Author Topic: Hickory shortbow  (Read 2421 times)

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Offline Dustinhill

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Hickory shortbow
« on: June 03, 2016, 10:19:36 am »
Hi guys,
Here's my first stave bow. It was a very satisfying experience to make a bow from a tree I felled and split myself from the woods behind my house.  It's 37 3/4" tip to tip, 36 1/4" nock to nock. It's so short because I hacked up the extra 16" or so with an drawknife when I was de barking it. The handle started to check a little so I sinew wrapped it and made a deer leg bone arrow pass from a deer that died in my yard. its holding together so far. As far as draw weight goes I don't have a scale so I put 40lbs in a bucket and that pulled it to 12". I didn't want to over stress it with the hanging weight so I would guess that at my 16" draw it pulls between #40-50. Thanks to Parnell, springbuck, dc, dark star and anyone else who helped me getting the tiller together. It's not perfect but I learned a lot, thanks everyone!

Offline Dustinhill

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Re: Hickory shortbow
« Reply #1 on: June 03, 2016, 10:20:37 am »
More pics

Offline JonW

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Re: Hickory shortbow
« Reply #2 on: June 03, 2016, 11:43:07 am »
Neat little bow!

Offline Parnell

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Re: Hickory shortbow
« Reply #3 on: June 03, 2016, 12:10:34 pm »
There ya go, good for you.  Looks like you could maybe get more bend in the handle area, especially through the handle and with a bow that short.  Good for you.  Keep 'em coming!
1’—>1’

Offline Aaron H

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Re: Hickory shortbow
« Reply #4 on: June 03, 2016, 12:13:45 pm »
Looks great

Offline wizardgoat

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Re: Hickory shortbow
« Reply #5 on: June 03, 2016, 12:17:50 pm »
Nice work on your first stave

Offline Stick Bender

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Re: Hickory shortbow
« Reply #6 on: June 03, 2016, 07:35:52 pm »
Nice shortie !
If you fear failure you will never Try !

Offline Knotty

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  • Don't regret your past, learn from it.
Re: Hickory shortbow
« Reply #7 on: June 03, 2016, 08:09:13 pm »
Always thought such a short bow wouldn't have enough strength to support a decent proportional drawlength , I guess it can! Nice job 😊
~Isaia

Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: Hickory shortbow
« Reply #8 on: June 03, 2016, 09:24:22 pm »
I agree with what has been said about allowing a hint more flex in the handle.  If you can bring it round to a more circular tiller, you will get up to 18 inches of draw from that hickory splinter!  Or leave it as it stands and shoot it until your fingers bleed!!!
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline Dustinhill

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Re: Hickory shortbow
« Reply #9 on: June 03, 2016, 11:00:14 pm »
Thanks guys! I really appreciate all the advice and support you've given me! I agree that the handle is too stiff, I heat treated it alot because it looked like it was bending too much. but I don't feel like rensinewing it so I'm going to leave it as is and keep the suggestions in mind for the next one! I already have three started!
Thanks again,
Dustin