mamba skinned limbs?

[AKCrazyhorse]

Due to some pretty significant shoulder surgery and the prospect of a lengthy rehab, I've got a little time on my hands and I'm considering skinning the limbs on my acs-cx.  Wanting something a little different I'm considering mamba skins.  Anyone done this and have pictures?  Also anyone got a source for these particular skins?

[JRY309]

I would think mamba skins would very tough to find if you can find them at all.They really don't have much of a pattern to them,other then being black.For me I like skins with some pattern,they look more of a natural camo.I have seen a lot of different skins,but haven't seen any mamba skins on a bow.Wouldn't they have to be imported,are they legal?

[Ragnarok Forge]

Talk to some guys on the africa threads. They may have some ideas.

[lpcjon2]

Go with Boa skins there are tons of different breeds.Check out a snake dealer and get some ideas.

[JimB]

Black mambas aren't actually black.They are named for their black mouth interior.They are more of an olive/gray color- no pattern.I wouldn't think they would add a lot to a bow other than a scale pattern.Our Western Racers wouldn't look much different.It might be possible to find mambas as they don't have the protected status of some foreign snales.

I don't know a source offhand,but have seen an occasional captive bred specimen offered to the taxidermy trade.

[Bowmania]

Make sure you read the directions, the most important of which is be sure they're DEAD.

Bowmania

[Bobby Urban]

Make sure it is legal as well?  I think some of the exotics are ilegal to buy/sell but I may be wrong.  

Google Moscow hideandfur - if there are any they would have some.

I did a sweet sinew backed osage recurve I made with Brazilion Rainbow Boa skins.  They are probably ilegal to sell but I got them from a good friend who is a vet surgeon and they were in a freezer at MSU.  I gave the bow to a friend.

Bob Urban

[ottertails]

I've skin'd bows with Diamondbacks, Prairie rattlers, 2 species of watersnakes, a bullsnake, combo of corn or chicken snake w/a copperhead, So. Ill timber rattler (canebrake?)...some cool lookin' skins 4sure! BUT...the very best lookin' skin is a African Rock python that J.D Berry put on my son's bow IMO. It's gray/black w/creamwhite...that was a 20 yrs ago or so....So I don't know if it is still available or legal anymore...Just to let ya know, we set all of our snakeskinned bows out in the trees/brush in the Fall/Winter morn,aftn & eve'n...backed off and evaluated....Hmmmm 5, 10, 15, 26 yds the African Rock python totally disappeared.

Snake skinning a bow has been around a long time, it seems to be the 'in thing' lately. I've only used it for bows that lacked beauty...that is, ugly wood/veneers, too much glare or just b-cuz.

Not sure what acs-cx is...my guess is it's carbon? TIP: use a dark background whether bow or skinnin' an arrow for best effect...

[ottertails]

AKCrazyhorse, sorry, forgot to wish ya a speedy recovery.