Hackberry Hunter (P. A. trade bow 2012)

beetlebailey1977 · July 22, 2012, 02:12:00 PM

This was my 1st stave bow I have attempted. Hackberry bend through the handle. 53# @ 27". 63" ttt and 61 1/2" ntn. I left the back with some cambium on it in spots trying for a slight camo effect. Stained with special walnut stain and finished with 6 coats of Helmsman spar urethane. Beaver tail grip with a built up leather rest under it. B-50 string with beaver fur silencers. It shot where I was looking and had just a little thump in the handle at the shot. Overall I was very happy with this bow. This bow is a bit shorter than my 30" draw but I could still shoot it well.

coaster500 · July 22, 2012, 02:26:00 PM

my shoulders and I love Hackberry!!! Very nicely done and bet it's whisper quiet?? The Beaver is a nice touch

red hill · July 22, 2012, 06:19:00 PM

Nice bow, BB!

beetlebailey1977 · July 22, 2012, 07:26:00 PM

Thank you guys.

Roy from Pa · July 22, 2012, 08:14:00 PM

Very sweet BB.. ^5

DVSHUNTER · July 23, 2012, 09:00:00 AM

Cool bow James. I really like the handle work.

beetlebailey1977 · July 24, 2012, 11:45:00 AM

Thanks Roy and DVS.

PEARL DRUMS · July 24, 2012, 11:50:00 AM

Good looker, nice tiller and one of my favorite woods to work with.

Jeff Smith · July 24, 2012, 02:45:00 PM

Very nice, Hackberry is under rated as a bow wood.
Jeff

beetlebailey1977 · July 24, 2012, 04:41:00 PM

Thanks Pearlie and Jeff. I agree with it being under rated. It works so nicely and really can take a severe bend. I used some long drop pieces to test and it really bends a lot. I have my eyes on a few to cut. This stave came from up north, so it is northern hackberry, not sugarberry or southern hackberry.

D · July 24, 2012, 05:29:00 PM

Sure does look great. Well done james

beetlebailey1977 · July 25, 2012, 08:46:00 PM

Thanks Mr. Hicks.

SEMO_HUNTER · July 26, 2012, 12:44:00 AM

Great job! I bet "Gus" was pretty tickled to get nice hackberry bow. I've still got some hackberry left that has been drying for over a year now, I should try and knock out a hackberry selfbow and see how it turns out. I cut the hackberry, split the staves, but have never attempted a bow from it.

Any tips, tricks, or things to avoid when working with it you would want to share?

beetlebailey1977 · July 26, 2012, 08:21:00 PM

It works very well.....with a drawknife and scraper. Nothing to bad to look out for.