Fellowship of traditionalists...

[shag08]

Just wanted to share a nice little story about our mindsets as traditionalists and the generosity of our fellow archers.  

My lovely wife is a taxidermist and at the moment we don't have a shop for her to work out if so she works at home between our two garages...she skins in my wood shed and does the finish work in the attached garage.  There has been all kinds of customers come and go in and out of my house.

The other day there was a couple ol boys came by to see her work with intentions on bringing by a few bobcats and coyotes for her to mount.  I had been squirrel hunting that morning and left my little Cascade Brush Hawk sitting on the kitchen table when they arrived.

The one fellow says, "Is that yours?"  I say yeah.  He says, "You shoot those?"  I said yeah I shoot almost every day.  That opened the door to a very lengthy conversation about bows, shooting and everything else traditional.

I showed him my modest collection of about a dozen bows and it turned out that he is a selfbowyer.  I then showed him my hickory "bow" that is a work in progress to see what he thought about my progress on it and what I should do next.  He was very helpful and insightful.  I learned more from him in fifteen minutes than many hours of reading could have taught me.

They came back today and brought the critters for my wife to mount.  He also brought me an absolutely beautiful snake skin backed Osage bow to shoot. We flung a few arrows down the range and soon they had to go.  I tried every way in the world to get him to take his bow back with him but he wouldn't have any part of it.  He wants me to keep it awhile and shoot the snot out of it just to get used to shooting self bows.

The bow is a piece of art and it shoots an arrow with authority...it draws soooo smooth too.

I don't know if you are a member here but if you are, Thanks Gene!  I'll take good care of her til I see you again.

[Bud B.]

Pics man, pics!!!!

Sounds like most traditional archers I know. Very giving of time and what they know.

[Keith Zimmerman]

Cool story.  Pics?

[shag08]

I don't have photobucket. The wife is at an NWTF banquet right now but I'll have her post some pics when she gets back home.

[slim_grim]

Good night. Lets see some pics!

[tradhunter]

No one who does not shoot and walk the life really does not seem to get how we help each other out so much. I am always impressed with the way we always seem to be instant family. Fellowship is just the right word.
But we still want to see pics brother!

[K-Mac]

I know a man in smiths bend TN that makes Osage self bows, he let me keep one to shoot a while. His name is Gene also could this be the same man? HE can also knap out a nice arrowhead too.

[shag08]

K-Mac, yeah that's him.  Super nice guy.  I see you are from Gainesboro.  I'm just down the road from you. I live in Baxter.

Guys I'll get some pics after while.  It was late when the wife got in last nite so I didn't bother her with it.

[Sean B]

Nice story, but man, don't get us going with the story, then not show pictures, that's just down right cruel!!!   :eek:

[Duker]

WOW!!!Cant wait to hear more about Gene and see some pics  

[K-Mac]

shag08 I've known Gene for a long time, very talented woodsman,maybe we could get together and shoot some weekend,and we need to get him on tradgang!

[Mudd]

I have a long time love of selfbows.

There are times I wish I could still sit a shaving horse and draw knife at some "yaller wood" but with my shoulder issues that's not gonna happen.

I'll use what shoulder I have left for shooting.

I look forward to seeing pictures.

God bless,Mudd

[Larrydawg]

That's cool of Gene to loan you a bow, kinda like getting you a taste so you get good and hooked!! heheheh
hey Mudd, I'm a Self bowyer myself, In the process of building two Hedge bows now been a on going  project but should have them finished before may when the local archery club has their  traditional shoot. I may donate the pretty one!! (if there is one!!) I need to post pics of my bows and arrows but seem to never have enough free time!!
Larrydawg

[Sirius Black]

[Alexander Traditional]

That's a great story.

[shag08]

[shag08]

[shag08]

[cmh]

That's a great story    I have never shot a self bow but one of these days hope to gather the tools and know how to make one  

[shag08]

The wife.... Sorry it took me so long.