Gaboon snake...

[ishoot4thrills]

In my opinion, the Gaboon Viper is the most beautiful snake in the world. I have always thought that, since I was young. They also are known to have the world's largest fangs, growing to more than 2 inches long! If I'm not mistaken, they are becoming very rare in the wild. I would think that they are too wide to be practical for skinning a regular size bow.

[Goshawkin]

Originally posted by ishoot4thrills:
In my opinion, the Gaboon Viper is the most beautiful snake in the world.
 I would think that they are too wide to be practical for skinning a regular size bow.

Gaboons were my favorite until I saw my first live Rhino vipers. If you want to see some more really cool patterns,do a search for gaboonXrhino hybrids,gorgeous snakes.I saw some first hand at a show a few years ago.

Let's face it none of us who are considering backing a bow with expensive viper skins are all that practical!      :D  
I think an inch or two wide strip right down the center would show plenty of the pattern to be beautiful.Nice wide recurve limbs would probably be the best bet.

[TxAg]

Wow, Those hybrids are gnarly looking. I'd hate to meet that snake in person, but love the pics.

[The Whittler]

Thanks for the pics. now I know what you guys are talking about. They are beauties.

[LBshooter2]

I want one lol. They are very cool snakes and not aggressine unless you step on them. As Steve Irwin would say "they are fat as mud".

[Tron]

Beautiful creatures, not something I'd ever want to meet though! 2 inch fangs, and we think rattlers are intimidating,  Gaboons blend in perfectly with the forest floor.  Most people who get bitten never see them, even after the bite.  Supposed to be horribly painful.  As to the skins I could have sworn they were endangered. or at least protected.  I'd imagine it would take some hoop-jumping to get the snakes or the skins into the States.

[Mint]

I almost stepped on a gaboon viper while at Lake Nakuru in Kenya. Was just going to take a step after taking a picture of some waterbucks and happenned to look down. He had just about finished eating a meal of some rodent so it wasn't moving. I must have jumped 10 feet back when i saw him.

[BoonRoto]

I once met a man who was an importer of exotic reptiles, primarily of the venomous variety. When I shook his hand the grip didn't seem quite right. My buddy was in the process of asking me if I had ever met a man bit by a Gaboon Viper. He was missing two of his fingers all the way to the knuckle.

[gringol]

The best place for a snake is on the back of a bow.  preferably my bow...

Beautiful, fascinating animals, but they give my the creeps...

[eminart]

IF they ever bite you, those things will put the smack down on you. They have an insane amount of venom and those long fangs to get it in you. They are indeed beautiful though. I love snakes.

I agree that they're way too wide to waste their skins on a bow though. You'd never get the full effect.

[Bobby Urban]

I made a sweet sinew backed osage recurved selfbow with Brazillion rainbow boa skins but unfortunately this was back pre trad gang or even digital cameras and I have no clue what I did with the paper photos.  Anyone remember those things???

Anywway - Google that snake.  It is no Gaboon but they are cool.

[Goshawkin]

Originally posted by Tron:
I'd imagine it would take some hoop-jumping to get the snakes or the skins into the States.

You can buy captive bred gaboons,rhinos,etc. here in the states. Not too expensive either,compared to sone of the high end species. You can get good prices on them because not all that many people are interested in keeping venomous snakes. One thing I was told by people that keep them is they are famous for dry bites.You get hit,but they don't put in any venom.If they do,you're in BIG trouble.Every person I talked to said their strike is lightning fast.

[Tron]

They don't have to be light and slender to strike fast.  A dry bite would still hurt like no other.  They would make a cool bow though like many have said probably to chunky of a snake to get the full effect of the skin.  A rhino viper or a rainbow boa could be cool though

[Geezer]

Anyone remember that Marlin Perkins from Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom was bitten by a Gaboon Viper?  OK...now I'm really aging myself....that was a long time ago.  I remember that he was one of the first ever to survive the bite...messed his arm up pretty good though.  IMO, the skins look best on the snake.