Kelly, you are close. One handle wrap(Bobby's bow) is hemp cord set in epoxy with a floppy rest, unknown wood and Am. Bison horn tip overlays, Oklahoma timber rattler backing(one skin did both limbs, a big un). That bow is 66"t/t, 65#@30"(I'm not at full draw, only 26").
Long story here...my friend Bobby Keller asked me about 2 years ago to build him a bow. He gave me the osage stave to build it with. In return Bobby would make me a tomahawk with a railroad spike that I requested. Bobby is a very tallented bladesmith and a few years ago he traded me one of his knives and sheath for the osage recurve you see in my avatar.
Well, I finally got around to working on Bobby's bow and had it almost fully tillered when I discovered some checks and stress crack that came out with the heat straightening I had to do. I told Bobby I didn't feel good about this stave for the high draw weight and long draw length so I told him I'd make him another bow using some osage that was given to me by the son of another friend that passed away last year. Bobby knew Tom B and I thought it would be appropriate to use one of Tom's staves.
The other bow is from Bobby's first stave. I knew there was still a good bow in it so I asked Bobby what he wanted me to do. He asked if I would make it fit his daughter, Britny for a hunting bow and 3D shoots.
This bow is now 62"t/t and I heat treated the belly to add some reflex but also keep the weight from going down too far. It pulls 47#@26" and holds most of its reflex after unbracing. I left this bow naked(unbacked), added cow horn tip overlays, a braided black nylon handle wrap and floppy rest. Both bows are finished with 6 coats of Tru-Oil.
Bobby has set aside most of his fun times and bladesmithing in the last few years. He got in to nursing school and has worked his butt off and will graduate on Dec. 14. When he asked what I wanted for Britny's bow I told him it was a well diserved gift for all his accomplishments and hard work over the last 2 years and for his upcoming graduation.
Both bows shoot very well. I use my 600+gr hill cane and tapered ash arrows to test these bows out and I would use either with these arrows to hunt with.
This is Bobby's bow braced and at 26" draw(full draw is 30")...
![](http://<br />and Britny's bow at brace and full draw(26")<br /> [img]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/BobbyandBritnysbows012.jpg)
Topic: just a tease (Read 901 times)
