Bowyer schizophrenia

[kiiwosewinini]

I am facing a decision making problems and would like to poll the board on their thoughts.  

This past winter, I noticed some nasty stress cracks in the back of my hickory flatbow (using it for 11+ years).  I have decided to make a new bow for bowhunting and have an ash stave already started, but I can't decided what to do with it.

In general, I have always linked historical interests with my bowhunting.  Option one is to make a historic-styled eastern woodlands/Great Lakes Indian bow.  A second option that I have been toying with is to make a Iron Age European bow to shot with forged broadheads and the like.  I was really toying with this idea after recently reading a book in the Medieval art of hunting.  Now, however, after seeing a number of bows here, am tempted to make a good shooting, somewhat recurved, selfbow with no historical significance.  I ultimately want a good, effective, hunting bow that I can enjoy shooting. (that gartersnake-backed, recurved elm-bow shown on the board awhile back really temtps me to make something similar.

Thoughts???

[Whip]

Issac, Where are you from in WI?  Wisconsin Traditional Archers has a BowJam scheduled for the first weekend in May.  If you are interested in bow building that would be a great thing to check out.  It is being held at Brad Merkel's (Little Tree) home near Viola.

Contact information is on the WTA website under "Shoots".  See the link below.
 http://www.wistradarchers.com/

[kojac]

make one of each, then all you have to decide is which one first.  

good luck

[ChuckC]

Agree with Kojac.  Make one of each.  Then, once those are done.  Start studying up on which ones to make  NEXT time.
ChuckC

[kiiwosewinini]

One of each      I hardly have time to build this one!!  

I live about an hour and a bit from LittleTree.  I have been thinking about going, but I don't think I can get away that weekend.  As far as building the bow goes, I am fairly capable.  I have made a few flatbows of various sorts.  The new thing will be recurving if I go that route.  I have done a fair bit of wood bending in the past though (toboggans, lacrosse sticks, canoe parts, and etc.)

[kiiwosewinini]

What are all of your thoughts on recurving (working recurve must likely, not static) an ash selfbow and not sinewbacking it?  Durability issues?  I don't have enough sinew to back it and would rather not in general.