Oak recurve finnished!

[bubby]

congrats BS, now the next thing you might want to improve is your finish work, not being negative, just a constructive suggestion

[mikekeswick]

If those aren't feathers i'm a Dutchman (i'm not!)

[dwardo]

Cool bow well done

Yup definitely feathers those bud. I made the same mistake when first making arrows. I asked the guy in the shop if I could have some real ones next time and he said "what do you think they are? Scotch mist?"
They feel very plasticky but are goose feathers usually. I think it would be pretty tough and not worth the effort to manufacture artificial feathers and still have the same properties. Brilliant things aren't they.

[DarkSoul]

If those aren't feathers i'm a Dutchman (i'm not!)

If those aren't true feathers I'm an Englishman! (I'm not!)

Be careful with those nocks. You filed the string groove trhough the BACK of the bow, which is a no no. Since the tips are pretty bulky anyway, you left enough wood around the groove, but next time only file grooves in the sides of the bow and not the back.

[WillS]

but are goose feathers usually.

Are they goose?  Can't usually find goose feathers from archery suppliers, they're normally turkey as far as I know.  Goose feathers are highly sought after by EWBS bowyers/fletchers as the Welsh class only allow goose feathers to be used.  They're impossible to find and you normally have to go to private goose farmers or overseas sellers.  I may be wrong though!

Jez, the bow looks good, but you need to work out what you're doing on those tips.  The whole point of the tip overlay is to protect the back of the bow, but your overlay isn't doing anything except adding weight to the tip of the bow.  You've still cut through the back for your string nock.  Congrats on getting your first solid bow finished though!!

[Pappy]

What DarkSoul said on the string nocks,other than that looks like you done a mighty fine job.
   Pappy

[TimPotter]

Good work on your bow. Looks really good to me.

[paoliguy]

Josh, I think you can get those plastic feathers from rubber ducks!

Good work young man, I'm ready to see the next one!

[BowSlayer]

Thanks for the kind words about the bow.  I know I went through the back of the bow but that part is very static so its ok. The guy who gave me the wood asked if I would make him one. I agreed and if I do a good job he will give me a job! (Sadly not making bows) but its a solid wood flooring company so it means I have great access to decent bow wood

[PEARL DRUMS]

No, its not okay to cut through the back on your bow because its very static. Don't do that again without adding overlays first. Its a sure fire way to blacken an eye, or lose it totally.

[BowSlayer]

No, its not okay to cut through the back on your bow because its very static. Don't do that again without adding overlays first. Its a sure fire way to blacken an eye, or lose it totally.

ill keep an eye out for that next time

[Night Hawk]

Thats a nice looking bow!

[BowSlayer]

Thats a nice looking bow!

thanks, and welcome to the forum

[soy]

Well roll me in poop and call me stinky! . Even the close up pic looks like real feathers except for the shine maybe.  I never heard of such a thing as plastic feathers.  I wonder how they hold up over time?  Anyway nice work!  Josh

I spit out my soda......those are dyed turkey feathers IMHO good job on the bow lad ...but like has been said it is bad to cut through the back...can't wait to see the next one

[BowSlayer]

*SPOILER ALERT* This next bow im working on has yew overlays