Osage Bow with Character "Knot Perfect"

[Josh]

I started this bow a year ago.  Got it chased to one ring and draw-knifed it down to bow dimensions and then got intimidated by it and put it in the corner. I got scared of the knots and the big whoop-de-doo in the upper limb.  Now that I have a few more bows under my belt, I figured it was time to finish it.  So here she is. Number 16... I named her "Knot Perfect" for the knots and wavy-ness, she is far from a choice stave, but she is still very beautiful to me.  I hope you like her. She is 69 inches NtN, I left her long to keep stress on limbs low, 48lbs at 28inches.  She is a dream to shoot, not as fast as some of my others but she will definitely get the job done and she shoots where I point her.  hope you like her as much as I do.  Thanks for looking!   



Unbraced



Top limb



Handle

[Josh]

Bottom Limb

[sailordad]

very nice looking stick Josh 

i aint one that cares for knots either
i myself would rather work a nice clean and straight stave any time over anything with knots or even character
just so much easier to see the tiller
but i do find this kind much more rewarding when it lives and becomes a bow like that 

[HoBow]

Good work on a challenging stave! 

[Pat B]

Very good job on this character stave, Josh.  You done good! 

[Josh]

Thanks Tim, Jeff, and Pat!   

It was tough work, but I am glad to finally take it out of my "Corner of Shame"   Thanks for the inspiration, Pat.   I never thought I would get a shooter out of it.  I thought it was gonna be a waste of time... 

[gstoneberg]

Nice work.  I like clearer staves too, but finishing one like that is really satisfying.  Being the chicken that I am, I would have sinew backed it.  I'm impressed.  Hope you bookmarked it for BOM.

George

[elk country rp]

looks like that one took a ton of patience! doesn't seem to be more than 6" of clean wood between all the knots & wiggles!  well done!

[Thwackaddict]

Heckova nice bow josh,Once i get up to par i will attempt some character but for now i'm still green,LOL I'm diggin the goat!!Maybe oneday we will catch up to PatB.He reminds me of my stepdad! COOLSUNGLASSES!!hahaha

[medicinewheel]

WOW Josh, I'm impressed. Very nice. Perfect name, too! 

[Pappy]

Very nice bow on a challenging piece of wood.Just beautiful,I love a bow with character and that one has a lot. 
   Pappy

[ricktrojanowski]

Nice bow Josh.  You did a great job on a tough piece of wood, you should be proud of your work.  The tiller looks right on which is tricky feat given the character of that stave. 

[J05H]

Amazing. Beautiful bow. Tiller looks perfect. And its just so simple and straight forward. I first thought the upper limb was stiff, then I realized its reflexed. This is why I love Osage.  Even the clean staves have some character, but then you get staves like this one that in the hands of a skilled bowyer can become absolutely stunning. I hope you put this one in for BOM. It definitely has my vote so far.

[profsaffel]

It's the very definition of character bow. I think it's the knottiest surviving bow I've seen anywhere. Great job!

[Josh]

Thank you George

Thanks elk!  You are right, not much clear wood involved.
 
Thanks Randy!

Thanks, Frank... The name came to me while I was working on her.  I said "well she's not perfect, but she'll do"  and the name stuck.

Thank you Pappy!

Thanks Rick! It was hard a beast to tiller at first, but then it just kinda all came together.

Thanks J05H!  The top limb kinda threw me off while I was tillering it and it still looks strange in the full draw, but When I am drawing it on the tree, both limbs work together perfectly and that is what is important. 

Thanks Prosaffel!  It was definitely a challenge but it was fun too.