Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Stickhead on June 25, 2016, 02:31:24 pm

Title: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: Stickhead on June 25, 2016, 02:31:24 pm
Hi, Y'all,

Here's my latest, which is also my first recurve.  I decided I wanted a fishing bow to use on my kayak.  So I needed it to be shortish and lighter than my hunting bows.  Also, I wanted it to be a take-down so I can throw it in a suitcase for vacations to the beach.

This was a board I found in a local lumber store, that had remarkably straight grain for Osage.  I followed the grain the best I could to minimize run-off, so it has some slight bends here and there.  After breaking a couple of limbs from this same board, I decided I needed to back it.  I've had good luck with using Grey Triggerfish skin for backing material.  It's light as a feather, practically indestructible, and I can get it for free from a seafood market.  Besides, it seemed a fitting backing for a fishing bow.

I used dry heat to bend in the recurves, glued down layers of fish skin, and mated the two limbs with a metal sleeve.  After wrestling with some twist and bends, I finally got it lined up and bending to my satisfaction.  I added a swede wrap, a sliver of purpleheart for a strike plate, and nothin' fancy tips.

It's 60.5" N-N, and 40# @ 26", which is just about right for fishing, I figure.  It shoots nicely, and I'm looking forward to chasing some carp and rays with it this summer.

Cheers,
...Tom
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: Stickhead on June 25, 2016, 02:35:14 pm
More pics...
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: Pat B on June 25, 2016, 02:40:56 pm
Very nice first recurve and the triggerfish skins look great! Well done.   8)
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: Stixnstones on June 25, 2016, 02:43:53 pm
wow, what a great lookin bow, the skins ,the bend. I love everything about it. nice work.
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: bradsmith2010 on June 25, 2016, 02:53:21 pm
wow thats nice congrats :)
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: osage outlaw on June 25, 2016, 02:57:01 pm
Very nice work!
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: bjrogg on June 25, 2016, 03:02:25 pm
Nice job looks great, looking forward to seeing some posts on your fishing.👍
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: ---GUTSHOT---> on June 25, 2016, 03:11:49 pm
That's just to darn cool.  Is triggerfish from the ocean or are they fresh water?
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: bubby on June 25, 2016, 03:14:54 pm
Good looking bow and the trigger fish skins look great
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: penderbender on June 25, 2016, 03:35:32 pm
Awesome job! Those skins look very good with that Osage.
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: GB on June 25, 2016, 04:19:20 pm
Nice work!  Love the way the skins look.
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: Knotty on June 25, 2016, 04:53:36 pm
Those skins are the icing on the cake, beautiful work, and it looks amazingly well done for a first recurve.
Nice! 👍
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: SLIMBOB on June 25, 2016, 05:48:12 pm
Like this one a bunch!  Nicely done.
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: Arrowbuster on June 25, 2016, 07:20:52 pm
Don't get much tougher than trigger skin. Great idea and she looks awesome.
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: JonW on June 25, 2016, 07:28:45 pm
Super job 8)
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: Stickhead on June 25, 2016, 08:16:44 pm
Thanks for the kind words, guys!

Gutshot - Triggerfish is a salt water bottom fish found all over the East coast.  Tastes like snapper - yummy!
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: BowEd on June 26, 2016, 08:31:32 am
Really nice job stickhead.The bow and the skins there.So is it just one layer of fish skin then?
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: Swampman on June 26, 2016, 08:35:55 am
That is a very nicely done bow.  I love the skins too. 
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 26, 2016, 08:49:58 am
Sweet bow! Be careful, recurves are highly addictive
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: Stickhead on June 26, 2016, 07:41:37 pm
Thanks, guys! 

Beadman - I used one layer of skins, overlapped slightly.  I've only had one Tfish-backed bow break - an ERC that was really pushing the limits.  It broke where two skins met.  I think two layers overlapped to cover the seams would hold just about anything together.  These critters have some really tough skin. I've seen scars on them from Cudas or Sharks that couldn't cut through their hide.
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: Mounter on June 27, 2016, 12:31:35 am
Very cool!,
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: sleek on June 27, 2016, 02:23:01 am
Very freakin nice bow.
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: chamookman on June 27, 2016, 03:40:43 am
NICE ! Bob
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: Pappy on June 27, 2016, 07:15:18 am
Looks very nice, beautiful work and I love the skins. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: bowmo on June 27, 2016, 09:29:12 am
Really nice man. I dig the skins, the overlaps looks like a fancy cowboy shirt or something.
Title: Re: Triggerfish-Osage Take-down recurve
Post by: Badly Bent on June 27, 2016, 11:01:27 pm
Nice recurve. Those skins are unique and attractive, I like the look of 'em.