Grandpa's Osage - a couple generations

[Chisler]

I wanted to share an nice story about some nice wood.

3 years ago my uncle gave me a bow that my grandpa made in the 40's. I was a just getting interested in trad archery at the time and I didn't realize what a beautiful bow it was.   I took it to the Trad Expo in Wheeling, WV a couple years ago and was flattered and impressed by the reactions I saw when experienced bowyers and trad folks saw the bow.  It's a 68" self bow, "M" splice in the handle, and still has a little reflex.  Grandpa left one ring of sapwood on the back.  The sapwood is a golden yellow and the rest of the bow is a rich dark caramel color that comes with age.

My grandpa was a fine woodworker and built many beautiful things.  Apparently he snagged a nice piece of osage from someone he knew in Oklahoma.  He split it in 4 pieces and made one bow.  Then I found out my brother in Michigan had the other 2 pieces!   Somehow he met Gary Davis and got some help with the splice and got the rough shape cut out.  He has had this stave for years but never tillered it... until he came for a visit last week.  He had to go back to Michigan before we got it finished, but it was drawing real nice when he left.  We took our time, exercised the limbs a lot, and made sure we never pulled too hard.

 He wanted 45# at 28" and when he left we read 38# at 24".  I think he's got it pretty close.  I'm never sure how to know when I'm done tillering...   I've broke a couple when I thought it was ready to go full draw.  Patience....  So I think he can shoot it in now.  Maybe he'll get some help from a trad ganger up near Fenton.  Anyway,  I think it's really cool that I have a beautiful osage self bow (I don't shoot it anymore!) that my grandpa made in the 40's, and I got to help my brother finish it's "sister".  Except his doesn't have the ring of sapwood on the back.

Now...see if I can do this picture thing.
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[Chisler]

 
 
 
 

OK, looks like this might work.

[bjansen]

Excellent story.  That layer of sapwood really looks sharp on there.  Good luck on the final stages of the sister bow.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I have alot of different pieces of wood from my Grandpa. He was an avid woodworker and i spent hours with him the shop when I was youngster. He fueled my love of woodworking.

 great story, makes me wish my grandpa was still around, he would get into this wood bow making. He really loved the first few turkey calls I made before he passed.
 Great to have something like that ain't it.

I may try a bow with a ring of sapwood on it that is sharp.

[4est trekker]

Yeah, buddy!  That a great story, a great bow, and will surely make some great memories.  Best of luck with that sister stave.  Your grandpa sure made a beautiful bow!    

[Osagetree]

I love the color of aged osage! I also would not bend on the old bow. No sense in taking chances with that airloom!!!
You never know your Grandson someday may make the 3rd generation osage selfbow,,, now that would be priceless.
I know sort of how you feel with this wood work stuff. My Great Grandfathers hand tools are still used on my bows today. It's a good feeling or thought as I strip wood with the old tools. Now I have two grand children one of which will end up with the tools my Great Grandfather used.
Of course there only 4 months old now so it will be quite sometime yet.
Another reason I am interested in the story you shared is that I have two roughed out osage selfows laying on my bench awaiting the final tillering. These two bows were cut from a single small osage tree. The center of the tree was punky wood so it did not leave me much hard wood to work with. Leaving the whitewood on the bow seemed to be my only option. There are only 4 rings of hardwood on the staves bellys. It's good to see that leaving this is not so unusual after all. Apperently someone else was doing it 70 almost years ago! I know it is common with Yew wood selfbows, but have rarley seen osage with sap wood backing.

I too have had a little run in with Gary Davis, I beleive he was trying to talk the lawman out of a parking ticket    
 

Hard to see in this picture but the staves I mentioned are #6 & # 9 from the left.
 

[Dano]

I loved the story Alan, great job on the bow too.

Great picture of Gary Davis Joe.  

[ron w]

Cool!!

[Chisler]

This is great to see the replies.  I don't know how many bows my grandpa built, maybe just this one.  It's just amazing to me that he was able to do it.  Like I said, he was a fine craftsman, but I wonder how he knew the dimensions, the tillering process - probably just made sense to him so maybe it came natural??
   On the other hand, my development and skill as a bowyer could not have come about without the encouragement of a patient mentor (Thanks Brian!!) and without all the info and help available right here on Trad Gang.
   We have pictures of the "new" stave being drawn, showing what I thought was perfect bend in the limbs - but they're on my brothers camera - I'll try to get them and add to the post.

[Ricker]

That is such a fine story.  I am sure words can't explain what that piece of wood must make you feel when you handle it...a connection in a special way to your Grandpa.

[kennym]

That is one COOL DEAL,from start to finish!!

Thanks for sharing that!