2 REAL short bows / 33" 55#@17 pignut & 40" 48#@21 ironwood

[half eye]

Thought I'd see what I could do with some scraps from other bow projects. Hree's the specs:
1: Pig Nut Hickory (from H.Rhodes)  33" ntn, weighs 55# @ 17" draw. pin knocks
2. Ironwood, 40 3/8" ntn, weighs 48# @ 21" draw. Eastern woodland knocks

The hickory stave is nearly pristine, with a small knot discoloration on the belly, the Ironwood is a sliver from a stave bow made for J-Dub has seven knots, prop-twist, and a zillion (?) wind-checks or age cracks which ever ya prefer.

Any questions or comments welcome, see what ya think. 2 sets of pics
rich

[half eye]

rest of the pics....obviously the bows need to be tricked out but wanted ya to see that they aren't backed, wrapped and no cheatin goin on
rich

[Trapper Rob]

Nice work Rich they look great.

[PatM]

Congrats, you won the backpack bow challenge!

[Ken S]

Very cool!

[Don Case]

Nice bows! I like the little ones. When you're making a bow like that how do you decide on the draw length? Do you just pull it til you start to pucker? Why not 18"?

[bubby]

heck yeah Rich, you really got them two sticks bending, can't wait to see them tricked out, bub

[tattoo dave]

SWEET! Love those shorties Rich. Nice work as always.

Tattoo Dave

[half eye]

Thanks fellas, Don.....make 'em just like any other bow. By that I mean I tiller them to make weight at 1/2 their length. After that's done I can add about an inch by either allowing a little more handle bend (reduce weight) or by bringing the tips back (little weight change but more draw).

The main factor has to also include "string angle". The shorter they are the faster you approach exceeding a critical angle. If you look at the full draw's you can see there isn't much of anything left in the 33" pignut.....but the angles of the 40 incher show you could maybe chase another 1/2 to full inch of draw. But there is not much sense in going beyond 1/2 bow length. Hope that answers your question.
rich
thanks Dave

[Badly Bent]

Those are your take anywhere bows, you could just throw that 33"er in your duffle bags with the hunting clothes.
Cool bows Rich and respectable draw weights for super shorties.

[rps3]

You don't let any scraps go to waste. cool little bows.

[toomanyknots]

The pignut freaking crazy! Awesome bows.

[Don Case]

Thanks fellas, Don.....make 'em just like any other bow. By that I mean I tiller them to make weight at 1/2 their length.

Ya know, I think I knew that. Getting old sucks big time. I knew that double the draw length would be the approximate bow length but I never thought of it from the other end.

[DuBois]

Nice Rich! I knew it was you before I looked at your name at the bottom. You and your awesome little ironwood bows 

[PrimitiveTim]

It's awesome how much power you can get out of those little short bows!