Ultra wavy yew selfbow by John Strunk

[Ghost Dog]

Gordon saw this bow at one of John's bow building classes, told me about it, and John was kind enough to take some pictures of it for me. Pretty wild! I don't know the specs.

[the Ferret]

DROOL!

[Frenchymanny]

I love it!

F-Manny

[John Havard]

I second Mickey's sentiments.  Now THAT'S a bow!

[UK Bowman]

Now that bow has character, awesome    I wouldn't know where to start.

[Killdeer]

Holy Schmoly!
Looks like that tree shaded a still all it's life!

Killdeer  

[bayoulongbowman]

GOLLY GEEE.....OH  Nellie...sweet!!!Bob I sent you a PM...

[Dano]

YEAH BABY!!!!  

[Carcajou]

John Strunk is and always has been the MASTER. His selfbows defy imagination!

How can that yew bow be shootable without collapsing at those hinges??

Only John Knows!

SA-WEET!      

[buck-tamer00]

thats the wierdest bow i'vce ever seen but its cool!!!

[Ghost Dog]

Those are not hinges, although they may look somewhat like a hinge. Those are areas where the tree grew into that shape, and John had to follow those curves during the tillering process. Those areas are just as strong as any other section of the limb. Only a wizard could see and follow those curves and bumps, and make a shootable bow out of it.

[Longbowz]

Long ago bows of this type were called snake bows.  This one being a good example is indeed quite beautiful!

[wingnut]

WOW!!!  I love snake bows.  I've made a few with osage but have never even seen a yew stave with that much character and not any knots.

Mike

[Terry Riley]

Thanks for posting these pictures Ghost Dog. Years back when I was out a John's shop pestering him, I remember a wavy set of billets that he showed me along with the story behind them. If I recall, they were either cut by Earl Ulrich or Chet Stevenson. Maybe John could fill in those details, assuming these are the same billets he showed me. Beautiful bow! I really enjoy talking with John. He likes to "break the rules" and is not afraid to make a bow out of just about anything.

Terry

[Ghost Dog]

Terry, you should see John's hawthorn bows; knots, bumps, dips, little branches off the back, and they shoot smooth and dead in the hand. John has a relationship with wood that is other-worldly.

[Terry Riley]

I've heard about them from Gord but I haven't seen one yet. I'll have to make plans to go see John. It's been a while.

Terry

[jdupre]

Awesome! I'll bet that wasn't one of them "10 minute bows" they talk about in TBB.

[gordonf]

Scott, I went over every inch of that bow and there is not a hinge to be found. John followed the natural contours of the back - the tiller is flawless. Holding one of John's bows is something special. He's really in a class all by himself.

[Buemaker]

Now that is something else, must have taken at least a couple of hours to make.
 Bue--.

[mike g]

SWEET....