Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Kidder on May 13, 2024, 12:32:38 pm
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Welcome to the 2024 Primitive Archer Bow Trade! The purpose of the trade is to share our skills with our community here and make the BEST bow you have ever made for your recipient, and to have a lot of fun along the way! It really should hurt a little to send out your bow. This trade is about the bow you build, not the bow you receive. If you do not share this philosophy, then please do not sign up. If you do share this then, let's get building! The rules for the trade are listed below.
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Please read this entire post before signing up so you know what you are getting into. Here is how to sign up:
1. Send me a PM with the following information:
Full Name
Full Address
Email Address
Telephone number
Which Country(ies) you will ship to
ALSO PLEASE INCLUDE A LINK TO A SUCCESSFUL COMPLETED BOW YOU HAVE POSTED HERE - IT WILL MAKE MY LIFE EASIER!
2. Reply to this post with, I'm in and include bow specs preferred
Example: LH or RH
Draw Weight 45-55 pounds
Draw length 27 to 29 inches
Here are the rules:
A. In order to sign up, you must have posted at least one successful bow on this site. Please don't be offended if I ask for verification. If you previously participated in the trade but were unable to provide a successful bow in that trade, you must provide me with proof you have completed one successful bow since.
B. All participants in this trade need to participate in the thread and post pictures of their progress, Start out by posting a picture of the stave, staves, board, billets, etc. that you plan to use for the build. then continue to post progress of your build. If a participant does not post the progress of their build then it is up to my discretion to remove them from the trade (I only do this after several failed attempts to communicate with you several different ways!)
C. No bows should be shipped to someone that is not making progress on their bow. If you are done with your bow and ready to ship, please be in touch with me to help decide if you should ship or not.
D. Any participant that chooses can also build a second bow to be used as a reserve. The reserve bows will be used to ensure that ALL participating members get a bow. Please let me know if you plan to build a reserve bow so if it is needed I know who to contact.
E. Deadline for signing up will be the end of the day, June 10th.
F. Shipping deadline will be Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
G. Have fun.
H. Communicate with me. I understand things happen that can keep you from building a bow. If this happens, the sooner you can let me know, the better. I can then reshuffle the trade and everything can work out.
I. I’m looking for an “on time bow” draw item - selfbowman build a bow 3 years ago, the next year I donated a dozen sure-wood shafts, and last year SuperDav donated a boo backed hickory. If anyone has aspirations to build an incentive bow or even just wants to throw in a small item please let us know!
I’m going to participate and here are my stats
RH
26” draw
45-65 lbs
Let's make this a great trade!
Thank you.
Brendan
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“I’m in”.
Right hand
Draw weight: 45-55#
Draw Length: 28”
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I’m in.
R/H
50-55
29” draw
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I’m in
RH
40-45
28”
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How people are meassuring draw length in that bow trades? From the string till the first touch of the hand on the handle?
If draw length counts from the string till the back of the handle, then depending on the deep the handle is, the same person would have very different draw lengths; I guess.
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I measure from the back of the bow to the string at full draw. What I do is take an old arrow and mark it with increments of 1/2” out to 30”. Then draw to your full draw length and either have someone take note of the marking it touches the back of the bow and that’s your draw or have a piece of masking tape ready to place on the arrow at the back of bow. I find this works well if by myself to determine the draw of a specific bow build and calculate draw weight at a specific draw length. Good grip position, solid Anchor point, back tension and good form all being considered of course. Once all that is figured on a proper draw length for traditional bow can be measured. There are many schools of thought on snap shooting and short draws out there too when we talk about primitive bows, With or without arrow shelves. So many factors come into play on the various type of bows as well that determine how they are drawn back and shot that have a bearing of draw length. When I was practicing my short draw a little while ago I tend to draw that bow more horizontal orientation. Obviously this type of draw will be shorter but one can be fairly accurate with it. Anyway for me the back of the bow to the drawn string where the arrow nocks. Measurements from the inside of the nock of arrow to the back of bow more specifically.
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I'm in.
RH
45-65
28"
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I measure from the back of the bow to the string also, the back never changes the inner part of the grip dose. ;)
Pappy
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Pappy, the body is the one that doesn´t change (a little with the years)... the back of the bow changes in distance to the string when the same body open a bow with a more or less deeper handle.
So, if you are pulling from the string to your palm say 26", if the handle is 1 inch deep, your draw lenght would be 27". But if the handle is 2 inches deep, your draw length would be 28"... measuring from the string till the back of bow.
If the method is this one, is necessary to specify what kind of handle every one have used to find its own draw lenght. Otherwise makers and users could be talking about different things.
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Ok…we’re waiting on Pierce S to sign up as well as swampman - you guys said you were interested and vanished!
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Yes, I am indeed interested.
I am in.
RH
45-60
27 Inch Draw
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Alright everyone. I’ll be closing signup in a couple hours. Tomorrow I’ll send out PMs on who you are building for and their address (remember not to send until I give you the “ok”). I’m needing a PM with contact info for SuperDav and Mafort - come on guys I know it’s not your first trade! Get ready to have fun!
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Build assignments have been sent! Check your inbox and please confirm receipt. I need to hear back from everyone please! Have a great trade!
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Send me a stave and I’m in.
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Send me a stave and I’m in.
You’re such a tease!
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Send me a stave and I’m in.
not to put you on the spot but... i can send you a stave. we would love to have you join in. let me know!
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Send me a stave and I’m in.
not to put you on the spot but... i can send you a stave. we would love to have you join in. let me know!
[/quote Send it Daxe you know my address. But you might get it back then you wasted a stave.🤠🤠🤠
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Send me a stave and I’m in.
not to put you on the spot but... i can send you a stave. we would love to have you join in. let me know!
[/quote Send it Daxe you know my address. But you might get it back then you wasted a stave.🤠🤠🤠
lol. id be ok with that! check with kidder and see if you can still get in the trade and ill send you one. keep me posted.
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Send me a stave and I’m in.
not to put you on the spot but... i can send you a stave. we would love to have you join in. let me know!
[/quote Send it Daxe you know my address. But you might get it back then you wasted a stave.🤠🤠🤠
lol. id be ok with that! check with kidder and see if you can still get in the trade and ill send you one. keep me posted.
This is an easy fix for me if you actually want in. But the complete disregard for my completely arbitrary deadline is not something I can take lightly! Let me know asap please.
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Ok I am in! 40-45#@28 !!! RH
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Alright - welcome Arvin. If your build changed I sent you an update. If you didn’t get a PM from me nothing changed. Please confirm receipt if I changed your build. Ok everyone let’s get to it!
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i've chosen my stave for the trade this year. Its a pacific Yew with gorgeous colors and tight rings. its gonna be a 64" oal and is a hybrid pyramid style with flipped tips. Im contemplating a sinew backing too as i absolutely love the last few yew sinew backed bows i did recently and really perform very well. Ive got lots of width and wood to work with. the bow had a in it when folowing its grain with draw knife. it will need a little heat correction in the handle to straighten some and will be fine. Ill likely do some horn tip overlays and a leather handle wrap. Heres some pics. of the profile roughed out.
(https://i.imgur.com/IPAE1uM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/qZbcIO6.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GNZt12h.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pcLm74H.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/thJX1kE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7xrrH4H.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/INZVAUa.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/naWhd4G.jpg)
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That’s a very nice yew stave, Dave. Someone will be very lucky to receive the bow you make from it.
I dug through my stave pile and picked the best Osage stave I have. It is very clean and has thick growth rings. It was cut and split three years ago. I’m planning to build a straight pyramid longbow with a leather handle wrap and ebony tip overlays. I hope to back the bow with some nice snakeskins I have.
https://flic.kr/p/2pY9LQ1
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Here is a photo of the bow roughed out.
https://flic.kr/p/2pYc9Fk
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looks sweet already! cant wait.
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I thinned down my sapwood a little today. it was pretty thick
(https://i.imgur.com/qSC4ySD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/L8cV78m.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/D4dRDRX.jpg)
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Guys those are good looking staves. Will that’s good looking pile of Osage. I will be building a Hickory bow with the help of another trade member.
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Great start you guys! I’m debating on doing either a boo yew or a boo ipe. Built a boo yew each of the last two trades and really like them. But also have some nice Ipe and have never worked with it. What do you guys think I should build?
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Any boo-backed bow you make will be nice, but it’s hard to beat the look of yew heartwood. Good luck with your build.
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so this yew stave may turn out to be more of a challenge then wanted for a trade bow. here are some pics of various edge pin knots and clusters that i will have to deal with. I know Del has done some magic with filling these sorts of issues in with plugs and glue. I may give that a try and rewatch some of his chronicles on the issue. This piece has some character and still have to deal with the bend in the handle.
(https://i.imgur.com/sCF2utK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/axo8L44.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1K5xYra.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/N9mW5LW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/eN1BkWk.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/c1Ryogu.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/5jItONA.jpg)
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Bummer Dave. That’s one of the things with yew staves that will make you crazy. You’re right about Del though. Lots of good stuff on his site.
Good luck.
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Thats yew i guess.... most of these knots were not clearly visible until i got tearing into it. I think i can make it work. first step is to get the tips and limb alignment good with the heat persuasion. Heres my crude set up. its an old bucket of worn drill bits i kept on hand from my knife forging days and it makes for a great way to hang weight. I can add more weight as needed to the bucket or remove as needed. for this bend correction through the hand i clamped it down on a form with an indicator string as shown from tip to tip. you cna see how much it was off. I heat up the handle and fade area really well but not to scorch hot with heat gun then hand my weight and adjust. I get the string to the point where its just past where i want it and then stop adding weight. you could also just move the bucket or weight further down or up the limb for more or less leverage too. I will then let this thourougly cool and then remove to see what i got. for this type of correction one good session is often all thats needed. Once I get this sorted out I will heat and clamp out any twist in the limbs. Once all my heat corections are done and i want to move past the floor tiller stage and start bending it more working towards low brace i will fill in some of these knot holes and punky wood knots with matching heart wood plugs. Ive seen others do this with some success and i feel that with this bow 50lbs flat pyramid style bow should be more then fine. once i get it to brace and bending well ill flip the tips and go from there. Im still deciding on whether or not to sinew back yet but i see how it goes.
(https://i.imgur.com/tpCXy5Z.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MYg0GzE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QrsfwWO.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/34a92nZ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/l6Qbjvm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/UGyNB9w.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2BV3KSh.jpg)
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update. all my heat corrections done and tips flipped. looking fairly straight now and tips aligned. now onto the plugs for those knot holes!
(https://i.imgur.com/hUVIDDz.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/poeM7ra.jpg)
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I’m going to be interested in how you address these knots. Don’t do much with yew, well I’ve done one. But I do have a yew stave that my son bought me for my birthday last year. It looks good and straight and doesn’t seem to have any obvious knots, but like you discovered with this one, you just don’t know till you know.
Bow is looking good so far but I’ve kinda come to take that for granted when watching your builds.
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I like how you used that caul to heat bend the handle section. I have had a hard time moving my bow handles when needed. I will definitely try that in the future. Looks really good, Dave.
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Thanks guys. The biggest issue will be the knot plugs and how well they hold up. More to come.
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here are the three major ones im concerned with. digging them out a little here and still got to clean them up more yet. basically want to get down to good wood and rid the crumbly stuff.
(https://i.imgur.com/08nGaou.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ebhosKW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/34b5VlA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/oveKT5Z.jpg)
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ive cleaned up the knot holes little more here and put in my plugs. the plugs are end cut of yew similar color with grain running the length of the plugs. im hoping this will add some strength to these areas. the glue is ea40 smooth on epoxy. we shall see if this works fingers crossed.
(https://i.imgur.com/YlGLdDU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9VvBGUE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hiTz66e.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QLhYIhD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/E6vHGKa.jpg)
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Cool Dave. What Wood are you using for plugs. I want know how Long this holds up.
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heres the big plug. little more glue line the wanted but not too bad. hopefully its at least functional. These plugs are all made from heartwood of yew grain running somewhat perpendicular to the grain of the bow. time will tell if this was a good idea or not. you can see here that the plug is mostly filling a heartwood void and that the sapwood is mostly unaffected.
(https://i.imgur.com/vHzPEIH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lIn9l1z.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZGXtLgF.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9nzB663.jpg)
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here you can see the other 2 smaller plugs. similar results here. also pictured here is a cluster of pin knots that i soaked in thin ca glue. im hoping these work and do not become an issue as i proceed.
(https://i.imgur.com/p9qvi18.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zIsetue.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/d2smoeR.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NLAdhod.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/p8L1LSL.jpg)
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Send me a stave and I’m in.
I have a nice bumpy Osage one I’ll send ya if you join in >:D
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Ok in I got a hickory stave from Dave it’s a dandy. But that sounds like a fun stave.
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That’s looking great Dave. I’m confident in your fix. I’ve finally cleared the decks a little and can start my trade bow shortly. Was wrapping up my wife’s birthday present in the shop.
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nicely done! looks great
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Still working on this wonky piece of wood. the plugs seem to have held so far. not quite at brace yet but closing in on it. lots of character and dips and valleys. I added a little deflec at the handle area and flipped tips.
(https://i.imgur.com/fy1YdMP.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/b7T0IMj.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/k3hDoKc.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Z4diGlw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/iV62uBt.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jT9bTcy.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/yUEZr4s.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RxIgdfC.jpg)
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Looking good Dave
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Looking good Dave!
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Very nice, Dave.
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I floor tillered my trade bow and built up the handle using Osage and black locust laminations glued up with EA40 Smooth On epoxy. The bow needed some straightening so I coated the bow with vegetable oil and used dry heat to straighten and add reflex. So far so good…
https://www.flickr.com/photos/192203801@N04/shares/9V9mrnF040
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I like it Will . Looking good!
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Thanks Arvin!
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Yes. Some definite progress there! I like it!
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I finished glueing up some buffalo horn tip overlays using TB3. I roughed them out and left them a little wide to allow me room to narrow later as I start the tillering process. Hopefully the photos show the nice, thick rings on the Osage tips.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/192203801@N04/shares/6032A9wS7p
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Looking really nice. Ya that’s some good looking rings there. Gona be good!
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I had my trade bow out to 20” and 45# on the long string. It looked pretty good so I decided to low brace it at around 3”. String is tracking close to center of the handle. I need to work the outer limbs, especially the top limb (right limb on the tillering tree). Any thoughts you guys have are appreciated. The bow is 64” ntn and is 1-1/2” at the fades and maintains that width for about twelve-inches then straight taper to 1/2” tips.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/192203801@N04/shares/E2768nNX0t
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Lookin good will. Agreed on the outers and top limb. Lookin great though!
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Change in plans with my trade bow…
While stringing my initial trade bow I had the handle pop off. I thought this might be a problem when I started because the stave was very thin. I cut some thin Osage laminations and glued them on the bow to attempt to remedy the problem. This handle popped off too so I decided to start another bow using a straight, thin-ringed Osage stave I cut over two years ago. It’s 64” with an 4” handle and 2” fades. I roughed it out to 1-1/2” wide at the fades and near straight pyramid to 1/2” tips. I kept the Limbs 1/2” thick prior to steaming the recurves. I steamed them for 40 minutes each, and left each limb cool for an hour before removing from my caul. Everything is looking good so far.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/192203801@N04/shares/UG5C7J695g
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Looking good will. Are you gonna still try and salvage the original bow?
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Thanks Dave. I may try my first bendy handle bow. It’s a really nice piece of Osage so I will try to do something with it.
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Will if you glue on another overlay shape the handle which I don’t like to do but wrap the handle prior to tiller with wire or sinew it will probably hold . Then put a leather wrap on it. Here is a pic of my hunting bow. It has a bow bolt in it . It broke out and I epoxied electric fence wire around the two handle sections. Pic proves it works.
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Thanks Arvin. I have a lot of sinew and will give that a try
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got this yew bow worked down a bit more today and ready for some sinew. got the bend looking pretty good to about 20" on short long string on the tree. I did an initial floor tiller to get to this point but felt like i needed a better vantage point on this one. lots of character not to mention all the plugged knot holes. by feel its a bit stout yet but ready for some sinew. if it survives that will be a good bow. if it explodes on me I have a good back up of similar dimensions maybe little narrower. will do sinew on this back up as well. Heres some pics of it at low brace thereabouts. The plugs seem to be holding up and staying put so far. thanks for looking.
(https://i.imgur.com/IDLu2ql.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sSXeNV9.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ssc6h4q.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pfY6dna.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hwtNy7R.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1sZMjHh.jpg)
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a few more pics of the bow showing tip alignment and the back up bow next to it.
(https://i.imgur.com/d26kygB.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/CLfx3wj.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7C554ev.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/f54tFpB.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/eueYbq8.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/qZkHm0n.jpg)
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I like your reflex. Looking good!
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Looking really good Dave.
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thanks guys. hoping one of these survive.
I laid about 30grams of sinew so far on the one bow. will repeat the same for the second tomorow. Ive used tb3 to lay sinew done before with great results so hoping for the same here. i start with a scuffed back with an old hack saw blade or course 36 grit paper to give something for sinew to grab onto. i then clean the back realy well with a wire brush (stainless) and get as much of the little bits of wood particales and or dust out. I then wipe down with a clean damp rag. I let this dry a bit in tyhe house and then i heat up the back with a radiant heat sourse to get the pours opened up to accept the thinned down glue. In this case here Im using half and half water and tb3 glue. not the conventional way of doing it or normally how i do this but trying to get a few more of sinewed bow done this way. as soon as this half and half get tacky to the touch i have my bundles that i preped ahead of time cleaned and combed straight saturated in the half and half glue and then lay it down on the bow. I then run a bead of full strength tb3 along the bundle and work this up and down the bundle with fingers to get smooth much like the method used with hide glue. every now and then ill add a little half and half with my brush if looking little dry while working. I then wrap with an ace type bandage used for horses. I go fairly snug till i see tiny beads of glue poking through the bandage. I will let this sit overnith and remove the bandage and hope not too fused to the bow. I also back string the bow into more refex about 3" till it dries. heres some pics of my messy table and piled bundles. organised chaos.
(https://i.imgur.com/6xP1B7l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ntQ1ESE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jP9RY7y.jpg)
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removed the wraps next day. ill give it a few days or a week before i decide on more sinew.
(https://i.imgur.com/WSzF2bL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/l034MNh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/iBW6Pay.jpg)
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Looks really good, Dave. I’ve had good luck with TB3 on my sinew-backed bows. Someone will be very fortunate to receive either one of those two bows
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Thanks Will! we shall see. Heres a few pics of me doing the second one today. I used the same wraps. it allows for it to breath whilst being kept tight to the back while drying or setting up. over night is ussually good to remove wraps. so far both have 30 grams of sinew. The original trade bow with the plugs has about 3" backset. the other back up has a little more backset.
(https://i.imgur.com/m3vM72A.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/v83c0gs.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7ZF86Qo.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wUu7x1Y.jpg)
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Wow Dave you are amazing !
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Nice work Dave! I finally got my blank glued up. Boo, yew, and a Hazel powerlam. We shall see…
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Looking good Dave. I’ve got to try a bow with sinew.
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Looks good kidder. I like that set up. Yes mike you should try some sinew. The first one seems a little daunting but reach out to me and can help ya out with getting started.
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Looks good Kidder! I know from personal experience from our past trade your bamboo-backed bow blanks turn into really sweet shooting bows. Good luck with this one.
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You all probably think I forgot all about this bow trade. I can assure you I have been thinking about it a lot but forces have been working against me. My wife ended up having a double mastectomy so that took up some time caring for her. I am happy to report she is doing great and cancer free.
Shortly after that Minnesota ended up with some pretty bad flooding. I work for MN emergency management so I ended up pretty busy for a while. At one point I had worked 27 days in a row. Neither of those were conducive to shop time.
I found some time to start working on a couple of staves. I plan to work on a black locust stave first and hopefully get a good solid option to send on. That one is shaped out and just barely moving on floor tiller so far. The stave I hope to be able to send on is an iron wood stave with a big knot that will fall right in the handle. I started shaping that stave but have a ways to go for it to start looking like a bow.
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I’m glad you wife is cancer free and doing well, Swampman. Good to see you on here. Black locust makes a fine bow when tillered properly. Good luck with it.
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Yes agreed glad to see you here and find the time to get back in the shop. Good news about your wife’s recovery. Can’t wait to see what you come out with.
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the first layer dried up nicely and applied the second layer today and re wrapped it. This will be a total of about 60gr of sinew on this trade bow. here are some pics
(https://i.imgur.com/SexJKof.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/b9AuHQv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Qzm5izJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JcwqZWf.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/cSnx6iz.jpg)
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quick update on this bow and the back up. got 60grams on both bow finished up and now we wait a few weeks for full dry time at least. based on prior experience using this method of layng sinew putting down two or more layers still shortens up the drying wait time. I think 3 weeks will be more then sufficient. I will weight each bow every day from now on to log the weight loss and keep track. now we wait! cheers
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Looks good Dave. Just curious what type of scale do you use to weigh your sinew and your sinew-backed bow. I’ve been thinking of getting one.
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Looks good Dave. Just curious what type of scale do you use to weigh your sinew and your sinew-backed bow. I’ve been thinking of getting one.
Thanks will. the scale i bought was one off of amazon. its a digital one that is rechargeable too.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B083QXK4LZ/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B083QXK4LZ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?pd_rd_i=B083QXK4LZ&pd_rd_w=N57gZ&content-id=amzn1.sym.516c2169-755e-413a-a38a-68230f4ab66f&pf_rd_p=516c2169-755e-413a-a38a-68230f4ab66f&pf_rd_r=SGAWGQ4DRKHYEHJD91M4&pd_rd_wg=aHfuI&pd_rd_r=e6eed9e8-cffa-4b68-8752-67cf410421e4&s=industrial&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1
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Thanks Dave
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I made some progress on this Osage recurve. I glued up and shaped some ebony tip overlays using TB3 and started the tillering process. I like to use a long string till I get the bow limbs bending evenly. As soon as I can comfortably string the bow I get it to low brace. Everything looks pretty good to my eye so far and the string is tracking down the center of the handle. Shooting for ~55# @ 26”
https://www.flickr.com/photos/192203801@N04/shares/5dh3yC38Fv
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Looking quite good will!
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That looks great Will.
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I finished tillering my Osage recurve trade bow. I plan to shoot at least 50 arrows through it, check the tiller, and hopefully finish it up. I have a pair on nice snakeskins I plan to use on it. Thanks for looking.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/192203801@N04/shares/wQDm05HE5A
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I finished tillering my Osage recurve trade bow. I plan to shoot at least 50 arrows through it, check the tiller, and hopefully finish it up. I have a pair on nice snakeskins I plan to use on it. Thanks for looking.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/192203801@N04/shares/wQDm05HE5A
Very nice indeed. Looks like it’s got all the right curves in all the right places.
Still waiting on mi e to finish drying. Almost there.
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i havent been active on this trade alot however i wanted to atleast give a status update. I have a nice ash stave that is finally dry. Im thinking of doing a sinew backed 5 curve style. maybe do a bit of a contact recurve on it and see how it works out.
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Ive got a couple in the works . I can give pics of the stave type but we all know what a straight clean Osage stave looks like. I’ll follow up with some pics of the build . It could be at typical Arvin bow with reflex in the last 10” and close to a pyramid design. Or reflex deflex design.
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Pic
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Pic
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Those look Great Arvin. Look forward to seeing how they finish up.
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Those are looking like they will bow nicely. Looking forward to more updates.
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Good progress guys. Could everyone please email me directly with ALL of their contact info - phone number, address, etc. I want to make sure I have it accessible should things go south with the forum and access to things so we can complete our trade.
jbrendankidd@gmail.com
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SamH - looking for a status update please!
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Everything went very smooth on my second attempt and I was able to finish up my trade bow. The bow is a 64” ntn Osage recurve. The bow finished up at 53# @ 26”. I used buffalo horn for the tip overlays, and dressed the limbs up with some broad-banded water snakeskins. The skins didn’t cover the entire limb so I stained the end of the limbs with Fiebings dark brown leather dye. The handle wrap is black leather stitched with artificial sinew.
I finished the bow with 7 coats of rubbed on Tru-oil and a final spray coat of clear satin spar urethane. I’ve shot over 50 arrows through it and I love the way it shoots. One of my best selfbow recurves I’ve made, which was what I was hoping for. I hope my recipient likes it as much as I do.
Thanks for looking.
Will :G
https://www.flickr.com/photos/192203801@N04/shares/0F269N2h82
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That looks awesome Will. Love the look of this bow. Think the stain on tips past the skins look nice. Bend looks good too. Very nice.
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Will someone should be pleased with that one!
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Great bow Will. Got to love them broadband snake skins.
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I have put some reflex into my black locust built and also flipped the tips. I glued ebony on for tip overlays. I still have more shaping to do on the tips but I will start tillering it soon.
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I glued some black locust overlays on my 2nd black locust build. This stave is very dense and I decided to not chase a ring on it. I still have a lot of reduction to do as it is barely bending. This is one of my back up options now.
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Looking good swampman.
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Very nice work Swampman
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Can’t wait to see this one finished up! Looking good so far
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Hey guys. made some progress on these bows. both tillered out to 50lbs at 28". the one I selected for the trade bow build is a great shooter. It has some character and the heartwood plugs. The plugs seem to be holding up well and about 60 shots at full draw. I think ill stick with the original bow and sideline the back up bow. Ill finish the back up one later. the orignial trade bow shot the best in my opinion and is at weight and just needs finishing up with removing excess mass at the tips and shaping the handle up a bit more. Ill do a leather wrap on this one and a glue on micro arrow shelf made from deer antler to match the tips. I may do a rawhide or goat skin cover for the sinew to protect it.
Ill post a few links to some short vid clips of me shooting the trade bow.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/i030xcx2u8403n22syqys/IMG_9118.MOV?rlkey=n2jsi4mw0ueoialq7hee91vjv&dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gfip47cjjzg0ywmp26tn3/IMG_9125.MOV?rlkey=zmjb0s8zeybav74k8vustsay2&dl=0
(https://i.imgur.com/eYkLDNi.jpg)
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Awesome job on both those bows, Dave. The detail you put in laying that sinew down shows in the backs of those bows. Nice full draw bend and great speed. Well done!
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Awesome job on both those bows, Dave. The detail you put in laying that sinew down shows in the backs of those bows. Nice full draw bend and great speed. Well done!
Thanks will! I’m just glad they didn’t explode!
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Beautiful work Dave. What a great bow!
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Dave those are great bows. Good speeds also!
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Good work guys! I finally found myself back in the shop for an hour or two today. Got the string on my bow and the limbs balanced. Still has a few demons to chase away but looking alright.
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Well I received a package over the weekend from WillB with an amazing Osage trade bow! I couldn’t be more honored! Thank you Will! When I’m up for shooting I’ll post some pictures. I did string it and draw it. Tiller is spot on. I suspect it’ll shoot great.
I’m also down with Covid but was able to get into the shop this morning. Getting close on my trade bow, but going to come down to the wire to hit my target weight. Shot a dozen arrows through it and have 2 inches to go. Maybe less.
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I received a package in the mail last week while I was away at a work conference from Arvin. When I got home my birthday was only a couple of days away so I waited until then to open the package up. What a beautiful, well tillered Osage bow Arvin made for me. It fits me perfectly and it seems I can’t miss what I am looking at with this bow. I am going to work on getting a set of arrows matched to this bow to hopefully hunt with. That will have to wait though until I get my trade bow offering finished up. Unfortunately I am not nearly as fast at building a bow as Arvin.
Thank you Arvin!!
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Your welcome Swampman. Yes get blood on it. Then go shoot 3D with it. Hope you enjoy for many years
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Usual great work by Arvin! Looks like a killer. I was able to put another 50 shots through mine yesterday and all still looks great with my knot plugs so I’m gonna go ahead and get it finished up. So I should be able to ship in a week or so. Good work gents.
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heres a sneak peak of the paint job i gave my trade bow. its unique take on camo for the hunter. Im gonna call this bow "Deadfall". I used goat skin to cover my sinew which provided a great canvas for my stain job. I used leather dyes. I started with my lighter shade and worked my way to darks. for the leaves I tried a new technique and used real leaves from my back yard as stencils for dabbing my dye around with darker color. I placed the leaf over the color patch and stencil dab around the outline. I then dabbed the backside of the leaf where the stems were with dye and pressed that onto the outline of the leaf to give a more detailed look. this deadfall camo pattern could be trouble if the new owner sets the bow down in the woods! After my shooting session the other day the bow still holds about 4" reflex. I may still do a leather wrap or just do a bare handle and add a stacked leather micro shelf. Just letting sealer dry up and worry about that tomorrow. thanks for looking.
(https://i.imgur.com/ampBJ28.jpg)
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Killer bow, Dave! That stain job is really nice. Should make an awesome hunting bow. Great job!
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Always liked that kind of camouflage pattern. I used to do a similar pattern with all my recurve bows. Looks great.
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Nice bow Dave . I like the camouflage job!
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Thanks gents. should have it done and sent out this week.
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sorry for some duplicates on the photos. it was all or nothing day i guess. heres my trade bow all finished up. as mentioned earlier I ended up with a good bow out of this wonky yew stick. it has a lot of character and knot plugs but dosent seem to effect the performance and function. Ive put about 200 shots thru it and all apprears to be good. no noticable handshock and really zips an arrow. I find it tends to like 500-550 grain arrows but have done some recent shooting with my 610grains and it shot very well also. would be a good hunting bow for my recipient. I will let it be a surprise and they can decide what they do with it. it had retained 3.5" reflex after all my shooting. after adding the goat skin overtop the sinew and letting it dry it only added 8 grams. not bad. very light and this stuff. I added some dots to pretty it up and break up the edge a bit. the stacked leather arrow shelf is an idea i took from another recent build that i figured would also look good an is removable by the new owner easy enough if they choose. decided not to leather wrap the handle as it looked good the way it was. added the beaver tail arrow pass and burned in my string groves at the tips and called it done. will ship tomorrow am. thanks for looking!
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I’ve really enjoyed following your build, Dave. That bow turned out really nice!! Excellent finish work. Love the wonky yew with the dots on the side. Beautiful work!
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Well done Dave ! Someone is going to be real happy.
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Wow! Awesome bow, and that camo job came out really nice.
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Thanks fellas means a lot from this crowd. It’s funny I built this bow fully expecting it to explode the whole way through. And it just didn’t. I guess it just wanted to be a bow! This stave had a lot of issues starting out as many may recall and just glad it survived and after 200 shots through it I’d say it’s good to go. Hope the recipient enjoys it. Thanks guys!
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Awesome work guys! Looks like SuperDav, WillB, and Selfbowman have completed their trades! I’m nearly finished - been reducing weight and positive tiller - I think I’m calling it “tillered” and will move on to sanding and finishing. Should be shipped in a month. Looking for an update on SamH, Mafort, and Swampman. Also has anyone been working on a backup bow in the event someone drops on us? I haven’t had time to do one this year. As a reminder please check with me before shipping.
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I got home last evening from hunting and was surprised to find a large package from Ontario, Canada. My 2024 trade bow arrived from Dave Bradley and I couldn’t be happier. To be perfectly honest I was hoping I might receive this bow as I followed Dave’s build along.
The finish work on this bow is amazing, but it shoots as good as it looks. Very smooth all the way to my 28” draw, with no hand shock. I don’t own a chronograph, but I can tell this bow is extremely fast, as Dave reported in his earlier post. I love the resting profile and the tiller is excellent. Looks awesome on my bow rack also (-S.
I’ve included a couple photos of my new bow in the link below. Thanks so much for an Awesome trade bow, Dave! Much appreciated!
Will
https://www.flickr.com/photos/192203801@N04/shares/RsPVZgL0XR
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Great looking bow Will. Congrats. Lots of nice looking bows in that bow rack.
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Thanks Musky. I really liked the trade bow you made.
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Will, you are very welcome and glad it arrived in one piece. I’m glad you liked it and hope it serves you well. Dave.
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Very nice Dave. Yes that bow profile is fast and smooth to draw. Congratulations Will.
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I've been working with hickory from my family's farm in Alabama. I got it roughed-out, have fire hardened the bow, and started tillering on it. Everything is going good so far. Sorry for the delay in posting updates! I've been busy with school, my son's first birthday was the weekend before last, and yesterday the wife and I found out we're going to be having another baby in July! Hopefully this photo upload works, but if not I will get them posted tonight. Thanks!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066315056_2a4cb8596b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qnDZPN)IMG_3671 (https://flic.kr/p/2qnDZPN) by Samuel Hartline (https://www.flickr.com/photos/200690963@N05/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066778685_b7235afaae_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qnGnDp)IMG_3672 (https://flic.kr/p/2qnGnDp) by Samuel Hartline (https://www.flickr.com/photos/200690963@N05/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066645314_b20b775648_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qnFFZU)IMG_3673 (https://flic.kr/p/2qnFFZU) by Samuel Hartline (https://www.flickr.com/photos/200690963@N05/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54065445407_efb3daeec9_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qnzxiR)IMG_3670 (https://flic.kr/p/2qnzxiR) by Samuel Hartline (https://www.flickr.com/photos/200690963@N05/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066778690_f47a531b17_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qnGnDu)IMG_3669 (https://flic.kr/p/2qnGnDu) by Samuel Hartline (https://www.flickr.com/photos/200690963@N05/), on Flickr
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Nice work Sam. Glad to see you’re on track. And congratulations!
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Hey guys. I should be shipping out my bow in the next week. It’s essentially finished. Turned out pretty solid. How are me few remaining builders coming?
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Got my trade bow done and shipped. Hope my recipient likes it. 47# at 28” and maintains 2” plus of reflex.
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Looking for an update from Swampman, Mafort, and SamH please.
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Awesome bow kidder! She looks fast and purdy! Lucky guy to get this one.
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Very nice bow, Kidder. Someone is getting a great shooting bow. Well done buddy
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I got my trade bow today ! Thanks Kidder it’s a beauty . Boo backed yew. The tip came off in shipping that’s why I don’t ship in tubes. Been there done that. I glued the tip overlay back on with no problem and shot the bow. Shoots where you look and has plenty of speed. It will go in the Weaver Hall of fame with Lonnie Dye, Kenny Cartwright, and the famous Pearl Drums. 🤠 There is another guy on the opposite wall. 🤠all kidding aside I love the bow.
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Nice bow wall Arvin. Nice bow kidder to add to the wall!
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Glad it arrived (sorta) safe! Kinda chaps my a$$ but glad that was the only issue. Honored to have it make your wall! Hope it gives you many years of joy.
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Kidder that’s about the third time tips have done that for me in tubes. I think they get hung up on the carrousel and get thrown against the wall knocking the tips off. Never had it done in my boxes.i buy cheap 1/4” plywood and fence pickets . I get 4 boxes out of plywood and then it takes 4 six ft fence pickets. It only took about ten minutes to glue this one back on so no big deal. I love the bow and it shoots great. Well done. I get the right conditions I may try it with a broadhead flight arrow.
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Hey kidder I tested your bow with my flight broadhead arrows. It got to dark to use my range finder but it landed out about 205 -215 yds. I’ve shot enough by the cedar tree I know it’s over 200 yds. That’s plenty respectable. The bow probably has another 10-15 yds in it My Osage boo backed holds simple composite at 260 yds.
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I could have sworn it was going to shoot 300 plus. I bet it’s user error!
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Could be !🤠🤠🤠