Osage Longbow Build Balt Trad Classic

[bigcountry]

Well, I took a class the 08 Trad classic and was able to build my first Osage bow.  34 hours of labor and still need to finish it up.

Here is the log after debarking and seeing which ring I want

 

[bigcountry]

Lets get busy chasing that badboy.

 

[bigcountry]

Finally got the hang of seeing early wood and late wood and feeling the cruchiness with a draw knife.

 

[bigcountry]

Almost there, late into the night first night.  I have only 1ft left to go but gotta go home. Can't feel my hands, and hurt all over.

 

[bigcountry]

Finally, next day Friday down to the ring, and have to clean up around those pin knots clustered.

 

[bigcountry]

Now, got to find the centerline.  We are about 12-15 hours into this. I am moving at turdle speed.  And I have trouble really reading the grain as the pictures can show with all the lines

 

[bigcountry]

Ok, found the centerline, I hope, and starting to lay out the design.  I have a 4" handle, 1 3/4 fade, and stay 1 3/4" for 11" before pyamid out to 3/8" tips.  Overall length 67".

 

[bigcountry]

Ok, its about 8PM second day, almost 13 hours into it.  Thanks goodness for the bandsaw.  He had me draw kniving until I think thought there was no way we could finish over the weeknd.

 

[bigcountry]

Bandsaw the belly.  Made it so much easier with out all that extra wood.  Good news is I got an extra stave out of the bottom.

 

[bigcountry]

Ok, getting into night on Friday Night and lets start rasping the handle with the nickolson 49

 

[bigcountry]

More rasping the handle on Sat Morn.  took 3 hours to get it the way I like it.  Hey I am slow.

 

[bigcountry]

Rest of the day and evening I worked on taking off excess off limbs and profiling with the ferriers rasp.  I love the ferriers rasp.

 

[bigcountry]

Ok, late Sat Night, starting to get some bend, not much, start floor tillering.  Still using the rasps and cabinet scrapers at this point.  We are 26 hours into the build now.  Did soemthing I haven't done in over a decade.  Bought some ben gay and used a bottle of bayer asprin.  I am out of shape.

 

[bigcountry]

Cut in some nocks, with a chainsaw file, and made up a 72" B50 string.  Ok, lets skip ahead past the floor tiller, and here we are braced.  I think it looks good.
 Still very heavy.  Doing the bow dance warming up the limbs getting them used to bending.
   

[bigcountry]

Little more scraping, and she's probably 62lbs or so.

Only drawing her to 3/4 draw.  Very scared at this point.  

 

[bigcountry]

Little more scraping, I have a still top limb thats nagging me.  

I am 2" from full draw here, but feel good.  I have shot her since about 60 arrow or so.  She has about 1" of string follow.  But I am dang proud of her.

 

[bigcountry]

Well, I will post more when I get her finished.  I am adding some elk hoove nock overlays, and a leather shelf, and wrapping the handle.  Still deciding what to finish her in.

[just a bit outside]

Turned out pretty darn good! Wish I would have the patience to try something like that.

Greg

[bigcountry]

Yea, Greg, doing this all at once caused me to make mistakes.  REally didn't have time to think what I was doing or be real careful sometimes.  If possible, I recommend doing it in stages.  But I hope this is first of many.

[BMN]

Very nice!