Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Marc St Louis on July 24, 2012, 07:05:44 pm

Title: RD Yew
Post by: Marc St Louis on July 24, 2012, 07:05:44 pm
This is a hunting bow I recently made for a fellow in Ottawa.  I had this bow glued up and sitting in my shop ready to tiller since last year and he was looking to have a bow by the end of July so I told him what I had available and he chose this one.  I was actually going to finish it up for myself, I sort of regret I didn't now.  The Yew is the last of some I got from Murray Gaskin a few years ago with fairly tight rings and it's backed with White Ash.  I glued in a few inches of reflex and it kept about half leaving it with just under 3" after tillering.  The bow is 62" long and tillered to pull 55# @ 27".  I shot it a few times with a 550 gran arrow and it's probably the fastest RD bow I have ever made.  It spits arrows out at an incredible speed even at a 27" draw.  Here's a couple pics.

(http://i.imgur.com/3zqwy7P.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/dKoHB3l.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/Ti0xqCn.jpg)
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: lesken2011 on July 24, 2012, 07:15:02 pm
That baby is FINE! I can see why you hated to part with it.
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: Del the cat on July 24, 2012, 07:16:06 pm
oooooh that's pretty.
I like the shape of the arrow pass before the rest is added, that would work nicely off the knuckles.
I've got some Yew with borer damage in the sapwood that will need backing with something, I was thinkingboo, but maybe Ash would be good too.
Mind I've got some decorating to finish first... yes Dear ::) I'm on it  >:(
Del
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: soy on July 24, 2012, 07:17:49 pm
Interesting combination of woods...looks fantastic, very pleasing to the eye  ;)
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: blackhawk on July 24, 2012, 07:21:30 pm
Smooooooooth...thanks for sharing Marc  :)
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: coaster500 on July 24, 2012, 08:00:04 pm
Excellent work....   did you design the form ??? I see the overlays but is the back one piece or two?

Really a sweet profile :)
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: vinemaplebows on July 24, 2012, 08:17:24 pm
Very nice Mark!
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: Badger on July 24, 2012, 08:20:57 pm
  Beautiful design, I like how you incorparated the molly limbs into the r/d. Great combination.
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: RyanY on July 24, 2012, 08:34:47 pm
Beautiful bow Mark. What width are the limbs? Also did you keep the belly flat?
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: Marc St Louis on July 24, 2012, 09:04:41 pm
Thank you guys

I have made them like that without the arrow rest before Del.  Works well

The backing is in 2 pieces with a lap joint at the handle

I've been making my RD bows like that for a couple years now Steve.  Makes for a lower limb tip mass.

The limbs are 1 3/8" wide Ryan and they are a shallow D section
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: country on July 24, 2012, 09:34:39 pm
 :oVery Nice  ... I do like it
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: H Rhodes on July 24, 2012, 09:36:11 pm
That is a fine bow Marc.  I wish we had yew down here.  That is beautiful wood. 
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: lesken2011 on July 24, 2012, 10:25:51 pm
One question, Mark, that just dawned on me. Do you have any problem with the bow torquing with the bulk of the handle on one side?


Never mind. After looking at the pics again, it seems pretty balanced.
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: ErictheViking on July 24, 2012, 10:41:08 pm
Beauty for sure Marc.  love the whole thing
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: Badly Bent on July 24, 2012, 10:49:29 pm
Real nice bow all around. Looking at that design and then that full draw profile says fast bow to me and I bet its smooth drawing and soft in the hand also. Some bows I see and just want to shoot a few arrows out of it so I can experience what they are like to shoot myself,
this is one of those bows. Great bow Marc.
Greg
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: beetlebailey1977 on July 24, 2012, 11:59:58 pm
Simply a fine looking bow......super nice.  It does look fast.
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: Josh Shuck on July 25, 2012, 12:07:40 am
Simply gorgeous!  You are a master of your trade.  One question though...  Why the ash?  Does it in someway out perform the yew sapwood? 
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: Carson (CMB) on July 25, 2012, 05:06:10 am
Beautiful bow, with performance written all over it.  Like Badly Bent said, I want to shoot it! 

Also curious about the white ash backing.  My oregon ash selfbows have been frustrating to date.
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: Pappy on July 25, 2012, 06:16:47 am
Nice bow Marc,sweet in all aspects. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 25, 2012, 08:35:12 am
Good looking huntng bow Marc. Im sure the fella will be pleased.
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: mullet on July 25, 2012, 08:42:17 am
Very nice, Marc. Smooth looking bow.
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: Steve Milbocker on July 25, 2012, 08:50:33 am
That yew is just beautiful...awesome bow Marc.
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: Marc St Louis on July 25, 2012, 10:25:52 am
Thanks guys
No torquing with this bow or any bow I make with this style of handle.

Ash make a great backing and I would have to look long and hard to find billets with that shape or do a lot of heat bending to make them so.  Much easier to glue the reflex in.  I could have used Bamboo or Hickory or any other tension strong wood, such as Elm.

I wish I had more of that Yew but it's hard to get a hold of Murray these days let alone weasel some Yew out of him.
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: JW_Halverson on July 26, 2012, 01:31:38 am
Marc, there is a day coming when people will talk about the old masters of the past and your name is certainly gonna be on that list.  Your bows are always a marvel of physics happily married to art. 

Even though I am more of an unbacked plain jane bow kinda guy, this baby catches my eye.  Someone is going to love this bow for years to come.  Thanks for sharing with us. 

And thanks for your work as a teacher and evangelist of the true faith of true archery.  It's wonderful the way you are willing to share your hard won experience and knowledge. 
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: druid on July 26, 2012, 01:47:36 pm
What a great bow..........
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: BowEd on July 26, 2012, 02:27:20 pm
Super design and profile Marc.Really like it.I'm sure the owner will too.What type of glue did you use?Also I've been thinking over of doing a slight bendy handle bow 62" of the same design out of my osage dry heated in.Think I could stay away from hand shock?
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: Marc St Louis on July 26, 2012, 03:26:24 pm
Thanks again people. 

I like plain jane bows as well JW but bows like this are interesting to shoot and the added performance doesn't hurt when hunting

The backing is glued on with TB3, Ed.  You can make a bow like you describe without the hand-shock.
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: JW_Halverson on July 26, 2012, 03:28:56 pm
Trust me, Marc.  I am intersted in shooting this bow, I am interested!  Who could deny those curves?
 

'Scuse me while I go wipe the drool off my chin.
Title: Re: RD Yew
Post by: Arrowind on July 26, 2012, 07:30:02 pm
THAT is one of my new favorite bows....

Man....I gotta learn how to make bows like that!

Awesome!