Meare Heath Fun

[Adam Keiper]

About 3 years ago, I started an ash replica of the Meare Heath bow, as shown in the Bowyer's Bibles.  But more serious hunting bow projects kept me sufficiently diverted that I didn't finish it until this May.  I should say that this is a replica in a loose sense, in that this bow is substantially more compact than the original yew bow, follows a single growth ring rather than being edge grained, and doesn't have the raised ridge at the fades (which I had forgotten about until after I had begun working the handle).  I also omitted the continuous rawhide wrappings on the limbs.  In any case, it's long, wide, flat, and has the characteristic wide tips with sinew wrapped pin nocks, which at least makes it Meare Heathe-ish.        :rolleyes:      

It's 66" long and draws 54# @ 26" (51# @ my 25" draw).  As I expected, the wide tips make it shoot much slower than more efficient designs, but it doesn't have any of the handshock, which I was prepared for.  It feels kind of unweildy, but man it will stack them in there.  I've been having fun with it on and off this summer.  

Here's some pictures and a shooting video clip I made last month, as an excuse to play with some video software.  I don't expect it to show up on the next Dave Matthews video, but it was fun to make.    :p  

[KILLER B]

I REALY LIKE THE GRAIN IN THE BELLY. COOL BOW.

[Tilbilly]

Love the look of that bow! Looks like it BELONGS in the woods. Nice work! Those arrows are moving pretty good, the deer aren't going to like it one bit.

[SCATTERSHOT]

Beautiful bow, and great video, too. Nice work.

[BamBooBender]

Looks good.Toasted belly?

[kybowman]

Now that's cool!!!

[Jack Guard]

Great looking bow.  sounds like the way i finish projects.  i always have so many going that it takes years to get one done.  

The video was great.  my 3 and 5 year old watched it 5 times.  Evan, the 5 year old, said "now thats a real bow daddy!"

[tecum-tha]

Good shooting bow, you better take hunting!
The problem is, I have too many bows and projects,too,which makes the anual choice real hard :-)

[CheapShot]

Nice work on the bow. Thanks for taking the time to share your video with us. Definitely a bow to hunt with.

[W.Tim]

nice job, and pretty fast also......  

[the Ferret]

Dang son, you're a shooter! All those arrows were killers!

Nice looking bow Adam, and commendably demonstrated.  

[sticshooter]

Hot dang thats a great stick. <><

[sticshooter]

OK went back and watched the video again. Boy that is just awesome. You guys that makes bows  are just flat out amazing.<><

[Lost Arra]

You need a television show!     :cool:  

Great job on the video and the bow.    

[Bill Shepard]

Great job on the bow, Adam.  Good shooting too.  

[kojac]

adam

very nice!!!

[sticshooter]

Wow I could watch that video everyday. I am really amazed and the talent some have to make bows like this.<><

[bentpole]

Great Job on the bow and video! Great shooting too Thanks for sharing ! I just put your video in my favorites.

[Adam Keiper]

Bamboo Bender, The belly isn't toasted per se, as in heat treated over a prolonged period.  I just hit it hard and fast with a propane torch to scorch the latewood.  It's something I've been doing to accentuate the grain on ash arrows for a long time and thought it would look neat on the belly of this ash bow as well.

Lost Arra, Rest assured, I'd make a terrible TV host.  My speech goes to shnitz when there's a camera on me.  Kind of like when I'm in the presence of a beautiful woman...LOL!

This style of bow really "should" be a little whip ended to make some use of the wide tips.  I tried to achieve that kind of tiller, but my brain is apparently too set in the elliptical tiller image to allow me make things whippy.  Tough to deviate from the norm.

[TomMcDonald]

Great looking and shooting bow. Very, very nice work.