Revisiting "Just What is a Self Bow, Anyhow?

[DanaM]

I say ya all have too much time on yer hands and just leave it alone. Its Don's show so he gets to make the rules up

Technically the words "self bow" implies that any bow made by ones self is a selfbow. So that could be Fiberglass with a CNC machined riser
if ya do it yer self We could have 10 or 12 categories the we all could win

[wolfsire]

Even if 34 is too many for me to vote on, it is so cool that that many people, and more, are cranking out quality bows.

[mullet]

  If some of the 37 bowyers are discouraged this month, then there won't be so many next month Anyway, Turkey Season is about to kick into gear, the snow is melting, and the birds are chirping. More people will have something to do besides build bows and pester Momma.

[DanaM]

Eddie I'm not discourged, I post my bows for fun, winning doesn't matter. After all if ya win BOM
its not like ya get a parade in yer honor and become rich and famous

[Coo-wah-chobee]

Eddie I'm not discourged, I post my bows for fun, winning doesn't matter. After all if ya win BOM
its not like ya get a parade in yer honor and become rich and famous

.........YA DONT .................DANG ! ..bob

[cowboy]

Think yer right Eddie - huntin season's been over for awhile now but has still been ice locked in a lot of places. What else to do but build bows and dream about huntin ? It'll prolly taper off - turkey season, fishing , spring cleaning .

[OldBow]

Its Don's show so he gets to make the rules up

Its not my show. I'm just a secretary here.

[El Destructo]

Its Don's show so he gets to make the rules up

Its not my show. I'm just a secretary here.

Ho........."You Da Man".........Don....aint nobody arguing that one..we just like to argue and puff up like a Cock Rooster some times!!!

[Coo-wah-chobee]

 And the beat goes ON and ON !  zzzzzzzzzzzz !!!! ......bob

[tom sawyer]

For the record, a self bow isn't named such because you build it yourself.  The correct definition of "self' is:

"being of one piece with, or the same material as the rest: drapes with a self lining."  from Dictionary.com, definition 6.

Jawge is right about the definition of selfbow.  Regardless of how people want to define their contest, it doesn't change the meaning of the term.

Personally I'd rather see sinewed bows lumped with other laminated bows, simply so we can have a true selfbow as well as a sinewed bow winning.  I'd always vote for the more primitive style/construction of bow because after all this is Primitive Archer.

[Slivershooter]

Here are my thoughts:  Technically, I agree with Jawge on the definition, but understand and agree with the definition used for the purpose of the BOM competition.  It doesn't make much difference what you call them to me, I make the bow the wood tells me to make, and without regard to rather or not it need/has sinew, rawhide, or snakeskin, backing and still call it a selfbow.  As a side note regarding backing with a snakeskin, I use python skins (when I can get them) in place or rawhide because it is thicker then my antelope rawhide and looks better.  I donate or give most of my bows away and have started backing most of them with python, antelope rawhide covered with a snakeskin, or sinew covered with a snakeskin, for liability reasons.  I haven't had any break, but want some legal protection just in case.  Just a thought, I never post my bows because I have no desire to enter a competition: Can we post them without having them automatically entered in the BOM competition?

[DanaM]

You bring up one of my arguements Slivershooter I think quite a few people don't post bows because they
don't want to participate in BOM. As a result we all lose by not seeing them. I think its perfectly acceptable
to post a bow with a disclaimer stating "Not For BOM" or just post em and don't worry about it.

[Hillbilly]

Slivershooter, sure-just put "not for BOM" or something like that in the subject line. We love to see pics of everyone's work (and learn from them), please don't refrain from posting your work because of a contest.

[wolfsire]

Yes, please, lets see those bows!

[OldBow]

Can we post them without having them automatically entered in the BOM competition?

Absolutely! And a heads up with your post is appreciated.