before stressing her. Let all the moisture from the hide glue evaporate.
warrior, the light colored bow next to her is a 64" HHB selfbow I just finishing up. I too prefer 62" to 64" selfbows but I just have to experiment a little. d;^)   This is the shortest bow for my draw length(26") that I've made.
 Perlie, she is fast. The limbs recover very fast!  When I get a proper set of arrows she will shine I'm sure.

[KellyG]

Pat that is a very good looking bow. I am always in awe of your work.

[Osagetree]

More pics!

[Pat B]

Sorry Joe, that's all I've got. She'll be ready for the runway in a few weeks.  d;^)

[coaster500]

"Perlie, she is fast."

these shorties are way to cool!!