Elk antler bow in the works

[Redhand]

After starting the sheep bow, I decided to give another antler bow a try.  I shot this bull, and thought that I might do a European mount with the antlers.  But then I started to see a bow hidden in that rack, so grabbed that set and started the task of making an antler bow.  Here is the picture of the antlers.

[Redhand]

First I cut the tines off, then tried to figure out the best way to split the antlers.  So far this is what I ended up with.

[Redhand]

I soaked the antlers in water for about 1 1/2 months, then I pulled them out of the water and attempted to straighten them out.

[Redhand]

For about a month I left these antlers clamp to the boards, I wanted to make sure they were good and dry before I took the clamps off.  So this is where I am at so far.  I am in the process of pulling sinew and making hide glue.  Then I will lap splice the two pieces together and start to lay down the sinew.

[BowEd]

Very interesting and good build Redhand.Thanks for showing.

[Stick Bender]

Very cool im wathing nice rack to start with !

[Redhand]

I was able to get a little more work done on this antler bow.  I thinned down the antlers down with a rasp and I lap spliced them together.

[Redhand]

I used hide glue to splice them together.

[Redhand]

a few more pics

[BowEd]

Looks like you tooth planed the splices too.Good idea.Time to strip sinew or more shaping up to do?

[Redhand]

I will do a little more shaping, maybe add a piece over the lap splice on the back of the bow, and add the sinew.

[bjrogg]

I'm watching to Redhand. Kinda out of my league but maybe someday. Thanks for posting
Bjrogg

[BowEd]

With the wiggle in the handle area seen from the top view profile do you expect to straighten that out?Or leave it?Does antler have a longitudal grain as wood does?I'm sure the crown line probably is the factor there.Guess not considering you already glued the handle together where the wiggle is.Having a close to center shot antler bow in the process.

[Redhand]

bjrogg I don't think a antler bow would be out of your league.  I seen the bow you posted that thing is a beauty. 

Beadman I left that wiggle in the handle, I was going to try and straighten it out some.  But then I decided to go for a center shot with on this one. As far as I can tell antler doesn't follow the longitude grain like wood.

I did a little more shaping on this bow.  With the other antler bows I have made I learned to take the pithy part of the antler down to almost the hard part of the antler.  Leaving a little bit of the pith help the sinew to stick, along with the scoring of the back of the bow.  I did wrap the the handle splice with sinew.  And so far I have about 5 coats of sizing.  I will probably put on 5 or 6 more sizing coats on before I add the sinew.  I have started the pain task of pounding and pulling sinew.  My fingers are a little sore this evening.  LOL

[Morgan]

Wow! I'm very interested to see where this goes! Is the marrow the belly? If so, you are covering the belly with sinew? Will there be any wood involved? Sorry for the questions, this is the first time I've ever seen the likes of this.