OSAGE FOR X 2 (N0. 78)
I've seen you guys are doing a plan b or c …., this encouraged me to do also. Here is my plan B. Also osage and a take down, deflexed at handle and long slender hooks with self nocks. The cutting through the back is possible with an additional ring here. Looking at the fine bows posted here in this thread I wanted to skin my attempt also. I have no access to that nice snake skins or other fancy stuff but I have fish skins brought from a friend from a fishing trip in Denmark. The fish is atlantic cod, it was a mess to skin, scrape and dry the hide.
Glueing on was no problem, I added some linnen wrapping to give a definite begin and end. Some horn pieces are added at the handle to get a better line. Handle leather is salmon leather, dyed with several colors. While finishing with some layers of hardening oil I rubbed in some dark pigments at the handle to come away from that bright yeller of the fresh osage.
This was one of my best staves, I had to cut it down because I don't have any billets anymore. It broke my heart but the result is quite o. k. Now I have some leftovers for Handles or other things …
Back to this one, what do you folks think should I send out? Plan A (see page 27) or plan B?
Next question: should I cut down the long hooks to short hooks? See the f/d pic.
Let me hear your thoughts!
super nice even rings, aren't they?