61" NtN
50# @ 28"
Pacific yew
Buffalo horn tip overlays
Heat treated belly
Strunk style grip done in elk leather with buckskin lacing
This was my first attempt at a yew bow (my fourth bow total). I told a friend that I would build him a bow of his choice if he could stop smoking for six months. Well he did good on his end, and I am happy with the results of his reward. He traced his lineage to the Anglo-Saxons of Europe, so he asked for an ELB. I feel like this is a more modern take on what the Anglo-Saxons may have used.
I started with a nice piece of Pacific yew with quite a bit of natural deflex. The deflex was pretty stubborn, so I worked with what I had. This stave also had some very thick sapwood. After I shaped the side profile I decided I wanted to thin down the sapwood, so I chased a ring leaving about 3/16" but left the ends stacked up to avoid whipped ends.
Finally, I branded it with an Eihwaz, which is Anglo-Saxon for "yew", and sealed it with four coats of Tru-oil.
I think I might have to find some more yew for myself!