Firrst attempt.

[adeeden]

Well techincally second, as I got a stave off Frank Bullet about 12 years ago that I procedded to ruin quickly!

This was a super thin ringed osage stave and pretty short as well. The rings were all right at 1/16 inch and the stave was only 63 inches long. The stave had a huge knot on one end that I cut off leaving me with 60 1/4 inches to work with.

So thin rings, short stave with twists, a huge roller coaster whooppeedoop on the bottom limb, pretty much everything a beginner should avoid. but it was given to me a couple years ago at Cloverdale and I had to try it. I can't remember the member here that gave me the stave and I apologize for that right off!

I chased a ring suprisingly easy for them to be as thin as they were.  after roughing out I managed to heat and get rid of a proppellar twist and the big kink in the bottom linb where the roller coaster was  and decided I would need a backing to hold it together with the rings being thin. So I went with a paper bag backing.

Tiller looked good on my tree but after shooting a hundred shots or so it seems the lower limb is losing the bend I put in it to remove the roller coaster and some of it coming back. Regardless I guess I will have to live with it.

 

resting at brace height of about 6 1/2 inches.


 

Showing string alignment. The anter tip was tempory to get it shot in. I plan on putting a floppy style rest on it.

 

Full draw. See the bottom limb? It wasn't that way before I shot it in. The benD I heated out seems to be coming back. Top limb has about 3/4 inch of set the bottom has about 2 1/2! Yikes.

I did reheat it and took the bottom rollercoaster back out and it's better know but wandering if after a good shooting seccion if it will come back? I am betting it will over time.

Anyway feel free to blaze away I am sure there are many issues you seasoned bowyers can point out to me.

I know I learned alot and think my next one will be much better! I also made up a tillering gizmo for future use, I know thats going to help me!

[adeeden]

One more picture showing the back and some of the character.


 

[KellyG]

nice bow reminds me of one I am working on well not the shortness or think rings but the twist and turns, hope mine turns out as nice.

[George Tsoukalas]

Very nice bow. Enjoy. Heat correcting a tillered bow is difficult. Jawge

[Osagetree]

I like it!

[red hill]

Looks better than my first try with osage. If it shoots, shoot it. Nice job.
Stan

[frank bullitt]

Yowww! There's a "New Kid in Town"!

Dennis, I knew you would come to the dark side sooner or later!  :D   It's probably from hanging around those at Cloverdale, that pushed ya over!

It looks great! Ya its, ugly, but shoots. We all started that way.

That piece of wood you got from me,.....12 years, really.... that long ago? That was a stave that I got from someone you probably know of in your neck of the woods!  Jack Stephenson, of Georgetown, Il!

Jack and me would set-up at a gathering for huntin, fishin, days at Kickapoo park, put on by the Conservation dept/ Gary Wilford!

Who would of thought back then, you would be living and hunting in that area?

Boy do I have something Goood for ya!  

[adeeden]

Kelly, George, Red Hill- thanks for the compliments but feel free to critisize it I have thick skin!

Osagetree, I am going to steal a phrase I seen you posted on a thread once and am gonna call this one "Osage Booger"!

Steve, Those names both sound familar to me but I can't seem to put a face to them. I am sure I have met them at one time or another though. And yes it's ugly but that just makes it a good match with me! Let me know when your working on some bows sometime, I would love to come over and watch and see what I can learn.

[frank bullitt]

In this case "Ugly" is good!  :D  

Dennis, do you have anymore "good" wood? Cause there's no stopping now!

I would love to get together, and cut some chips and pull a few strings.

Dennis, Gary Wilford is head consevationist in Vernillion county. He usually works out at Forrest Glenn. He also does taxidermy and lives in Georgetown. And he shoots recurves, great gentleman!

Jack Stephenson, is a good knapper and primitives replicator! He also sets up demos at Forrest Glenn during events held their.

If you need any books or Vids let me know!

[adeeden]

Steve I don't have any more good wood, but am going to try to go do some cutting this coming weekend. I can definately see the addiction in this!

Ok, I know both the gentlemen your talking about now! Jack does a knapping demenstration out at kennekuk park every year for the youth in the outdoor weekend. I actually worked some rock with him a few years ago there.Jack is still involved in the youth outdoors weekend as well. I take the kids every year they always get a big kick out of it.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

I think you did a fine job cause at least the string appears to be tracking down the center of the bow and that's what's most important. If it shoots where your looking, that's even more important. I'd say your first osage longbow is a success. At least in my book.