First Osage self Bow (progress) (Finished up 05/12)

[ber643]

Y, thank you very much, Mike and Jeff. I do love to be able to say I learned something (anything) new, Mike.

[ber643]

Ran into some slightly "rocky road" with the finishing - a bad acting can of Polypro. First (I didn't realize) it was spraying more propellant than product and after waiting the 72 hours, I had to start over - Duh! Next, it behaved fine and I was well on my way again. Then on what would have been the last coat, the durn thing started spitting, and I didn't notice that quick enough either    :rolleyes:    . First time I ever got a bad can, though I've heard others speak of it now and again. The bad news is I didn't finish with my bow as early this past week as I had hoped. The good news is it forced me to do more coats and steel wool buffing than I usually have the patience to do - LOL. Anyway, with any luck at all I will finish dressing "It" this afternoon and post pics today or tomorrow.

In the meantime here are pics of the arrow shelf I decided to make and will use on her. Got the idea and instructions (long distance) from Dano Gren - because i like the one he put on the bow he made for me. This one is ready, except for perhaps some final tweaking as I go to afix it. Dano says he got the idea from others, or at least others use it, (maybe they got it from him too) - so you may already know that it is made of stacked and glued (super glue) leather scraps. Then you sand, file, sand, carve (if you like) to the shape that fits you and your bow. Thank you, Dano.

On its back:

 

On its edge:

 

I'll be back with pics of the tip overlays, which I can take before I do final steel wool buffing, waxing, and dress-up of the bow, at "High Noon".

Purpleheart Tip Overlay:

 

[ber643]

I am posting this that i posted on another forum earlier this evening (and just now) to let folks know where I'm at on this - LOL.

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I finished "It" this afternoon, took final pictures and am going to try to post and finish this out now (or later). I said, "or later," because at this time bad storms (severe thunder storms, hail, tornados, etc. are moving in and around our area at this very moment. All we can do is pray and sit it out, so I'd rather be doing this while we do that, if you know what I mean (rather than sit around and worry).

OK The TV (and Rose) is telling us to shut down computers, etc.. I'll be back after this one passes, good Lord willing.

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It is too late for me to start (to finish this) now (on four forums), so I will do it in the AM - just came back to let y'all know that we were blessed with skating all the worst parts (just got bad wind and rain and broken limb tips all over the place). There were problems around us, and some close by, one tornado touched down not 10 miles up the road, but as I said we were blessed, Thank you, Lord. Also NC, as a whole, fared a lot better than the midwest did with that same storm front, earlier, so bless those folks out there.

[ber643]

OK, friends, it's time to finish up this (forever-long) thread - LOL.

Here is a pic of the handle of "It" with her (Dano Type) arrow shelf/rest afixed, and a Seal skin arrow pass above it. I know, it looks like a portrait of "Ziggy", or "Mr. MaGoo" in this pic, but the bottom part of the "face"
will be covered with a leather handle wrap.

The Seal skin arrow pass I shaved the hair off of, and then shaved and sanded the back to thin it down considerable. The face of Seal skin is pretty tough and durable stuff, the back is pretty soft (and surprisingly thick):

 

Next is a design I "painted" on the back of the bottom limb. I used an indelible brush/pen (art supply stores). The bar designs are standard Native American symbols. The bar depicts water, waves, direction of life flow, and the ever-renewing force. The bear is one of the most important, oft-mentioned "First Helpers" of many tribes, and the arrow within the animals depicts the line of breath and life force (as all arrows do, more or less). One more thing, My name is Bernard which means, "Brave and bold as a Bear":

 

This pic is of the design on the top limb, and the same things apply to it, another very important "First Helper" mentioned in many tribes beginnings of NA lore and history, The Whitetail Deer:

 

(more follows)

[ber643]

Here is the bow Unstrung, also giving a shot of the entire back of the bow showing the designs, with the handle wrap applied, and also a talisman/wind indicator of a red Hackle feater, and a small wooden bead on each side of the limb, tied on with yellow, silk, fly tieing strands. I used a red (dyed) feather and edges of the handle wrap to set off the black designs. Also Red means a number of things in NA lore/design, like South, Heat of the sun (I love the sun), and I've also heard courage, good fortune, and blood. (In some oriental applications red means fire,flame,South, and good luck, and black means water, knowledse, wisdom,career, and North). All of this info on designs and colors are my understanding and reading/research and I'm sure many other applications/meanings are/can be found. Oh, the wind indicator is also used to point up the top limb "Whooptie", which it is tied around - LOL:

 

A closer shot of the designs and handle area - I wet the leather wrap before applying it, to help mold it around the rest:

 

Here is "It", at Brace (Beaver Fur silencers):

 

(Final follows)

[ber643]

Finally a Frontal, uncanted, Full Draw, that I seem to recall some folks indicated they also like to see of a bow:

 

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I said "finally" but after the storm last evening I walked by my "Glory Hole Room" and saw my bow, where I had hung it up. I couldn't help but think how much I liked the look of "It" - even hanging there in front of all that clutter. I felt like I had to try to capture that feeling/look, and so I wanted to share that with you folks too. An Unstrung side view:

 

Thanks so much for looking/listening/reading/helping - it's been a great experience for me.
_________________

[Ian johnson]

congrats on a new bow, I am not there yet with mine

[Chris Surtees]

Very nice Bernie!

[ber643]

Thank you Ian and Chris.

Forgot this. Here are the stats: 61" tip to tip, 59" ntn, 42# @ 25", 4" handle, 1 1/2" fades. Width is 1 3'8" at fades, 1 1/4" at mid-limb, 1/2" at tips Plains or NA style Flat bow w-character (not meant to be a replica). Has a sort of natural crown ridge down most of the back.

[BMN]

         
Great job Bernie. I love it.

Bill

[bigcountry]

Bernie, I really enjoyed reading this.  Also liked how you straigthend it out with heat.  Looks real nice.

[Talondale]

Well done.  A job to be proud of.

[BigRonHuntAlot]

WOW, GREAT JOB Bernie.    

[shawn]

That is one nice looking bow. WELL DONE!!!

Shawn

[ber643]

Thanks a bunch, friends - makes an ol' fellah feel pretty darned good. If all goes wel, I might shoot it at ATAR, Ron. Taking it to Baltimore this weekend, and Hickory (NC State Trad) shoot next weekend. I'll also take Dano's "Sneaky Snake", and another one or two. I'll let ya carress it, if you behave as well as you usually do - LOL.

[James Wrenn]

Darn you done good Bernie! I am starting mine next week and hopefully will have a bow at ATAR if I don't blow it.  :D

[swampbuck]

Thats very very nice Bernie!!I'm impressed and thats not that easy to do      

Well done

[bigcountry]

Originally posted by ber643:
Thanks a bunch, friends - makes an ol' fellah feel pretty darned good. If all goes wel, I might shoot it at ATAR, Ron. Taking it to Baltimore this weekend, and Hickory (NC State Trad) shoot next weekend. I'll also take Dano's "Sneaky Snake", and another one or two. I'll let ya carress it, if you behave as well as you usually do - LOL.

Bern, I will be there too.  I will be by ancestrial knowledge trying to build my own for 4 days.  Make sure you stop by and say hi. And let me see her in person.

[ber643]

Nice of you to say, James and Tom. I appreciate it. I heard about that bowyers training at the Ancestral Knowledge Booth, bigcountry. I usually do take a look - in there , as they are almost always doing something interesting. Hopeful;ly we'll get to shake a paw (no crushing bones though - LOL).

[Linc]

Mighty fine looking bow ya made Bernie.    When you going to start your next one? You know you just can't stop at one.