Serviceberry Sapling Bow

[Ryano]

Nice Job as always Gordon. You seem to be making a lot of this type of bow lately, They are fun to shoot arent they. 

[Gordon]

Thank you Al and TDog.

Thank you Pat. Unfortunately I don’t know much about the eastern variety of service berry. You’ll have to try it and let us know.

Thank you Mike.  I think this bow would make a nice hunting weapon, particularly when hunting in close quarters.

Brian, thank you for the compliment. But I am confident there will be lots of great bows posted this month – there is just too much talent in this community to hold back

Thank you SF and adb.

Thank you Philip. It is still amazing to me that such powerful weapons can be made from simple saplings – it’s pretty neat really. I’m glad you like my arrows. There are nothing special really. Just hardwood shafts, feathers shaped using a burner, and a simple crest.

Thanks Dana. Service berry does have a tendency to twist. I am helping Bryan Briand build a bow from a somewhat twisted SB sapling. It’s actually turning out surprisingly nice so don’t give up on those twisted pieces.

Thank you John.

Ryan, I’ve been focusing on this style because I want to master building bows from saplings. After making a few of these I am convinced that if you can successfully tiller a character sapling, you can tiller anything. They are also kind of cool to look at and shoot.

[OldBow]

Simply gorgeous! Serviceberry, hawthorn, chokecherry are all in the rose family and can make good bows.
Serviceberry is also common across the U.S., although ours...P. virginiana , is what I am familiar with. Luckily, I have lots even in my backyard
Obviously, Gordon, has made a superior bow bookmarked for Jan '09 Self Bow of the Month, too.
The wood in serviceberry is a soft satin brown: see pic

[attachment deleted by admin]

[koan]

Anyone got a pic of the tree, I dont know what it looks like....Brian

[Gordon]

That's interesting Don. The wood color of the service berry we have around here is white.

[George Tsoukalas]

Beautiful bow, Gordon. Congratulations! Jawge

[terence pinder]

i have also come across a lot of twisted sapplings most of them after i got them home.good thing my yard is full of them

[ricktrojanowski]

Another beautiful bow Gordon. Tiller looks great.  Not to mention all the finish details.  Great job.

[Shooter_G22]

Gordon,

  That is a beautiful bow...  and looks swift and deadly...  i really like it...  and like that it is of something of a unusual bow wood makes it all the greater...    i really like it...

[huntinoly]

Great bow Gordon, I like the profile. I have been working on a serviceberry bow this week. It is very easy to work. I made it 1 5/8 wide and 5/8 tips but after seeing yours I think I will trim it down. I just braced it for the first time. Can I flip the tips with just dry heat and how does is do with heat treating. It is 60" ntn and I am shooting for 60# @ 27". It is a bend through the handle style bow like yours. I have three other bows I want your to look at when I get down there. Greg

[Gordon]

Greg, use dry heat to flip the tips after the first brace. I helped Bryan Briand heat treat his SB bow and it took to it quite nicely. I'm looking forward to seeing your bows!

[RT]

Beauiful bow Gordon, Congratulation. RT

[Jbell]

Stunning as usual Gordon. You set the standard for a beautiful bow.

[Pappy]

Beautiful bow Gordon,very well done.
   Pappy

[GregB]

Very nice bow Gordon, great job on it!