Osage Bow with Rattler Skins

[scrub-buster]

This bow has a some history to it.  Several years I had heard rumors of a barn full of osage staves that the owner had left behind.  After numerous attempts to contact the person in charge of the property I gave up.  A few months later a friend called me and said that he had got the staves.  He gave them to me in exchange for making him a bow from it.  The staves were around 25 years old.  I made him a bow with two holes in it.  He killed a raccoon and a buck with it that fall.  He asked me several times to make a bow for his son.  I told him I would but life got in the way and I never got around to making it.  Last February my friend was killed in a car wreck on his way to work.  He was a chief of police in our small town.  He was also newly elected to become the president of the Compton's organization.  Some of you guys probably new him. 

It always weighed heavy on me that I didn't make the bow for his son like he had asked.  I dug through the old staves that he gave me and picked out the nicest one.  It had a few minor kinks and doglegs but nothing I couldn't straighten out.  The bow is 68" long and 47# @ 29".  It's backed with a set of Western Diamonback skins.  The tip overlays are Bighorn Sheep.  There was a knot in the upper fade that looked solid until I started shaping the grip.  It popped out and left a tapered hole towards the belly.  It makes a good pencil holder.  The string is black with 2 strands of blue to symbolize the thin blue line for police.  I get to surprise his son with it tomorrow. 

[Mad Max]

Nice one clint
Cool looking bow

[Flem]

I think thats one of, if not the finest bow I have ever seen. Beautiful design, profile, details, the works.
Kudos to you. It looks to be a labor of love and well honed skills.

[monterey]

Flem took the thought right out of my brain.  Absolutely the prettiest self bow I've seen.

[ztontonz]

That’s one beauty !

[bigbob2]

Very nice indeed!. Reckon the son will be stoked!.

[scrub-buster]

Thanks guys.  He just stopped by the house and I gave him the bow.  He wasn't expecting it.  It was a good moment for both of us.  He shot a few arrows in the garage and it fit him perfectly. 

I'm down to making 1 bow every year or two.  I'm wanting to get back into it some more.  It's time to make one for myself now. 

[Pat B]

You deserve one Clint. Make it as purdy at this one.
Glad to see you back making and posting bows. 

[scrub-buster]

You deserve one Clint. Make it as purdy at this one.
Glad to see you back making and posting bows. 

Thanks Pat.  Next up is that plum bow I started on at the classic last year.

[Buemaker]

That is a beauty for sure. Long time no see,by the way

[Crooked Stic]

That bow has a ton of character and those tips are outstanding. 

[Shredd]

Great looking bow and she looks likes she is bending nice also...  Good stuff...

[BO-R]

Pure Talent!!

[George Tsoukalas]

Outstanding bow with a beautiful tiller! Jawge

[Thadbow]

An amazing bow with an amazing story, great work!

[buckeyebowhunter]

Great job!