I wasn't going to post this yet, as the finish work still has to be done, but Half Eye inspired me to get this up.
This is a bow inspired by the Sarnate neolithic bow found in Eastern Europe in the 1950s. I saw this design on Paeloplanet sometime back, and was facinated by it. The most interesting design feature is the cutout on the handle for, presumably, one or more fingers as you grip the bow.
This is the shortest bow I have made to date, and came in at 60.50" tip to tip, 59.50 nock to nock. It is made from hopehornbeam harvested in Western Massachusetts. It is 2" wide at the handle, and stays 2" until it tapers to 1" width the last 12 inches of each limb. The handle is non bending, and is 3" long, and the fades are short, 1.5" each.
It was fun and not too hard to make. I decided to stop messing with the tiller finally, and think that it could be better. I heat treated the belly lightly with a heat gun, and it came in at about 48# at 27" draw. I did lift one splinter, and thought for a while it was doomed, but the rawhide patch seems to be holding enough that the bow seems fine after 70 or 80 shots. The set is about .75" at one tip, and about .25" at the other. I decided the patched limb was the upper one because of the cutout in the handle. It actually makes it an easy bow to hold, and there is, very surprisingly, virtually no hand shock. I thought for sure with those heavy limbs it would be jarring, but the bow is docile and fun to shoot.
Coloring - I used red ochre mixed with egg white for the carrier. I just brushed it on, then buffed it with a paper towl. I put a single coat of True Oil on the back of the bow, and plan to do some very light sanding and then finish the entire bow with True Oil.
I will make some more bows of this design, see if I can get a better tiller and maybe a bit heavier bow. Maybe hhb again, maybe a different type of wood.
The bow is NOT for BOM. It isn't finished, and I dont think worthy of that contest. Maybe another of the same design, but this is as much an experiment as anything.
Dane
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