Memorial Bow for a Friend

[4est trekker]

I have a friend who just observed the 1 year anniversary of the still-born death of his baby boy Hudson Joseph.  He and his wife went to the hospital on the day he was due, as she was having contractions.  Without warning, Hudson was delivered still-born.  The doctors never determined why.  However, they just announced that they're pregnant again with another little boy!  

Long story short, my friend started this bow with me before Hudson died and hasn't had the opportunity to finish it.  So, I thought I'd complete it and give it to him as a memorial gift of sorts.  It's a red oak pyramid bow that he glued up, layed out, shaped to profile, and tillered on the long string. I heat treated and burnished the belly and induced about 1 3/4" of reflex.  I backed it with paper, stained it with RIT dye cut in alcohol, added bison horn tip overlays, and finished it with a frosted lacquer finish. The bow is 64" long, 62 1/4" ntn.  It pulls 40# @ 28" and holds a dead-flat profile just unstrung, settling to just a touch of reflex when static. I added two tapered cedar arrows (one for each son) and a hip quiver in reference to Psalm 127:3-5, which reads:  

3 Children are a heritage from the LORD,
   offspring a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
   are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
   whose quiver is full of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[4est trekker]

Couple more pics:

 

 

 

 

 

[Dmaxshawn]

Absolutely stunning and awesome gesture.   My hats off to you.  You would be welcome at my campfire anytime.

Shawn

[K. Mogensen]

Gorgeous bow...

[bjansen]

Nice job 4est!

[vanillabear?]

[dposalski]

Very nice.  The sentiment and the bow.

[beetlebailey1977]

Very good lookin bow.  Tough time they had to go through.....I can only imagine.....

[Dave Bowers]

Man that is sweet  

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Nice one 4est.

 I bet your buddy will love it.

 Stiks

[KellyG]

   

[hova]

spot on bow. like they say , you find out who your friends are.


i have a 2 year old , it breaks my heart to imagine that. glad they are expecting. as much as it hurts to think of that , everything happens for a reason.


-hov

[4est trekker]

Thanks for all the kind comments, folks.  I appreciate it.  I'll post a pic when he gets his bow.  

[John Lipinski]

The white silencers against a black body give it a rather sad appearance by itself, independent of the back story. You managed to capture sorrow in the form of a beautifully sad bow. Top notch.

[red hill]

4est, there's nothing I can say that would come close to letting you know how much such a gesture can mean. You're one of the guys on this forum that make me greatful to be part of it as well.
Hope things work out for your friends. As hard as it is to understand, everything happens for a reason. Even the trully bad things.
Thakn you,
Stan

[sambone]

4est my hat is off to you. That is an awesome act of kindness.

[George Tsoukalas]

What a tough thing to go through. The bow is really well done, 4est. Your friend will love it. Jawge

[AKmud]

I was just sitting here reading the reason for this gift and tried to put myself in your friend's shoes...  What a great gesture!  

The world needs more people like you 4est.

[razorback]

Beautiful gesture and a wonderful bow. The colours and finish are great and I like that handle design much better than the one on your build-along.

You do your friend proud.

[4est trekker]

Here's a picture of the recipient.  He came over the other night and shot for about an hour.  He learns quick and was soon demonstrating good form and shooting very well.  Looks like I might have a new shooting buddy.