"Elkie"

[Pat B]

This is a bow I built a few years ago for an elk hunt I was invited on in the San Juan Mts of S.W. Colorado. She is "Elkie" and is 60"t/t, pulled 56#@26" when made(that's another story) and has 3 courses of elk sinew and a timber rattler skin cover over the sinew. The slightly recurved tips are static and have elk tip overlays. The handle wrap is rattan and it has a floppy rest. After the hunt I gave this bow to Kenneth,  my host on the hunt. Kenneth is in the full draw pic and lives in Pleasantville CO. The quiver is made from a Selway bow quiver and it too was a gift to Kenneth.    Pat
 
 
 
 
 
 
The arrow Kenneth is drawing was part of a set Art Butner made for Kenneth specifically for this hunt. Art also made a set for me. They are bambusa shafts with Art's own trade points. The fletchings are tied on in case a quick repair is needed in the field.    Pat

[BMN]

That's a beauty Pat!

[George Tsoukalas]

Sure is.  Awesome bow. Jawge

[fxe]

Outstanding!!!

[ChristopherO]

Inspirational.
I suppose the dry climate caused the sinew to create a heavier draw weight after some time?

[Pat B]

When I built this bow, it came out 56#@26". A month later(this was during the summer)it was 45#@26" from the humidity. Two weeks before I went to Colorado I mailed the bow and all my hunting stuff out and when I got there for the hunt it was back up to 55#@26". A month after I left Colorado and left the bow with Kenneth it weighed 65#@26". Humidity has a bad effect on sinew backed bows...and this bow was well sealed.
  Thanks for the compliments.     Pat

[ber643]

Wow - that's some change in weight. Does altitude have any bearing on it, Pat, or just the drier climate of the higher altitude? I remember you talking about that bow, and the gifting of it but I don't think I ever saw pics, that I recall. Nice looking rascal.

[Hojo]

Pat - Yet another fine bow.  
What's wood is this one made of?

[Pat B]

Hojo, this bow is osage. It has begun it color transformation to chocolate brown.
   Bernie, It is the humidity or lack of it that  causes the weight change. Where we hunted was between 9k' and 10k' and sometimes you would think the altitude effected the weight but instead it effected my strength. Amazing what a lack of oxygen will do to you. d:^)

[ber643]

Oh, yeah, It'll kill ya! been there, done that (at even lower altitudes) a few times in CA, NH, and ME. Come to think of it, now it's WV, and even in Hickory, NC (just "foothills")  :D

[Pat B]

Its funny Bernie, when we get visitors from the coast it takes them a day or 2 to get used to the alt here(2600'). I was fortunate to be able to train for my Colorado hunt at alts up to 6200'. Not quite 10,000' but better than starting at sea level.    
   Now, the reverse humidity when I visit the coast just kills me now but when I lived in the Low Country of SC and was a boat mechanic it never got too hot or humid. Is it age or conditioning...or both?   Pat

[Apex Predator]

Beautiful bow Pat!  You leave me speechless at times.

[Pat B]

Thanks Apex. You need to build a few self bows. They are fun!    Pat

[4runr]

Beautiful work!

[ber643]

LOL - Does "all of the above" ring a bell with you, Pat (re: altitude, humidity, age, and conditioning, that is)  

[ron w]

Excellent , as always!

[JEFF B]

awesome bow pat!!

[Pat B]

Thanks guys.