Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Arrowind on November 23, 2012, 01:37:21 pm
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This is a hickory backed maple deflex / recurve. This is the first bow I've made in which I purposely put in some deflex. I really wasn't sure how it would turn out. When it came time to start bracing it I was surprised at how difficult it was to brace and how much early draw weight there really is. I wasn't expecting there to be much at all. Anyway it turned out better than I had hoped and I'm happy with the way it turned out.
Story:
The name "Silverleaf Bow" comes from the origin of the bow. This weapon was made by the Silverleaf Elves who hale from the Silverleaf Woods after which they are called. A lone human hunter happend upon an injured Elven traveler. He bandaged his wounds brought him back to camp and gave him food, water and rest until he was returned to good health and ready to travel again. Out of gratitude the Elf offered this gift.
Details:
Green and brown leather dye was used to add color. The tips are slightly curved and overlaid with antler. The handle is tooled leather and stained to match the brown tips. The the designs on the back and each limb are hand painted with acrylic metallic silver paint. Written in elvish on the belly of the top limb is the bows name "Silverleaf bow". On the bottom limb the phrase "May your life's purpose be true" is written. The string is light brown B50 (wish I had linen). Interwoven into the string is several strands of metallic silver thread. The string is also served with the same thread.
Stats:
Hickory backed maple
Deflex / recurve
64" Tip to Tip
55lbs @ 27"
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More pics
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One more. Just for fun....
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Wow that looks awesome!!!! Reminds me alot of something you would see in LOTR. I bet it shoots great too. I really don't have patience for all that cosmetic stuff, but obviously you do and it turned out srsly cool! When'r you gonna take down some Orcs with it? ;) ;) ;)
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Very fine craftsmanship.
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Sweet n smooth I bet....you probably spent just as much time in the finish work as it did to make it almost...been there and it takes patience and multiple sittings to do it all,for me at least
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That tooled leather handle turned out beautifully. I love the way it wraps up the fades. Very nice craftsmanship. What type of maple is that? I think of most maple as being tension strong, rather than belly wood.
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Awesome bow you have there. That grip is exquisite.
Jon
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Awesome finish work. Thanks for sharing.
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Well thats just to cool !!! Very much a one of a kind bow, great attention to detail and design. Also has great tiller and no doubt great cast. There is some serious talent on this website! :) :) :)
Greg
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Top notch!! I really love your finish work and your bows are nothing to sneeze at either. My inner nerd approves. ;) Ok, maybe it's not very 'inner'. The handwrap is what really grabs me but the rest is stunning too.
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That's a really cool bow! Had to call my wife in to look at this one. She just loves it too! She loves the Lord of the Ring trilogy and that looks the part so she fell in love with it. Very nice work.
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Hollie mollie, very nice, all of it, the leather work just puts it over the top.
thanks for sharing. Graylan
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Zion - Thanks! I tried to shoot some orcs today but couldn't hit any. >:( I think I need some arrows matched for this bow.... It does shoot well but it seems I'm more of a bowyer than an archer. :-[ Need to spend more time shooting and less time building I guess.
Slimbob - Thanks!
Blackhawk - Thanks!. yeah I think I actually spent 3 times as much time on the finish...work. Get's tedious sometimes. As you know. I have quite a few that are shooters but not "finished". I had to see this one through....got a bug and had to do it. Thanks again!
CMB - Thanks! I used hard maple, I think it is also called rock maple or sugar maple....seems to work pretty good. I've built a few with maple and really like the wood. I've built a lot of hickory bows and now I'm trying to force myself to use other woods. Hickory is still like a security blanket for me....I feel compelled to back everything with it now.... I have one in the works that is hickory backed maple that is highly reflexed with a set back handle...I'm waiting to see how it holds up. I am worried about frets and crystals for sure... Thanks again!
Ifrit617, Badly Bent, ryoon4690, Thanks! I really appreciate your comments.
Weylin - Thanks! Yeah my inner nerd becomes my outer nerd sometimes.. ??? :o :laugh: My brother, son and I still play D&D once in a while. We call it "Nerd Night". ;D
David_Daugherty - Thanks! Lord of the Rings is my favorite movie (I consider all three to be one big movie). Glad you and your wife like the bow. And to be mentioned along side Lord of the Rings...I take that as a great complement. Thanks! CAN'T WAIT FOR THE HOBBIT!
spyder1958 - Thanks! I got a leather working "starter kit" from Tandy Leather for Christmas last year. I've always wanted to learn how to tool leather with my own designs. The kit has a book and DVD that shows how. Glad you like it!
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It really does me good to see posts like this. It lets me know just how far I have to go. What a piece of art! It looks like it can really sling an arrow, too!! 8)
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That's wild. Nice job.
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lesken2011, steve b. - Thanks!
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Great bow and fantastic detail.... Well done !!!
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Nice work, and nice bow, I love that leather work...what tools did the elves use to do that.? Its the same over here, the local elves have started trading their wares for dacron B50
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Very creative detail work. The tiller looks excellent. Where did you learn to speak elvin? Danny
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Cool bow. I like the fantasy bows. Your artwork is a nice touch, but I really like the leatherwork.
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coaster500 - Thanks!
dragonman - Thanks. I think the Silverleaf Elves used leather stamping tools they carved from elk antler and a mallet made with rawhide and a maple handle - Or they got a few from Tandy Leather... yeah the modern materials start creeping in sometimes. I'm thinking of skipping linen and going to fast flight...I'm sure if Elves knew about that they'd do the same....not sure I have enough patience or skill to use flax fibers or some such... Thanks again!
Sidewinder - I learned elvish from Rosetta Stone...I got it on sale from amazon.com for $699. It's not much use though because no one else speaks it! Actually I don't speak a word. I just found a cool looking font and used it... Thanks for your comments!
Dvshunter - Thanks. I'm glad you like it. One of the reasons I make bows is because i like the fantasy world etc. I'm glad you like the leatherwork. I've been wanting to learn to do that for a long time and finally did something about it. I was worried it wouldn't turn out at all. Thanks again!
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Cool bow. Nice handlewrap. I like the color. :-)
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Do you know if this elf was invited to the Tennessee classic? Beautiful weapon, my helmet goes off to the elven folk. ;)
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Some bows deserve a second look, some a third, some are in a class by themselves... inspirational work sir!
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Love it!
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Bowman - Thanks!
Misslemaster - Ha! That's quite a long walk. ;D Especially since he lives in Arizona....Would be fun to go though!
Thanks for looking and for your comments!
Shaun - Thanks. Thank you very much.
Lostarrow - Thanks!
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Straight from the lands of Rivendell
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Give me a Mithril shirt and such a bow as that, ...and lookout Smaug!
OneBow - - - closet nerd
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WOW! Extra fine finishing detail. The artwork is amazing. The leather work for the grip is the nicest thing I've seen here for a while! It's a nice bow, too. Your tiller looks great.
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Very nice work! Really like the Tooled leather handle and the tiller looks great :) well done all around!
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Now that's awesome,really like that grip as well,inspiring-Hammertime
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Beautiful bow,don't know how I missed this one,glad I found it. :) The bow looks great but the finish work is exceptional. :)
Pappy
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Tortoise, Onebowonder, adb, Will H, hammertime, Pappy - THANKS!
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This bow is a form of art. It is a thing of beauty with a deadly use. Sculpture in wood and leather. Now that I've waxed poetically, I'll say "that thing kicks ass!" So utterly cool.
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I love it, it is an amazing bow.
Grady
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Holy smokes! That's BEAUTIFUL work!! :)
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such a beautiful bow,I liked the story and the idea of the elvish writing. Looks like you are a great fan of the lord of the rings too!
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how did you engrave the artwork in the bow
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campx, autologus, jackcrafty - Thanks!
Naim Tėlperien - Thanks! YEAH I love Lord of the Rings!
jonah214 - The artwork is hand painted using metallic silver acrylic paint I got from hobby lobby. I did the design work on paper first then transfered the design to the bow. Once the design was on the bow I traced it with a fine point pen. The dye was done next. once the dye was dry enough I did the painting work.