Wanted to trade bows with Turtle so here is my effort. This bow is close copy of the Chippewa bow in the Grayson Collection, with the following differences:
Length is correct, width is slightly more narrow, there are pin knocks and a rawhide grip wrap W/ a buffalo horn arrow rest. The bow is also sinew backed, and has timber Rattler skin to help with long term moisture.
Name and material used: Tribes known to have snake clans were Ojibwe, Mississauga, Creek, Hopi and Navaho....so the use of the skin is acceptable to this bow. "Midewewe" (mid-ay-way- way) is Chippewa for rattlesnake. I used steel hand tools to shape the bow, but the stain, paint, and bow finish are all natural material. The whitetail sinew and skin is glued with hide glue, the stain is boiled tobacco, and the paint is oxide powders, mixed with fish egg glue. I made a rawhide string but will send the bow with a different one so there will not be the need for constant attention and weather proofing.
The bow is 56" and 55/56# @ 27 inches, and the grip does NOT flex. The snake came from Gutshot and is 1/3 of the original. The buffalo horn piece came from DuBoise, and the back sinew came from Fred Arnold and the rawhide came from Don Burchett ( thank you fellas) The finish I made from spruce pitch, beeswax, rendered deer fat and will send a tin full down with the bow.
There is no full draw....(my dog still aint growed thumbs)....Maybe Mr. Turtle can post one up.
There is a whole lot of pics but figured this crowd wouldn't mind much. If any of ya want more pics of something please advise.
rich
