Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive on August 31, 2012, 02:10:38 pm

Title: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive on August 31, 2012, 02:10:38 pm
I made myself a simple hackberry bow. I have had the stave since '07 and finally decided it needed to be a bow. It has  some cool blue streaks in it and it's so dry I was worried that it might break. I have been shooting it a lot for the last couple weeks and it's just fine!  It's so light in my hand too.  its 62" long and 70# @ 25"   Those light limbs really zip an arrow.  I experimented a little with a tan grip and osage tip overlays. Not my favorite colors, however I envision what it will look like when the osage tips are aged and the grip is stained by my hand.  The color of the bow is pretty light, but I didn't want to cover up the blue streaks. The back is pretty dark with the cambium strips and blueing so it should be dark enough not to attract too much attention..  Nothin overly fancy, just a good shootin hunting bow.
thanks for lookin- Ryan
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive on August 31, 2012, 02:11:14 pm
last pics
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: Hrothgar on August 31, 2012, 02:36:07 pm
Very nice. I like the unique way you stitched the arrow rest to the handle.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: Cameroo on August 31, 2012, 02:56:54 pm
Nice lookin bow Ryan, I like the colors.   A little different, but that's what makes it interesting.  It will look cool once the grip gets all grimey and dirty.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: Parnell on August 31, 2012, 02:57:03 pm
If it were in a pile of bows I'd know it was one of yours.  I'll bet it shoots well.  I want to try Hackberry again.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: toomanyknots on August 31, 2012, 03:39:12 pm
I know those blue streaks your talking about. I like the look of those too. They look real cool after it's all finished nicely and stuff. Nice bow, :).
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: SLIMBOB on August 31, 2012, 04:23:04 pm
The simple ones are my favorite ones.  Very nice!
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: coaster500 on August 31, 2012, 04:30:37 pm
Hackberry is some great wood and such a pleasure to work. That is a beauty....  nicely done Ryan !!
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: LimbLover on August 31, 2012, 04:41:03 pm
I love it. It looks great! I love the contrast of tan grips with a light wood like that.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: upthecreek on August 31, 2012, 04:49:34 pm
I am with Parnell. Twisted Limbs bows almost always capture my attention and get my vote. They are in my opinion what self-bows should be. He is a master at exposing the essence of the self-bow. He never hides that essence with cosmetics or adornments. His bows are straight forward suggesting expedience of construction and efficiency of function. I am duly impressed with his mastery.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: okie64 on August 31, 2012, 04:55:46 pm
Very nice bow Ryan. I am a big fan of hackberry.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: missilemaster on August 31, 2012, 05:00:52 pm
Nice and simple, Love it!!
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: dwardo on August 31, 2012, 05:49:16 pm
Thats a monster and good looking too. Tiller is great and the handle looks very comfy.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: k-hat on August 31, 2012, 06:14:34 pm
Very nice!  70@25?? That's nuts :o   Another good one Ryan, always like lookin at your work.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: JW_Halverson on August 31, 2012, 06:40:23 pm
Wonderful bow, excellent tiller, and great finish work.  Oh, and a really classy hat.

But I have to question whether that is hackberry for sure.  The grain looks different than the hackberry I have worked.  The stuff I have worked is ring diffuse and yours looks ring porous....like you could slip a drawknife into the early wood and chase a ring. 

Twisty, you build some great bows, buddy.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: k-hat on August 31, 2012, 06:45:33 pm
Looks just like my hackberry JW, but then . . . maybe mine ain't hackberry either! :o
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: Badly Bent on August 31, 2012, 06:55:18 pm
Very nice bow Ryan, great workmanship and I like those tips and grip. Had hackberry with those streaks myself, cool.
Greg
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive on August 31, 2012, 07:21:14 pm
thanks very much guys.

JW- Yup it's hackberry. I did use a lil maple stain to darken it just a smidge, I think that is what highlighted the grain a little.  but yup, def hackberry
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: ErictheViking on August 31, 2012, 07:48:40 pm
Great job once again Ryan
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: SLIMBOB on August 31, 2012, 07:53:32 pm
JW..Hackberry is Ring Porous.  It is however tough to chase a ring on the stuff.  The monthly rings throw me off if I'm not careful....No, they throw me off even if I am careful.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: beetlebailey1977 on August 31, 2012, 08:18:28 pm
Looks great.....love me some hackberry.  Very good wood to work.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: raghorns on August 31, 2012, 08:19:03 pm
Once again...really nice!

Lyle
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: Dvshunter on September 01, 2012, 11:26:34 am
Nice bow Ryan. I like the handle.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: boughnut on September 01, 2012, 11:53:05 am
that leather grip is very neat.  all around a good looking bow.  you sure do make some nice ones.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: JW_Halverson on September 01, 2012, 02:29:06 pm
Since I have never stained the belly side of a hackberry bow, I was a little thrown by the look of the wood.

I know how it feels to chase lunar rings on hackberry myself, Slim.  I spent the better part of a weekend trying to get the back of a hackberry bow to one lunar ring once.  Almost needed to be fitted for one of those lovely white canvas jackets with the wrap-around extra long sleeves and lotsa buckles and snaps!
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: SLIMBOB on September 01, 2012, 03:04:56 pm
Same here JW.  Very peculiar wood in more ways than one.  Surprisingly elastic in tension. Lite, swift and beautiful.  I will never leave my beloved Bois d'ark, but sweet, sweet Hackberry.  Her siren song sings to me, and I cannot resist.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive on September 02, 2012, 12:13:41 pm
Thanks much guys.

this was my first hackberry bow. been hanging on to the stave a while. I expected it to act a little different, but I am in no way disappointed by it.  Such light limbs and no too much set. It makes for a fine bow... but pretty much anything tillered between 60-70# will kill a deer!
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: k-hat on September 02, 2012, 06:11:19 pm
I will never leave my beloved Bois d'ark, but sweet, sweet Hackberry.  Her siren song sings to me, and I cannot resist.

Nice way of putting it, and I agree big time.  Between my love affair with hackberry and elm, i may never get to my osage ;)

Ryan, the lightness of the hackberry bows is indeed amazing.  When i've handed one over to show others, that's always the first comment.   Makes the performance even more surprising i think.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: VicNova on September 02, 2012, 11:38:59 pm
Looks cool, keeping it simple.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: ionicmuffin on September 03, 2012, 02:44:12 am
Great bow, a bow like that is something to be proud of!
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: Pappy on September 04, 2012, 11:41:36 am
Very nice bow Ryan,I like the finish work myself. :) and can't beat the way the grain looks in Hackberry. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: jimmy on September 04, 2012, 02:41:47 pm
There is tons of hackberry where I live.  Me and Sidewinder are entertaining the idea of working with it, I just always thought it might not be worth the effort.  Your bow looks real good though.  Can you give more dimensions on it?  Did it take on any set?
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive on September 04, 2012, 03:04:54 pm
It's pretty decent wood. dimensions about like any other white wood should be fine.  it took a little set. again, about like other white woods. im sure it will take a little more over time. It was a good dry piece tho. cured since '07.lol    I'm not hesitating to hunt with mine. I have a set of 8 sparkleberry, privet and hackberry arrowshafts between 650-725 grains that shoot great off it.
Title: Re: A simple Hackberry Bow
Post by: Carson (CMB) on September 04, 2012, 11:21:45 pm
Another great bow Gill.  Reminds me that hackberry is on my bow wood bucket list.  Did you know the world's smallest genome belongs to an endosymbiont of a small aphid like bug parasitic to the hackberry tree?