Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: sleek on September 16, 2013, 04:16:09 am
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My first bow was this elm sapling that after about half a hunting season popped a splinter on the back. I think it did that because I left the bark on it. I laig some doe belly skin with Knox brand gelatin glue. It was 50@24 and 46 inches ntn. The limbs were parallel all the way to the tip at 1.5 inches wide at the nocks. I couldnt have been more proud to have made this bow. I was fairly powerful, putting field points through both sides of an empty 2 liter that was just sat on the ground.
So here is my first, what was yours? I was lucky enough my first survived, but I would like to see every bodies first attempt broke or not and if it did break, their first to survive.
Made Nov 18 2009
(http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i411/rocketernally/20130916_014821_zps7e4dfd2b.jpg) (http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/rocketernally/media/20130916_014821_zps7e4dfd2b.jpg.html)
(http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i411/rocketernally/20130916_014849_zpse1f0dfb2.jpg) (http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/rocketernally/media/20130916_014849_zpse1f0dfb2.jpg.html)
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I deleted the pics cleaning things up a while ago, but my first was a fifteen pound black locust recurve, sapwood on, with a gigantic handle and cut in shelf. Nowadays my handles are about one inch wide, and I put little strips of leather on for customers ;)
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Its fun sometimes looking back at how we have progressed over time.
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My first picts got lost when my computer crashed a few weeks ago. My nephew in Iowa has it. It is rawhide backed hickory 50 in kids bow. It shoots good for a first bow.
GReg
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I honestly don't even remember. It was either an ash bow, or a sinew backed osage limb, with asymmetrical (in other words, crappy) tiller. One of the first bows I made also was an ash (I think, don't know for sure) bow like 50" or so long, that pulled 60# or so at 26" I think. It was a weird bow. It chrysaled a bit. I used to make honey suckle bows when I was younger though. I made a bow out of a dead limb off the ground one time when I was like 14 or so, tied thick hemp cord onto it, haha. It's funny what works out when you don't know no better.
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Osage. 58" ttt. Around 57 lbs at 27". Built it in 1995 I think. Great little bow. Much more a testament to the teacher I had helping me build the bow than my skills, as I had none. Also it's Osage, so it allowed me to get away with imperfect tiller. Over built as well, 2 inches wide and tapers to 7/8" tips. It was the next 3 or 4 that sucked, as I thought I knew how to make bows after building ONE! Back then, I thought I knew that I knew. Now I know that I don't know. :)
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Finished july 2013, 62" / 63# @27.5" osage
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SlimBob, I know exactly what you mean. It sure is funny how the more I learn the less I know. I don't have any pics of my first bows. Just imagine, a willow pole about 4' long and 1" thick with the upper limb untouched with the bark on it, and the bottom limb shaved down to roughly match the thickness taper of the upper limb with no regard for following a growth ring for the back. String was bankline string. Arrows were willow shoots with duct tape fletchings. Needless to say, they were pretty crude and rarely lasted a month before they folded up.Lol! Josh
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I broke mine on purpose cuz i never wanted to see such a hideous bow like that again.
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Mine was a 60" sinew backed hickory flat bow. My buddy has it and shoots it still. That was roughly 10-12 years ago, cant remember for certain. Mickey Lotz helped me get started.
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i built my first when i was 6 years old, a little elm branch, duct tape and some baler twine it only lasted about 3 shots but i was hooked and have been ever since.
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LOL!
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i don't think there are any pictures...much for the better i think!
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Here is my very first. It is about 32" long and pulls maybe 7# at 12". Tiller is way off but man I sure was pumped that it worked kinda ::). Made this one about a year and a half ago.
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Bushboy what was the drawweight on that work of art? >:D
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4dog,prob 85#@20"!it shot 3 arrows!lol!here's another beauty,note there is no string!lol! Elm backed ash,not the best combo :).
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You can see mine as it evolved in a recent thread titled.. "Re-finished Tzalam Pyramid Bow"
It turned out 58" NTN, and 46#@28" Made from Tzalam (a mexican hardwood similar to red oak) Pyramid type design?? Very Happy with it shoots nice and smooth... hits hard... Loving my new found pastime !! Can't wait to crank out number 2 (going for a 60# Osage Flatbow next >:D)
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First (and only) bow was black locust, about 40-45#. After 4 long days of working on it, the reward was shooting arrows. 1st arrow hit the hay bale. 2nd arrow hit the target. Pulled back for the 3rd arrow - CRACK!!!
There weren't any imperfections in the wood at the failure point. It just exploded from the pressure of being bent. Still had a great weekend!!
Next will be another black locust bow, and I have oak and maple curing.
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Red oak board bow:
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V7AgK1Bj1bE/ULQ1FTU0nCI/AAAAAAAAAh4/TiFe7ZXW1t0/s1600/CIMG1243.JPG)
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMT1jOXWkZ0/ULQ1NGpYZCI/AAAAAAAAAiA/meVOUADRFHM/s1600/CIMG1244.JPG)
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zGo8Pcq82ok/ULQ0HYVqa9I/AAAAAAAAAg0/qnYZ2fnYkCQ/s1600/CIMG1236.JPG)
Only about 11 months old, but already made a few modifications...
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58" Osage pulling 45# at 27". Killed my biggest deer with it until she blew showing her off.
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This was my first bow back in Dec of 09. Don't use it much but it's still shooting and has a special place on the rack.
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g108/briarjumper12/DSCF0030.jpg) (http://s54.photobucket.com/user/briarjumper12/media/DSCF0030.jpg.html)
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g108/briarjumper12/DSCF0023.jpg) (http://s54.photobucket.com/user/briarjumper12/media/DSCF0023.jpg.html)
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g108/briarjumper12/DSCF0022.jpg) (http://s54.photobucket.com/user/briarjumper12/media/DSCF0022.jpg.html)
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68" Siberian elm, the back was severely violated and it took 2" of set. But it was a shooter, slow as it was. Handle was some old boots I had laying around.y friend at the time told me I couldn't make that knotty piece of wood into a bow >:D. It has since then been reworked and being improved as I gain more experience
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Ink ya ought to call that bow "ZOMBIE" it just will not die !!! .....lol
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VERY first. Cherry branch. Bailing twine string. I think I was 7.
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh544/bryceott/09908074-B06E-429A-970C-5B51AB7976FD-34603-00002896807192AE.jpg)
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First real bow and first bow I killed anything with made from honey locust has rawhide patch on top limb
(http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q681/joec123able/41B96621-D2F8-4E28-8DA4-0ECB9C90A332-190-00000015D7396982_zps2ca25d2c.jpg)
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Joe im liking yours for some reason..seriously looks cool.
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Joe im liking yours for some reason..seriously looks cool.
Must be the natural reflex it has in the handle which means its basically a gull wing
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Here is my first. A Birchbow 68"ntn 38#@28" stained grey and black.
I was very happy to make a shooter at the first try even if it came out a bit on the light side.
T still see some action when i have guests that want to try some archery and it will always have a home in my rack.
(http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr17/dbb1963/Bows/DSC_0145.jpg) (http://s465.photobucket.com/user/dbb1963/media/Bows/DSC_0145.jpg.html)
(http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr17/dbb1963/Bows/DSC_0144.jpg) (http://s465.photobucket.com/user/dbb1963/media/Bows/DSC_0144.jpg.html)
(http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr17/dbb1963/Bows/DSC_0148.jpg) (http://s465.photobucket.com/user/dbb1963/media/Bows/DSC_0148.jpg.html)
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I am really impressed to see the quality of bows being cranked out by first timers. It really shows how helpful this and other web sites are in advancing the cause of self bow archery. Looking at my first it is obvious that I had no help, compared to some of you guys whos first looks like yall have had some years of experience.
But please dont let these nicer first bows showing up stop yall from posting your less refined first bows. I was honestly expecting to see lots of poorly made bows, not very nice ones!
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Okay you asked for it >:D This is the only bow I've made. It's Honey Locust, 68" long, 25#@28" I was going for forty #'s. I only used a hatchet and a pocket knife. Not as nice as some of the bows being posted, but I've taken three rabbits with it so it serves its purpose. :) I made the arrow rest out of a broken spear point that I found while riding horses. It took a little over 3" of set, but I'll shoot it until I make another then hang it on the wall. 8)
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Mine was a 60" sinew backed hickory flat bow. My buddy has it and shoots it still. That was roughly 10-12 years ago, cant remember for certain. Mickey Lotz helped me get started.
Interesting how time stretches. Fortunately, the internet has a better memory :D
17th post down, from March, 2010.
Jerry at Great Northern says limb cores have so little to do with bow performance that "average Joes" would never notice. He says its all in the bow design and craftsmanship. I have no choice but to believe him, I've never built a bow.
http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/TF/lw/thread2.cfm?threadid=206878&category=88#2695402
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Here is mine ;)
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,26239.msg352710.html#msg352710
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Carrot wood bundle bow . About three feet long . Had a fishingline string at first . And then i put parachord on it ... i just started making bows two years ago . I have made around fifty since then with about forty of them that held together and about the last twenty that are good bows . The last was a yew elb . Yep .... i came along long long way :) this o e hangs on its own wall though because its what sparked my interest . I was merly into survival at first and this bow made me become a learning bowyer
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You admin now Sleek?
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No, I just got really ticked when I saw this guy calling out Pearl in what appears to be a hateful message with no truth or point. The post reads that he never made a bow. Come on really? Guys on this forum own some of pearls bows. I dont go to any site other than this and PP, but seemed to me like Twinkie ( I just bought a box of those, they are sooo good ) Slayer was trying to bring drama over here without being provoked. Either way, that sounds like a PM conversation to me, not a public thing. I didnt like it. What I posted before I deleated it should also have been a PM thing I admit. Flew off the handle.
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Black Locust split from wrist sized tree. Mostly white wood with dark heart wood down center. I still have it, though because I made it when green it dried in a sideways banana shape. :o
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/thimosabv/stell-qicky-2.jpg) (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/thimosabv/media/stell-qicky-2.jpg.html)
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/thimosabv/stell-quicky-1.jpg) (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/thimosabv/media/stell-quicky-1.jpg.html)
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Mine was a 60" sinew backed hickory flat bow. My buddy has it and shoots it still. That was roughly 10-12 years ago, cant remember for certain. Mickey Lotz helped me get started.
Interesting how time stretches. Fortunately, the internet has a better memory :D
17th post down.
Jerry at Great Northern says limb cores have so little to do with bow performance that "average Joes" would never notice. He says its all in the bow design and craftsmanship. I have no choice but to believe him, I've never built a bow.
http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/TF/lw/thread2.cfm?threadid=206878&category=88#2695402
Oh Boy! Another fan of my work. That's exciting for me. Thanks for tagging along Twinkie licker! I should have another finished up in a week. Keep an eye out!
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No, I just got really ticked when I saw this guy calling out Pearl in what appears to be a hateful message with no truth or point. The post reads that he never made a bow. Come on really? Guys on this forum own some of pearls bows. I dont go to any site other than this and PP, but seemed to me like Twinkie ( I just bought a box of those, they are sooo good ) Slayer was trying to bring drama over here without being provoked. Either way, that sounds like a PM conversation to me, not a public thing. I didnt like it. What I posted before I deleated it should also have been a PM thing I admit. Flew off the handle.
Thanks for looking out sleek.
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Black Locust split from wrist sized tree. Mostly white wood with dark heart wood down center. I still have it, though because I made it when green it dried in a sideways banana shape. :o
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/thimosabv/stell-qicky-2.jpg) (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/thimosabv/media/stell-qicky-2.jpg.html)
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/thimosabv/stell-quicky-1.jpg) (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/thimosabv/media/stell-quicky-1.jpg.html)
Welcome back over to PA again thimo ;) :D
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A lot of these first bows are really amazing. My first few ended up stove wood!
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A lot of these first bows are really amazing. My first few ended up stove wood!
I did it the other way around...started well got cocky and produced some shortlived bows and firewood after :-[ ::)
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The wealth of knowledge from tbb and you guys here that have been building bows awhile makes it seem easy , and it is easier , everything is easier when you stand on the shoulders of giants, it is a testament to yalls free gifts of giving out that knowledge , and you deserve much more credit than you might feel you get, but be proud , cause it means your being listened to,and closely.
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The wealth of knowledge from tbb and you guys here that have been building bows awhile makes it seem easy , and it is easier , everything is easier when you stand on the shoulders of giants, it is a testament to yalls free gifts of giving out that knowledge , and you deserve much more credit than you might feel you get, but be proud , cause it means your being listened to,and closely.
+1
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No, I just got really ticked when I saw this guy calling out Pearl in what appears to be a hateful message with no truth or point. The post reads that he never made a bow. Come on really? Guys on this forum own some of pearls bows. I dont go to any site other than this and PP, but seemed to me like Twinkie ( I just bought a box of those, they are sooo good ) Slayer was trying to bring drama over here without being provoked. Either way, that sounds like a PM conversation to me, not a public thing. I didnt like it. What I posted before I deleated it should also have been a PM thing I admit. Flew off the handle.
Actually, as of 2010 we have pearl stating that he's never made a bow, but the 16th of this month he's stating that his first one was made "10-12 years ago". I'm just curious as to which statement is the truthful one, LOL.
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Of course there is always a bozo or two. :-[
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Speaking of being truthful, why didn't you use your normal username Twinkie slayer? It's kind of cowardly to come out with a side swipe like that while using an alias. Josh
I modified this post because it was pointed out that the name calling was childish. I agree. However, I still hold the opinion that the use of an alias for this reflects poorly on whoever it may be.
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What is his usual username so he can be avoided elsewhere. >:D
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Guys, I like my thread, please dont kill it with saturated fat.
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Guys, I like my thread, please dont kill it with saturated fat.
Lol! That's funny! But your point is well taken. It is a good thread. I'll behave. O:) Josh
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Refricken dickulous,, but good thread anyway. >:D
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aww man i missed all the fun :(
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maybe we can get the admins to automatically reject people that have word slayer in their name lol
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maybe we can get the admins to automatically reject people that have word slayer in their name lol
::)
p.s ill have my first one up soon.
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maybe we can get the admins to automatically reject people that have word slayer in their name lol
::)
p.s ill have my first one up soon.
lol you know im just messing with you squirrelly
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maybe we can get the admins to automatically reject people that have word slayer in their name lol
::)
p.s ill have my first one up soon.
That's the spirit young man! Looking forward to seeing your post! Josh
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here it is. 20-25#@ 27". it was made from a hickory dowel. it had a round back and flat belly. un-backed so it broke because it was too dry and grain runout. but there was no hand shock and was very quiet. it shot about 200 arrows before it broke. i might make another one but back it with something. rawhide?
(http://i1316.photobucket.com/albums/t614/bowslayerjez/IMG_78724569763237_zps899d8cf5.jpg) (http://s1316.photobucket.com/user/bowslayerjez/media/IMG_78724569763237_zps899d8cf5.jpg.html)
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Just pick a better board and skip the backing squirrel nutz. The run out killed you on that one it sounds like to me.
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squirrel nuts ;D ;D ;D ok will do. ill have a look tommorow. Thanks PD :laugh:
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I call everybody names, just a heads up. Even people I like. Its my nature.
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Round back and flat belly :o :o. Try switching that. Better with a flat back. IMHO that's why it broke. 25# with those dimensions should not break. Also, pretty tough to get hickory too dry, especially in your God forsaken country Mr Squirrel Nuts!
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this was made from a dowel (wooden rod) and it is only 1" in diamitre. i might have a go at making it with a rounded belly. ill give it another go.
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Come on Squirrelly Boy... there's gotta be better wood where you are than a 1" dowel (wooden rod). :o
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C'mon my british bros, one of you guys have got to throw this kid a a real stave and a shove in the right direction,if for no other reason he weill be very busy for a bit,ya cant type if your rasping a stave. Give the lad some bow wood somebody!
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Nice looking bows, everyone. Pearlie boy, don't let little Twinkie get to you, I've never seen him come on this site with anything he has built but a stir stick.
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Not too shabby BS! I was wondering which one you considered your first bow. Josh
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Thanks Blackhawk.
It's really cool seeing everyone's 1st bows. Though to be honest I'd have to label mine "1st successful bow". I made alt of toys and campfires before that. :-)
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(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh217/robin101st/DSCN1513_zps96c1a121.jpg)
Well, its not exactly my first bow, that one was willow wood and went back to earth almost sixty years ago. But, it is the first one that I took a deer with over thirty-five years ago. Osage, about sixty pounds. Hmmmmmmm, next year, if I'm able, this is the bow of choice! Thanks for bringing this up!!!!
Robby