Just finished up this 52" osage D bow for my brother Dan. Its the first of hopefully three that I can get from the same stave. I plan to give this one to him, one to my dad, and one for myself. I got two bows side by side and did a belly split on one of the halves. I named the bow 1st. Akin...which means related by blood...2nd and 3rd hopefully to follow. Once i got the bow to floor tiller I flipped the tips and backed the bow with sinew. I made the handle to narrow and too thin to start so I built it up with sinew. When I applied the black snake skins I completely wrapped the handle. The wraps past mid limb are decorative and hide where i spliced the skins. The tips are deer antler and the handle wrap is from old leather coat. The string is b-50 with black beaver balls. I finished the bow with tru oil. The bow finished out at 55#@27". I actually tillered it to 28" but marked it has draw.
I won't be able to give this to my brother for a few weeks... He has no idea its comin
Jon