That's Not a Recurve... THIS is a Recurve!

[KenH]

Three tries to learn the techniques and what-not-to-dos of wood-fiberglass composite bows, cost = about $200.  Completing and shooting the asymmetric Scythian inspired bow that I can't buy anywhere on the planet -- priceless!

49" ntn
30#@26" -- My preferred draw weight and length for roving and general shooting
Lam Stack -- 2x .070 Red Elm, 2x .030 black glass = .200
Handle Stack -- The 6" centered on handle has two additional .070 lams = .340

 

 

   

 

[Lucas K]

Looks great!

[fujimo]

that looks awesome- glad you got it finished- how does it shoot???
hand shock, accuracy, cast?
c'mon answers ...man   :D

[bigbob2]

really like the look of it.

[KenH]

I don't have a chrono so it's all objective... but it shoots great -- flat and zippy compared to other 30#s I have around.  

Not as smooth drawing as my Atilla-bows fiberglass Scythian from Hungary, but smooth enough. You feel those curves and recurves "unwinding".

Hand shock -- not really but since there is no real riser/handle, you do feel the bow flex and unflex as you draw and fire.  It's not unpleasant, just different if you've not shot a bendy-handle type bow before. IMHO feeling the flex makes you a bit more "connected" to the bow.

Still looking for the "right" arrow for the archer's paradox of this bow, but my Chinese bamboo arrows and old Carbon Express 250s both group well.

[takefive]

Very cool bow!  Congratulations  

[halfseminole]

Another Scythian shooter!  Mine's PVC, draws around 55-60, and is the fastest bow I've ever shot.  I'm seriously considering ordering a Saluki horn composite, I find the style works so well.

I'm down to that or an asymmetric Hun style, as it has to clear my chair.  But the bow looks beautiful!  You have every right to be proud!

[KenH]

Half Seminole - talk to my friend Tim Piatek.  He's made me a couple of seriously asymmetrical Scythians.  Check his Youtube channel.  Tell him I sent ya!  Like an historical Scythians, you definately want/need the advantage of an asymmetrical design.  I was working on one in wood-glass composite, but my form was fubar and I decided to try symmetrical instead.  Maybe now with some experience I'll try it again.

Nice gorytos, btw!

[halfseminole]

Thanks!  I find asymmetrics just shoot better, personally.  I used his videos to make this bow-I didn't know he did wooden bows as well.  Saluki was the only place I had seen that had a serviceable horn bow for sale (I've heard too many reports of Grozers delaminating.)

I'll probably contact him this week, as I hadn't put the down payment on the bow yet.

[JacobkurtD]

Congrats on finishing it!! looks very nice!!!

[beachbowhunter]

Ok, you gotta show us the form you made to build that bow!  Very cool.

[KenH]

Here's the form with the water-soaked wood core lams (4 hrs in a 105F hot tub) drying in place:

   

Step 2 was gluing up the dried/shaped wood lams with the belly glass.  

Step 3 was adding the back glass

I would have needed at least 3 pairs of hands to try and hold everything together while bending the entire stack into place and strapping it down.

[beachbowhunter]

That is a rare combination of determination, innovation and guts!

[KenH]

Thanx!  Don't try this for your first wood-glass composite, kids.  I did and it was "challenging" to say the least!!!!

Imagine the Scythian bowyer 2500 years ago building a nearly round cross-section bow of this size and profile, from 20-30 short length of carved sticks and horn held together with hide glue and silk thread!!!  

I tried making two all-wood composites like that and failed miserably.  That was when I decided to try wood-glass.