New bow project for me

[Pat B]

This is a style of bow I've wanted to make for a while now. Short(56 1/2" t/t), sinew backed(3 layers of cow sinew)osage static recurve.
 Clint Anders gave me an osage stave at the Tenn Classic a few years ago. This stave had a cool limb hole in it at its upper end...
 
...and perfect growth rings with good early/late ring ratio. The more I looked at the stave the more I wanted to cut off the knot hole even though it would have made some cool character for a flatbow.
 Well, I cut it off at just over 56", laid out the bow I wanted to build and started the process. This was March 31, 2013.
 By April 14, with her basic shape cut out I began bending and straightening the stave and bent the recurves with dry heat. Because of a few crackes I got in the bending process I decided to add underlay to the recurves for strength.
By May 19 I began the tillering process and by June 1 had her to the first, low brace height. I had her tillered out to 17" that weekend. The sinewing started on June 15 and had all three courses of sinew on.
 I usually wait a few months after adding sinew to a bow for the sinew to cure out but this summer we had lots of rain. Forty inched in June,July and August which brought out yearly total to over 80" so far. This put a delay in the curing process of the sinew because of all the humidity that came with the rain and I didn't start tillering until October 6 but had her tillered out to my 26" by the end of that weekend. I finally got around to dressing her up this past week and here she is...
 

 

 

She("Lil'Thumper", name suggested by Kip "Coaster 500") is 56 1/2" t/t, 54"n/n, sinew backed osage static recurve, pulling (guess?)60#-65# at 26" and Texas diamondback watersnake skin covering. She has yew/ipe recurve underlays and leather saturated with super glue tip overlays, a hemp cordage wrapped handle with a floppy rest. This is my fastest bow to date and is dead quiet and very light and soft in my hand.
 I did a build along on the "Bowyers Bench for anyone that is interested.
 Patiece is one of the most important tools in a wood bowyers kit and this bow sure stretched my patience to the limit...but it was totally worth the effort!!! Hope y'all like her. Thanks for looking.

[StanM]

Pat that is absolutely gorgeous!

[DEATHMASTER]

That is a beautiful bow. Been saving sinew from deer to make one someday when I get a piece of Osage. You did a great job on yours. Enjoy.

[Pheonixarcher]

I followed your build a long over the months. Tested my patients as well. Lol. Great looking stick! Good job, and good luck with her for years to come.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

that came out looking pretty darn good Pat.  

[dirtguy]

Very cool!

[Pat B]

Thanks guys. Even though if took what seemed like forever it was still a fun project and the bow is a real sweet shooter.

[Wannabe1]

One of the nicest looking selfbows I've seen in a while! Great job on her.  

[ron w]

Well it's about time......LOL!!! Outstanding job Pat. I followed your post on the bench. It came out really nice!!      

[onemississipp]

Awesome bow, Pat! I can image the patience that it takes with sinew. I have been thinking about a sinew bow myself.

Thanks for all the knowledge you freely and willingly share with the rest of us!

[Pat B]

Go for it Dustin. It isn't as difficult as you might think but you do have to give the sinew time to cure.
 Thanks Wannabe. I appreciate the compliment.
 Ron, you now good things happen to those who wait. d;^)

[NormanDale33]

wow, what a cool bow. You have talent, that is obvious. Thanks for sharing, headed to bowyers bench to see the build along.

[Friend]

Much of the apparent beauty and strength must be attributed to your outpoured effort.


Worthy and fine accomplishment!

[Gen273]

Congrats on a fine bow!

[TxAg]

Incredible. Thanks for sharing.

[Hawkeye]

I expect we will soon see Thumper posed next to a dead pig!

Nice job!

[Thumper Dunker]

Awesome looking bow. She does look like a real shooter also. I like the name.