Need help with handle

[scrub-buster]

I have been working on this Osage D bow for a while, and am down to the handle.  I have a nice piece of black leather that I would like to use.  I have made two arrow shelves on this bow.  I have never worked with leather before, and now I am a little lost.  Do you have to sew the seam, or can you glue it down with super glue.  Any suggestions or ideas would be great, thanks.

 

 

[George Tsoukalas]

Doesn't look like you have one ring on the back. In fact, looks like the back has some sapwood on it. I just use a couple of pieces of leather for shelves. There's info on my site.
 http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/
Jawge

[Dano]

Here's a couple of pictures of the seam on my handles. The top one I did with two needles like you ties your shoes, the second one is a stitch that helps close the seam up better. I use contact cement to hold the leather in place on the belly and sides, then trim the center with a xacto knife, just put another piece of leather under the center so you don't cut the back of the bow. Also with a D bow you can stack leather with contact cement to from a swell in your handle.

"D" bow
 
Ridgid handle
 

[frank bullitt]

Super glue would work, but it will take alot. The leather will soak it up like a sponge! Contact or barges cement will be better. You could just glue and wrap and skeive the leather for a nice fit or sew as Dano does.

 And George, I don't know how you see that? maybe just the lighting or some early white growth that didn't get scraped off. Good looking and good shootin, Steve.

[Dano]

I think what your seeing Jawge is the gloss finish reflecting light. It looks to me like Clint followed the ring real well specially around that knot.

[George Tsoukalas]

Dano, are you sure? Did you look at the first pic? Jawge

[Dano]

Yep, the back of the bow looks wavey, like Clint followed the ring with a goose neck scraper to get into the late wood. I think that's what we are seeing, maybe Clint will get on here and clear this up.

[scrub-buster]

Originally posted by George Tsoukalas:
Doesn't look like you have one ring on the back. In fact, looks like the back has some sapwood on it. I just use a couple of pieces of leather for shelves. There's info on my site.
    http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/    
Jawge

It is down to one growth ring.  I think what you are seeing is a reflection off of the finish.  The ring was wavy on the back.  I spent a lot of time scraping this one.  That long knot gave me a hard time, but added some character.  If you look at the second picture, it is a closer shot where that long knot is.  You can see in that picture that there is not any sapwood below it.