Cherry bark backed osage board bow (some finished pic's)

[takefive]

It actually has a thin heartwood hickory backing, too, but it raised a splinter.  It's biased ringed and very straight on the face, but not perfectly parallel on the sides. Hoping to find a board like that someday, but I'm starting to doubt their existence.  The splinter was close to the center of the limb and it held when I glued it back down, but I was worried about the rest of the backing so I put the bark over it.  It's 64" NTN and around 45#.  Going to shoot it for awhile before I put finish on it.  Wishing I would have told my daughter to not include my splice in her close up of the bark.  Ah well, it is what it is.  

 

 

 

 

[red hill]

Nice tiller, takefive! Like the strung profile, too.

[Roy from Pa]

Nice...

[fujimo]

that bark is cool stuff!!
no problem with the pic bud!!

[D]

Very Nice...I like the flipped tips.  Nicely done

[cunruhshoot]

Cherry backing is a nice touch - great job.

[takefive]

Thanks everyone, it means a lot to me coming from you guys.  I hope to have it finished by next weekend and will post some more pic's.    

[Dan Landis]

That bark will really pop when you get some finish on it.  I've backed several bows with cherry bark and have always been amazed at how much a difference the finish makes, you'll love it.

[bigbob2]

Very nice job!

[KellyG]

Man she is pretty.

[takefive]

A few pic's of the finished bow.  Wish my little camera showed the different colors in the bark better.  It is very pretty stuff.

[scars]

Thanks Takefive,
I sure do love the look of that Cherry backing. Mine should get here by the end of the month.

Joe

[takefive]

Bet you'll like working with it, Joe.  Glueing it on is not bad at all.  Are you still mixing in some birch bark?  I'd love to try birch someday.
-Greg

[Roy from Pa]

Very nice, Greg.

[fujimo]

will birch work as a backing?
we have lots of birch here.
not much cherry!

[cunruhshoot]

Wow - that makes for a very unique and beautiful bow. Love the handle wood combo as well.

[takefive]

Thanks again guys.  Fujimo; I've heard that birch bark isn't as strong as cherry, but I've seen pictures of a couple of birch bark backed bows.  I think Razorback made one a while ago.  The state park that we camp at has a lot of large birch deadfalls and I'm going to scavenge some of the bark if it's usable next time we go.  If it ever gets warm again.

[scars]

Originally posted by takefive:
Bet you'll like working with it, Joe.  Glueing it on is not bad at all.  Are you still mixing in some birch bark?  I'd love to try birch someday.
-Greg

Yes I'm thinking cherry at the handle fades, birch, cherry mid limb, birch, cherry at the tips, all on a diagonal. winge handle overlay.

[takefive]

That should look very cool.  Definitely post some pic's when it's finished.

[Ironfist_Canada]

A fine looking bow Takefive.  I might just look into backing a bow with  Cherry.  Nice Job and a nice weight to shoot .