Snakey sinew backed osage

[razorsharptokill]

 

[bigcountry]

Have you pulled it to full draw?  Awesome bow.

[b.glass]

What are the specs on this bow. Looks very good.

[razorsharptokill]

It was 45 @ 28" before the sinew. I'm thinking of doing another layer down the middle. I haven't drawn it any since the sinew was put on.

I'm thinking snake skins would really set this one off. The way the handle lays, it is almost center shot.

[bigcountry]

Originally posted by razorsharptokill:

I'm thinking snake skins would really set this one off.

without a doubt

[ron w]

Cool....

[razorsharptokill]

All I can say is ... WOW! One layer of sinew gave it an honest 55 lb @ 28" draw! A 10 pound increase. I may have layed it on  thicker than is normal for 1st layer. This is my 1st sinew backed bow.

I used deer leg sinew from Mike Yancy at Pine Hollow longbows. He's a sponser here and great to do business with!

Bundles were about 3/8 to 1/2" when flattened out. Tiller looks a little off in this pic and it may be but it shoots so good I'm going to leave it as is.
     

This bow has some awesome character.
     
   If you look close you can see the edge of the bow string at the top of the handle on the(your right) side. It makes this bow almost center shot.  

[bigcountry]

Holy cow, it must be dry down there.  I would expect only 5-6lbs with 3 layers of sinew.

[razorsharptokill]

That's what I can't understand! It has been pretty wet here. I measured it several times though. Maybe my intial readings were wrong?

That seems like an awful lot of increase in draw weight. Oh well, bottom line is it is a quick shooter. This is going to be a great blind bow as it is fairly short for me.

[Mike Yancey]

10 Lbs is about right and it will get more this winter as it dries more and it gets colder. Good job! I just shot for the first time last night the sinew backed osage bow that I am taking to Wyoming in September to elk hunt with. I sinewed it the first of December and just now got it tillered and shot. If it don't change it will make the trip. I will try and get a picture as it gets dressed up.
 Mike

[2treks]

Jim, the bow looks great. nice job. how long did you let the sinew cure? How long do you let your sinew cure/dry Mike. Thanks
Chuck

[Mike Yancey]

I let it dry four months in a dry place most times this bow was five months.
Mike

[bigcountry]

Originally posted by Mike Yancey:
10 Lbs is about right and it will get more this winter as it dries more and it gets colder. Good job! I just shot for the first time last night the sinew backed osage bow that I am taking to Wyoming in September to elk hunt with. I sinewed it the first of December and just now got it tillered and shot. If it don't change it will make the trip. I will try and get a picture as it gets dressed up.
 Mike

10lbs for a single layer?  I have seen 10lbs with 3 layers here on the east coast.  East coast is hell for sinew.  On a humid foggy morning, my bows with sinew turns into a wet noodle.

[razorsharptokill]

Yeah I was so surprised I weighed it with two different scales. This is my 1st sinew backing. I let it cure for a month in the attic of my new shop where it gets pretty toasty.

I've been shooting it every day and it has no signs of failure so far and no cracking or popping during draw.

[Mike Yancey]

You could have picked up a good bit of the weight in the wood drying more. I didn't pay attention that you said it was one layer of sinew. I apply all of mine at once and will get 10+ in weight with the application of 6 or 7 legs.
Mike

[razorsharptokill]

That's about how many I processed but didn't use it all. I must have misread the scale in the beginning before the sinew. It sure seems stronger now though.

I showed some of the guys here at the base my two osage selfbows and ended up giving a twenty minute class on selfbow building. They were pretty amazed at all the work that goes into it and what Osage is capable of.