vine maple sapling bow (w/pics)

[Gordon]

I have been curious if I could fashion a short hunting weight bow from a vine maple sapling so I selected a 1 ¾” diameter sapling that I cut while steelhead fishing last winter for the job. The bow is 57” ntn, pulls 55# @ 27” and bends through the handle. The width is 1 3/8” at the handle, about 1 ½” mid-limb tapering to 7/16” at the tips. I built the handle area up with leather to make it easier to grip while shooting. The limbs are asymetrical. I used a John Strunk style handle wrap and capped each end with a strip of mink fur (that I got from my fly-typing supplies).The bow is stained with leather dye and finished with a coat of paraffin wax. The bow has some small frets along one edge of the limbs that I believe occurred when I first strung the bow during tillering. The limbs leaned to one side and the strain was too much for the thin edges.  I’ve pulled the bow over a 1000 times on my tree and I don’t think they are going to cause any trouble. But next time I build a sapling bow I’ll try to get the tips more or less aligned before I put the short string on it.

When I showed the bow to my wife she commented that it looks like it should be named Nanook – so that’s what I named it.

[brian melton]

         Hi Gordon been a while, nice bow! Hey you ever tried to a decrowed backed reflex deflex design using Vine as the belly wood, or for that matter a severe reflex deflex unbacked?? I am pondering both.....

[Gordon]

Hey Brian, good to hear from you again!

Vine maple is very strong in tension so I don't back vine maple unless there is an issue. If you do use a high stress design with vine maple keep the belly really flat as vine maple is not nearly as strong in compression.

[cowboy]

Dang Gordon - nother nice bow!! Think you could take a random peice of drift wood and tiller it perfectly . Gonna do a Stunk style handle on one of mine soon.......

[venisonburger]

 knarly yet beautiful , as usual you've made something really pleasing to look at, do you have any close pictures of the belly showing the grain?
V

[deerhunter97370]

Gordon, You are truely a Master Caftsman. Good Job.

Joel

[medicinewheel]

hey gordon!  -  that's a really nice bow again!
frank

[DanaM]

Gordon that is sweet looking primitive style bow. It looks like you
are pushing the envelope with that one. Well done.

[George Tsoukalas]

Gordon, that is an awesome tiller. Great job. Jawge

[Ryano]

Good job on that knarley looking piece Gordon. I'm going to have to try that vine maple some time.

[Pat B]

Beautiful bow, Gordon. I love knarly character bows and you have nailed the tiller on this knarly stick!    Pat

[OldBow]

Your full draw pics should convince anyone that this is one very well tillered bow. Looking forward to  seeing it for Oct Bow of the Month consideration.

[david w.]

i love that it is so cool.one of the coolest i have seen.  does vine maple grow in Sw illinois? I live more in the north part of sw il

[Gordon]

VB, I added another picture that shows the belly.

David, as far as I know vine maple grows naturally only in the Pacific NW.

[medicinewheel]

that handle wrap is the coolest!