Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: colin1991 on October 11, 2015, 05:19:20 pm

Title: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: colin1991 on October 11, 2015, 05:19:20 pm: G'day all,

Colin from Australia here. Finally got my act together and became a part of this great resource for primitive/historical/traditional archery enthusiasts.

There are some very talented folks around the world I must say. Love looking at all the different things folks are making about the place.

Living in Aus there amount of really quality bow timber is a little limited but there are a few that you can get a good stick and string out of.

Just thought I'd would share a recent project of mine. Set myself a small challenge after looking at a ton of primitive bows on youtube and decided to see how few tools I could use to make a hunting weight flatbow. This is the result.

The bow is Australian Ash, 68" ntn and pulls 55lb@28". I included some buffalo horn tip overlays to help keep the tips strong and the bow has a 8 strand main, 12 strand loops fast flight string.

I used a total of 4 tools on the bow not including sand paper and oil to heat straighten some twist out of one limb. Tomahawk, Shinto rasp, chainsaw file and steel ruler as a scraper. The tillering on the bow was done by eye and feel. The only time the bow was on a tiller stand was to get its weight (and even that wasn't really required, just for the specs on the belly)

Photo of the bow drawn is my younger brother (I'm currently incapacitated with a shoulder injury, cant shoot them but I can still make them)

Learning how to flint knap at the moment in an effort to make a decent set of primitive style arrows to go with this bow but they're a while off yet haha.

Cheers,

Colin
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: bubby on October 11, 2015, 05:25:37 pm: Nice bow Collin from Australia nice job
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: OTDEAN on October 11, 2015, 05:47:32 pm: Hi Colin,

I respect your determination to make that bow just by feel and eye alone. That tiller looks really good. I like the bow a lot.

You should be proud of that mate, good job.

Dean
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: sieddy on October 11, 2015, 06:03:23 pm: Great bow! The wood looks really nice in the close up shot. :)
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on October 11, 2015, 06:06:12 pm: Nice bow. You did a great job with the tiller
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: colin1991 on October 11, 2015, 09:50:42 pm: Thanks guys! :)
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: bowandarrow473 on October 11, 2015, 09:58:35 pm: A very good bow.
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: Drewster on October 11, 2015, 10:19:08 pm: Colin, you should be very happy with that bow. Sorry you can't shoot it. Hope that shoulder heals so you can do more than build the bows. That tiller looks "spot on" for sure.
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: blackhawk on October 11, 2015, 10:26:41 pm: Thanks for joining and sharing your bow,and welcome to pa :)
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: Josh B on October 11, 2015, 10:35:45 pm: Looks like a fine bow to me! Welcome aboard! Josh
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: Peacebow_Coos on October 11, 2015, 11:20:18 pm: Well done man!
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: Carson (CMB) on October 11, 2015, 11:50:16 pm: Sweet bow Colin! Welcome, and heal up fast!

I also use a steel ruler for a scraper. I love mine.
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: Pappy on October 12, 2015, 07:10:29 am: Welcome aboard, very nice job, tiller looks great on that one. :)
Pappy
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: Dvshunter on October 12, 2015, 08:02:46 am: Welcome to PA. Nice looking bow mate.
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: Thunder on October 12, 2015, 12:19:35 pm: Welcome to PA Colin,
Very nice work there, hope to see more of your work soon.

Cheers,
Thunder
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: simson on October 12, 2015, 01:45:38 pm: Quote from: Thunder on October 12, 2015, 12:19:35 pm
Welcome to PA Colin,
Very nice work there, hope to see more of your work soon.

Cheers,
Thunder

Can not better say it!
Welcome
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: Will B on October 12, 2015, 02:09:44 pm: That looks really nice! Love the full draw pic. Congratulations Colin.
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: colin1991 on October 12, 2015, 05:00:17 pm: Again, much thanks for the kind words guys!!

there will be many more posts from me dont worry, i make all sorts of bows, full timber lam recurves, warbows, flatbows, target English longbows...

next one will be a heavy warbow.

Colin
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: mullet on October 12, 2015, 06:35:11 pm: Welcome, Colin, glad to see some new blood here. You built a nice one, great tiller.
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: Swampman on October 12, 2015, 07:06:45 pm: Great looking bow Colin. That tiller looks great.
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: JW_Halverson on October 12, 2015, 08:24:34 pm: Mighty decent looking shooter!
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: ccase39 on October 12, 2015, 09:23:25 pm: Funny thing about your shoulder. About 7 years ago I tore my rotator cuff and labrum and was out of work for a while. I was in a sling for the most part so there was no way I was pulling a bow any time soon. As a result of my bordom I started researching how to make bows. I dont know why, I hadnt shot in years. I came across a couple of build alongs and before I knew it I was out there sling and all. I made a few red oak board bows that turned out ok and were a load of fun. Eventually I got better and went back to work and never got back to playing with them until a couple months ago. Now I am using Osage instead of red oak and am getting better each time. Next up for me will be finding a stave and doing it from there. Thats a good looking bow you got there!
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: colin1991 on October 12, 2015, 10:41:09 pm: Up until my accident (sport related) I was shooting twice a week minimum and testing all the bows I make (been making them for around 5 years now) and had become engrossed in Warbows in the last 12 months so I was shooting 140lbs regularly. Now I get pain drawing a 33lb bow so I cant really shoot at all. So I've just been making bows for folks over here and the odd one for myself (this one wont be leaving my collection ;D). Problem arises now when I make a bow that normally only I could draw, like the 130lb warbow I'm currently working on that's going to a guy in the US, so I cant test shoot it for him unfortunately.

I would love to have a good supply of Osage!! Stuff is beautiful and makes fantastic bows but its a pain to get over here unfortunately.
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: Badly Bent on October 12, 2015, 11:02:42 pm: beautiful bend on that bow, glad your here sharing your work with us. :)
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: Bowmonk on October 12, 2015, 11:06:26 pm: Very Nice work. Keep it up.
Title: Re: First post, my 4 tools flatbow
Post by: colin1991 on October 12, 2015, 11:40:08 pm: Thanks guys! :)