Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: WhistlingBadger on March 23, 2021, 03:45:23 pm

Title: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: WhistlingBadger on March 23, 2021, 03:45:23 pm
A couple weeks ago, my daughter noticed a big, two-foot long sliver of hickory left over from my last project, and indicated she would like a bow for her American Girl doll.  Sure, sweetie.  But I'm not that interested in dolls (really, it's true).  So, to make it interesting for myself, I decided that in addition to looking cute with the doll, I wanted it to be a fully-functional bow.   For the purposes of this project, I define fully-functional as 1. Tillered reasonably well, and 2.  Shooting a very small arrow hard enough to actually stick in my target at five yards.

Here's the result: The Mouse Slayer.  Hickory, backed with paper; 14.5" nock to nock; 2# @ 5".  Handle wrapped in artificial sinew.  Tip build-ups made of toothpicks.  String is braided artificial sinew.  Arrows (I'm rather proud of this, if I may say so) made from bamboo kebab skewers and verrrrrry small turkey feathers.

Braced:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51066744066_c5734a1642_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kNApSA)M S Braced (https://flic.kr/p/2kNApSA) by Whistling Badger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/187773441@N04/), on Flickr

Full-Draw:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51066037428_a5416c9da0_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kNwMPb)Full Draw (https://flic.kr/p/2kNwMPb) by Whistling Badger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/187773441@N04/), on Flickr

The happy new owner:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51066239052_b4d86f02f0_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kNxPKs)MS Doll (https://flic.kr/p/2kNxPKs) by Whistling Badger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/187773441@N04/), on Flickr

And yes, it does meet the second criteria:
https://youtu.be/rR0zFDzaSkA

So, there you go!  ha ha

Thomas
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: Stickhead on March 23, 2021, 03:48:13 pm
Love it!
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: Del the cat on March 23, 2021, 03:53:50 pm
Nice job, quite tricky those tiny bows.
Shot it though the chrono' yet :)
Del
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: Digital Caveman on March 23, 2021, 03:56:55 pm
Next will be a buckskin dress, then maybe beaded moccasins...  >:D  (lol)
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: TimBo on March 23, 2021, 04:06:12 pm
Nice!  That should do the job.  It would probably work for goldfish as well...you just need a tiny little reel.
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: Will B on March 23, 2021, 04:37:49 pm
That’s very cool. I’m sure your daughter loved it!
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: WhistlingBadger on March 23, 2021, 04:57:14 pm
Nice job, quite tricky those tiny bows.
Shot it though the chrono' yet :)
Del

Not yet, but might try it next week up at my dad's.  I must admit I'm kind of curious...
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: JW_Halverson on March 23, 2021, 05:12:45 pm
That squeal of laughter from her in the video just turned around a very bad day for me.
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: stuckinthemud on March 23, 2021, 05:56:02 pm
I love it
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: Hawkdancer on March 24, 2021, 01:02:17 am
Neat!  The mice and the target are safe, the garage door, not so much (lol) (SH) :BB!
Hawkdancer
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: Parnell on March 24, 2021, 10:05:52 am
That is tremendous work.  I'm with JW, her reaction just put an enormous smile on my face!  So clever.

I bet the arrows WERE tricky.  What did you tiller with an Exacto knife? :)

I properly think that should go in for BOM.  Great job, WB. :)
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: Woody roberts on March 24, 2021, 01:21:51 pm
How cool is that?
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: bjrogg on March 24, 2021, 01:38:57 pm
Nice job WB.
Enjoyed the video to.

Those little bows can teach you a lot. You really need to get every inch bending right.

We had a short bow challenge at Marshall one year. Total length 24” or less. Was pretty cool.

Bjrogg
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: gutpile on March 24, 2021, 01:55:48 pm
thats awesome...gut
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: monkeyball on March 24, 2021, 03:26:39 pm
  Very cool.

                Good Shooting->->->->Craig
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: PaSteve on March 24, 2021, 05:22:41 pm
When dealing with a sliver, it's very easy to get a hinge. Great job. I like it.
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: Pappy on March 25, 2021, 09:29:20 am
Very cool, rather make a full sized bow anytime than one of them, very tricky bows to make. Nice job. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: freke on March 25, 2021, 10:02:08 am
my dyslectic mind read Moose slayer, expected something bigger  (W

Lovingly little thing
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: WhistlingBadger on March 25, 2021, 11:16:53 am
Thanks, guys!  This was a fun little project while I'm waiting for a couple of buddies on here to send me some staves (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) so I can start on the next full-sized project.  It was a lot harder, and a lot more fun, than I expected.

Here's a few more pics.
The back.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51071042537_dd5f29e16e_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kNYrEa)100_0528 (https://flic.kr/p/2kNYrEa) by Whistling Badger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/187773441@N04/), on Flickr

String and tip detail.  I served the string with black just because it looked cool.  I had to cut the nocks so shallow that the string was popping out, so I used tweezers to glue little bits of bamboo under them so it would stay in place.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51070947431_7322e5e786_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kNXXop)100_0529 (https://flic.kr/p/2kNXXop) by Whistling Badger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/187773441@N04/), on Flickr

Unbraced.  The top limb has taken a lot of set.  The bottom limb actually started out slightly reflexed.  I left it alone because I didn't want to heat treat something this thin.  But it evens out at full draw, so good enough.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51001761640_2e0789bf39_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kGRmRW)100_0530 (https://flic.kr/p/2kGRmRW) by Whistling Badger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/187773441@N04/), on Flickr
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: WhistlingBadger on April 01, 2021, 01:16:41 pm
Nice job, quite tricky those tiny bows.
Shot it though the chrono' yet :)
Del

OK, Del, you got my curiosity going:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51018852090_a6bcb4ee61_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kJmXfS)IMG_3304 (1) (https://flic.kr/p/2kJmXfS) by Whistling Badger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/187773441@N04/), on Flickr

My kid's got a real speed demon on her hands, here.   ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: Digital Caveman on April 01, 2021, 01:57:50 pm
I didn't know little bows could be entered in BOM, but it makes sense; good luck,
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: Winter Hawk on April 03, 2021, 01:06:08 pm
That has to be the cutest little thing since God made kittens, very well done!

~Kees~
Title: Re: The Mouse Slayer
Post by: George Tsoukalas on April 04, 2021, 09:45:16 am
Very nice! Jawge