Hatchet Bow 2008...

[Paul/KS]

Next year is the Tenth Anniversary for Mojam and ,since I won the contest this year I am the "host" for next years contest.So,while everyone is out scouting for the next deer season,keep an eye out for likely staves for your entry next year.I broke the osage winning streak with a hackberry bow so a whitewood can win...
Thanks to Dave Boyd,last years winner,for the great knife that he made as the first place prize.I hope to come up with something as worthy for next years winner as well as 2nd and 3rd place prizes.So,sharpen those hatchets and cut some staves folks.

[kctreeman]

Paul, good meeting you and the family this week.  How about a rundown on the contest rules.  It's something that I will definately try next year.

[tim-flood]

the first winner was a white wood bow, then dyed yellow.  My hickory won a few years ago,  put your helmet on!!!
white wood  read hickory makes the BEST BOW ;-)

[Paul/KS]

John,
It was a pleasure meeting you and Mel and I think we need to pursue that cooking show idea further...Those were good burritos    
The rules are pretty simple.Build a bow that will feed your family using a hatchet,B-50 thread for the string and bees wax to seal/finish the bow.No workbench or clamps just stumps and your...self to hold it down.
I like hickory too tim but it don't grow on my place in Kansas so I went with hackberry.Well,cedar too but you see how well that went...  :(

[1/2primitive]

Hey, Paul! It was nice meeting you at Mojam this year! I had started a hachet bow, but I abandonded it because it looked so rough......Maybe I'll finish it.
    Sean

[Minuteman]

SOOOOO Paul, you failed to mention you won the dern thing! Congratulations buddy! First time in it and you won it, thats pretty cool.
 If you ever need any hickory just let me know I've got boat loads of it. I could even cut you a small tree with a hatchet if you so desire. Although next year I assume you won't be in the running since yer the master of (hatchet)ceremonies.
 As far as the prizes go I bet you could make a few of yer osage handled skinnin' knives with sheaths for the winner and runners up.I've got some Ipe if you want some for handle slabs, I have curly maple too. Lemme know.
 Maybe a big skinner for the winner, a smaller knife for second place and a little neck knife for third.
Man I still can't believe you won!  I taught him everything he knows folks!
 Just kidding:) He's a self made, self bow man!
 Congrats Paul, way to go!
 Chris

[Paul/KS]

Good seeing you again too Sean.And by all means finish up what ya started for next year.
And Chris,
Thanks for the kind words and all...did ya happen ta notice that I was also the only participant this year.
I was thinking about some knives for prizes.Gonna be tough to top this years tho...

[Minuteman]

Dude, Sorry man, I didn't. I'll do one next year. Maybe I can be the only participant and win by default.
 We'll make a big deal about it next year around spring time so folks can start workin on there bows before hand.
 What the heck ya won anyway. I was serious about the hikree by the way.

[kctreeman]

Paul, can I use a rock as a hammer or scraper?  Sorry for all the questions, I just want to make sure I'm not cheating.

You may have been the only contestant but the bow still had to hold up thru the judging.  And that wasn't a guarantee.  I was surprized by the way that bow shot.  I think the judges were also.  Are you going to hang it on the wall as a trophy or use it for small game.  Shoot it till she blows and then hang the pieces.

[the Ferret]

John hatchet, b50 and beeswax.That's it. If it ain't one of those you can't use it. Now you can use the hatchet to cut two sticks, and use the B50 to tie the sticks on each side of the hatchet blade to make a scraper. Use the butt side of the hatchet for a hammer. You are allowed to resharpen the hatchet I believe.

We've had as many as 8 entries in a year including 2 females who made hatchet bows and one year one of the females (Connie Westvang) won the whole shooting match.

[Paul/KS]

Yep,what Mickey said above is it.You can use something for sharpening but only for sharpening.I used the hatchet to cut off a mallet and to make a wedge out of the tree and used them to split it.Once you get it roughed in if you think "slice" not "chop" and then "scrape" ...well,you get the picture.
And yes,I hope to make meat with that bow this winter.Got waaaay too many rabbits out back...

[Paul/KS]

And Chris,
Thanks for the offer of the hickoree...I have some growing down on the place in Oklahoma just need to get down and get some one of these days.Still have the other half of the hackberry to play with too.Will be nice to see how it works with more than a hatchet.

[wingnut]

Congrats Paul.  It was a dandy bow and would have been right at the top even if others had entered.  LOL

I'll try to help with the promotion this year.  Just keep after people and they will make one to spite you.  

Mike

[Paul/KS]

Thanks for the kind words Mike.I know your family has a long traditon of Hatchet Bows so it means a lot coming from you.I hope to see at least a couple of entrys from this neck of the plains next year and at least one from Indiana...    
I'll bet there is a young fella down in Texas that will be bringing one too next year...

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Congrats Paul, I know you make some fine bows so I am sure like Mike said it would have been one of the top bows. As far as I am concerned if you made it with a hatchet and it stayed togather for the contest, You won fare and square.
Sorry to hear about the cedar bow  :(  
I think I better try this hatchet bow thing next year. We don't want that hillbilly from Indiana taking home the prize.  :D  

Tracy

[Paul/KS]

Hey Tracey,
Yeah it was a bummer when the cedar bow blew...  :(  You should definatly get something made for next year but I think that both you and that "hillbilly" are going to have to watch out for the young fella from Texas...that kid has talent.