This bow started as the upper half of a incense cedar branch. Like many incense cedar branches it grew with a upward bend, so the stave had a bit of reflex to begin with. The branch also had a bit of snake to it. I built it in the true Miwok style. Split the branch and shaped it dripping green. Gave it a few days, applied 4 layers of sinew, let that cure 3 weeks. Tillered it, Applied another 3 layers of sinew and the sinew hook nocks, then began treating the wood with bacon grease every day for about 10 days. After another few weeks I adjusted the tiller, made a 3 ply deer sinew string, put a otter fur string silencer on and wrapped the handle and string contact part of the recurves with brain tanned deer hide.
The bow measures 44" ntn. it has a pull of about 46-48# at 23.5". It is a contact recurve and has a very smooth draw. It feels as if you are drawing a 30# bow. 6 layers of sinew is the most I have used on one of these bows and I found that while it draws it into a mighty reflex and makes for a smooth shooter. It does not shoot as fast or far as a similar bow with 4 layers. With replica mock orange arrows with live oak foreshafts it has a cast of 164 yards and a max arrow speed of only 158.3 fps. But I do love shooting this bow, as you can probably tell from the frayed sinew string. I've been shooting it here and there for almost 2 years and the belly wood shows no signs of being overworked. The sinew continued to draw the bow into a greater reflex for over a year. The bow measures 37.25" tip to tip (reflex) 5 minutes after being unstrung.
I included pictures of the matching arrow set and and replica open ended bobcat quiver.
Thanks for looking
Chuck
