Beaver tail?

[Pat Ct]

I just got a bow with a beaver tail grip. Like it very much. Would like to install on other bows as well. Apart from Big Jim, where else can I get some? Brown or black about 4.5" x 9", the bigger, the better (Big hands=big grip). Planning on using a pricking iron. No holes for me, worked with leather before, holes rip much easier than diamond or flat point chisels  thanks gang!

[Forwardhandle]

Pinehollow I got some from him a while back !

[Mark Smeltzer]

Abe at Cari bow may have some. The beaver tail is much more delicate than leather when you are working it onto a grip. It's durable after it's on but you cannot stitch it tightly at all in my experience anyway.

[Crooked Stic]

Someone needs to come with a way to put the beavertail  pattern on regular easy to work with leather. 

[Kauz]

What about gluing it to thin veg tan?

[BigJim]

The key when doing beaver tails is cutting the back side (where the stitching is) just slightly longer than necessary so it puckers slightly.

I use a hole punch now and have for years with much more success than the chisel hole. Just know that you can't pull too hard on the stitching or you are going to rip the tail. Leave it a little long as mentioned above, and you will no longer need to pull so hard.
I have brown and black  tails in stock.
BigJim

[slowbowjoe]

Is beavertail a little thicker than the usual thin deerskin used for grips? I need to fill out my grip just a ta, and thinking about trying some.

[BigJim]

It can be slightly thicker. You can also build up the grip slightly ..or a lot before putting the beaver on. I have glued beaver down over other leather and I have also built grips up with bondo and then put the beaver on top of that... but that is for more radical grip changes.
I have only done the bondo on my own personal bows, but it is strong and does the job in a hurry plus very shapeable. Cover it with a grip and you'll never know it is there.
BigJIm

[slowbowjoe]

Thanks Jim, some good ideas there.