Before you get your knickers all in a twist thinking I am a prolific bow builder, know that these bows were started some time ago. Just now got the shop up and running and am catching up on such projects. They were both about 80% done and waiting for time and place to complete.
The BBO (bamboo backed osage) on the top is 64" NTN and 47# @ 28" - slight R/D with about 1/2" of string follow. Very sweet shooter. Not yet sealed or handle wrapped as it was just tillered out today.
This Yew self bow I am particularly pleased with as it is my fourth (!!!!!) try at building a yew self bow and all the others ended in spectacular explosions. It became a personal challenge to make an unbacked yew bow. It was made from a stave traded from a fellow from Oregon (Treekiller?) at MOJAM a couple years ago. The stave had 6" of deflex and everyone else was shunning it. I saw very fine rings (about 50/in) and clear as can ever be hoped for from Yew. Straightened on a cull to almost straight and slowly worked to tiller. I tried to get as much of the wood as possible working without a bend in the handle style. It does pull a full 28" though my draw is more like 26.5" with this type bow.
It is 66 3/4" NTN and 53# @ 28" with about 2.5" of string follow.
How does it shoot? Well, now I know why this was the wood of choice for so many generations.
Both bows have buffalo horn tip overlays. The yew bow is finished with several coats of Truoil and I plan to leave it completely unadorned and shoot off the hand.
Ah winter, bow building season in Iowa.
Topic: finished 2 more - BBO & Yew selfbow (Read 566 times)
