Sewn to the grip is a 7 layer flattened green watermelon trade bead. Those beads were made in the late 1700's and early 1800's by a single family of glass bead makers on the island of Murano, which is part of the city of Venice, Italy. A very few of them made it to the North American continent as part of the fur trade. However most had a much darker past; they were goods used in the slave trade in West Africa.
This particular bead was part of a collection from Africa. I have a very limited number of them and the prices have gone up over 400% recently IF I could find some for sale. In all liklihood, this bead was part of a cargo that purchased someone's life.
I sew one of these to the grips of my bows to remind people that they should think twice about trading away their freedoms, even the smallest of freedoms. It may seem like you are getting a great deal upfront, but in reflection all you have are worthless trade beads and reduced freedom.
Enjoy shooting the bow, Hammy. It was made to use, not hang on the wall. If anything happens to it, lemme know, I'll do all I can to make it right! I was very much shaken up when I drew your name. You don't post a lot of bows, but when you do they are always high end gems! To say the least, I was daunted. And when the first one blew less than two weeks from shipping deadline I was panic stricken.
The night I stayed up working on this stave, I talked to her all the way. I asked her to be nice to me and in return I promised to treat her gently thru the whole process. By about 5:00 a.m. I had everything roughed out and I ran a string line from tip to tip and it ran perfectly thru the handle. Right then I knew this stave was a good 'un, and she wanted to be yours.
