Your thoughts on Selfbows?

[Wannabe1]

Anyone else got photos of your Selfbows? Would love to see different styles.

[Frenchymanny]

This one went to Tim and made meat



It was made from a fantastic stave

F-Manny

[Wannabe1]

F-Manny, that is a nice looking bow!

Ok, I found a website to remain nameless and have a question. Self bows not having the longevity of standard bows, how is that one can be priced at $900.00-$1200.00? What would make a self bow worth that much money? I'm just curious as the ones I've been looking at are none over $250.00 and look just as nice.

[George D. Stout]

Wannabe1,  I have a lemonwood bow that is backed only with clarified calfskin (rawhide)...the same material used in banjo heads.  It is over sixty years old and has been traveling the road for over two years now to myriad shooters who give it a real go.

A bamboo back osage, unless there is an inherent flaw, will last your lifetime.  Just keep it sealed well and shoot the darned thing.  By the way, I took a 170 pound buck with the old lemonwood...complete penetration.  Your bow will be faster than the old lemonwood that severely follows the string.

Presently I have a selfbow, one piece hickory made by David Mims.  That thing is a shooter for sure and I expect it to give me some good hunts.
Here's a photo:

[Wannabe1]

George, thanks for the input. That is impressive that that bow has been going for that long. I am excited on receiving mine, and have already found a Traditional Bowyers Bible Vol. 1 to purchase and start on making one of my own. I have made up my mind to hunt deer this year with the one I have coming.

That is a nice looking one you have there also.

[ishoot4thrills]

Very nice one, F-Manny. Here's my first osage flatbow from 10 years ago:

 
 

[Frenchymanny]

Very nice bow Douglas, looks like a keeper!
 

F-Manny

[ishoot4thrills]

Thanks F-Manny. It is waaayyyy too much bow for me though (originally 67#@28"). Fortunately, it's overbuilt so I have room to work it down some more. My scale shows it still pulls at least 66#@28". So it still is holding up well after 10 years.

[Wannabe1]

What do you guys use to seal your bows with? When I get the chance to make my own, I will have to compensate for the rain here in Oregon.

[adkmountainken]

i have a bow from Mark that is very special to me and is still going strong!!! just took it out hunting last sunday. thanks again Mark for such a fine bow!

[Tree man]

Wannabe-I think I know what site you were looking at. If it is who I am thinking of he doesn't have time to build many so he tries to make it worth the impingement on his time. Lots of great selfbows are available for much less but if you evaluate a good selfbow compared to a lam bow the selfbow has a good deal more labor in it.

[Wannabe1]

Tree Man, I guess putting it that way, I can see the reasoning behind it. If a man only made a few bows, and quality bows at that, sooner or later it would pay off as they have potential to become a collectors item. Not ever having made one or seen one made, I guess I didn't think of the labor of love probably put into the building process.

Since I am sure you know who I am talking about, I will say he had some handsome looking bows on his web page. A couple I wouldn't mind owning myself!  

[adkmountainken]

couple pic's of my Baker bow.

[ishiwannabe]

Nice looking bow Ken. One day Im gonna make one...good thread.

[Wannabe1]

That is sweet! Is it more of a flat bow than a longbow?

[adkmountainken]

couple pics of my Joe Weed bow "War Dog"

[adkmountainken]

yes more so of a flat bow as is my Joe Weed bow.

[Wannabe1]

War Dog is the bow I seen on your other post. I really like the looks of this one. What are it's specs?

[ishoot4thrills]

Originally posted by Wannabe1:
What do you guys use to seal your bows with? When I get the chance to make my own, I will have to compensate for the rain here in Oregon.

I used Shellac to seal mine. I think many use linseed oil.

[adkmountainken]

around #60@28 and i belive 64 long, will check in the morning as its in the man cave (basement) and the dogs are sleeping.