Author Topic: Choctaw hunting bow  (Read 9064 times)

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Offline profsaffel

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Choctaw hunting bow
« on: October 01, 2010, 03:21:11 pm »
This is my latest bow. It's based closely on the Choctaw design posted in the TBB as well as the images from the Grayson Collection. It is 51" ntn hickory and about 55# at 24". Although its initial design is simple, there are many special features in this bow. The handle is wrapped in hemp chord with a built up handle of hickory and a hint of an arrow shelf is built on with leather. The self nocks are based very closely on the original museum piece. However, this bow is silk backed and a faux snake skin design covers that. I separated the tips from the silk backing with red ribbon similar to what Gordon did with his hazelnut bow build-along. The entire bow was stained with ebony and then several coats of polyurethane finished it off. The bow shoots well for an instinctive archer, but it's not designed to pull back to an anchor point. My wooden arrows zing from this bow and hit with authority. I hope to post pics of primitive kills with it very soon.

Thanks for viewing,
Prof

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Professor of History, Student of Bowyery

Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Choctaw hunting bow
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2010, 03:22:14 pm »
Looks fantastic! Jawge
Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!

Offline profsaffel

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Re: Choctaw hunting bow
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2010, 03:22:42 pm »
More pics...

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Professor of History, Student of Bowyery

Offline profsaffel

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Re: Choctaw hunting bow
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2010, 03:24:54 pm »
Oops, try again...

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Professor of History, Student of Bowyery

Offline profsaffel

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Re: Choctaw hunting bow
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2010, 03:26:27 pm »
Looks fantastic! Jawge

Thanks George. You were sure quick on the draw! I didn't even finish posting...  :P
Professor of History, Student of Bowyery

Offline swamp yeti

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Re: Choctaw hunting bow
« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2010, 03:49:07 pm »
That is one nice bow.

Offline Parnell

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Re: Choctaw hunting bow
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2010, 05:47:44 pm »
Very handsome bow.  I bet that bow feels great to carry in the hand.  Are you going to try to match up arrows for it?
Great job, really like that one!
1’—>1’

Offline WOODSLORE

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Re: Choctaw hunting bow
« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2010, 06:11:07 pm »
Very nice I'm makin one like that out of ash right now so that is especially awesome. ;D ;)
Paleo arts are a long sent gift from our ancestors.

If primitive meant dumb......none of us would have been born!

Offline half eye

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Re: Choctaw hunting bow
« Reply #8 on: October 01, 2010, 06:39:06 pm »
Prof,
     Said it before...."ya aint scared of no short bow", very nice tiller on it. Ya really got to respect 'em for a "pinh" grip type draw,eh?
rich

Offline juniper junkie

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Re: Choctaw hunting bow
« Reply #9 on: October 01, 2010, 11:04:54 pm »
mean lookin' weapon. good job. them short bows really shoot fast, but for me they are hard to shoot accurately. I have seen some that shoot them very well, just need to modify the anchor point.

Offline hammertime

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Re: Choctaw hunting bow
« Reply #10 on: October 01, 2010, 11:22:49 pm »
Great lookin' bow, like the handle wrap and the ribbon makes a nice transition to the tips.Do you heat treat the hickory on a short bow like that? - Hammertime

Offline ken75

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Re: Choctaw hunting bow
« Reply #11 on: October 01, 2010, 11:55:14 pm »
very nice ! excellent shorty even if it isnt a "scalloped Ottawa bow"

Offline NTD

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Re: Choctaw hunting bow
« Reply #12 on: October 02, 2010, 12:00:02 am »
Nice bow, has a very authentic look.
Nate Danforth

Offline medicinewheel

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Re: Choctaw hunting bow
« Reply #13 on: October 02, 2010, 01:23:25 am »
looks great!
Frank from Germany...

Offline profsaffel

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Re: Choctaw hunting bow
« Reply #14 on: October 02, 2010, 09:03:50 am »
Great lookin' bow, like the handle wrap and the ribbon makes a nice transition to the tips.Do you heat treat the hickory on a short bow like that? - Hammertime

I forgot to mention that I had started with a couple of inches of reflex dry heated into the tips. By the time I got to shooting it for final tillering, all the treating worked itself out, but I did end up with a very straight bow when all said and done. The bow has practically no set, even after much shooting. I also heat tempered the belly.

And Parnell,
Sorry, but I'm not into arrow making currently (I barely have adequate time to make a bow now and again). Who knows what the future will hold on that though.


Thanks for all the positive comments, guys. God bless.
Professor of History, Student of Bowyery