Hackberry and White birch bark for my wife

[Blackcoyote]

Finally finished up my 3rd bow...

Stave was a nice piece of hackberry I got in trade from Paul Semp at Marshall.  After Marshall my wife said I HAD to build her a bow for the next shoot at Marshall. It's been an interesting journey since she's a recurve shooter and we had different visions for this bow...yup, she won out! 

The specs: 60" ntn, #28 @ 24" stave had some natural deflex so I left it for some string follow. . As for the birch bark, I was thinking the thin outer layers on a dark stained bow...the wife wanted the inner bark and the bow left natural, so it pretty much glows in the dark!  Good thing she only hunts rabbits! Tips ended up just a under 1/2", 8 coats of spar urethane later, cork shelf, elk hide handle, and seal fur rest.

Thanks to Pearl drums, Paulsemp, DGF, Badly bent...for all the help, encouragement, and "inspiration" to keep me moving.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Momma has better form than you Drew! Just look at that draw elbow and anchor. Hell, Im jealous.

The bow turned out sweet, seeing that bark in person stirred my fire. I think I need to harvest some and add it to a upcoming build. Great work man.

[SLIMBOB]

Looks like a shooter.  Nice work Sir.

[Blackcoyote]

Yuppers she's a natural minus the floating anchor...but we've been working on that!

No need to harvest any, I've got some strips cut already for ya...I'll drop them off next visit! 

[blackhawk]

Nice one drewster!!! 

[Onebowonder]

In the immortal words of Sir Elmer of the Fudd  - - - "Doze Wabbits better wun fast..."

I really like the white bark with unstained wood.  Pretty cool work...


OneBow

[PAHunter]

Oh man, I really like the look of this one!  Any particular kind of cork or will any champaign type cork work? Did you just kinda tap it into there after putting on the leather handle or glue it before wrapping the handle?  I'd like to try a handle like that.  If you have any details or links please share!  thanks and great job!

[Del the cat]

Very nice look to that bark.
Lady shootin' a bow , what's not to like (unless you're the wabbit she's fixin' on )
Del

[adb]

I really like the BB backing. I think I gotta try that soon. Nice bow, and it's great to see the ladies showin' us the way!

[Pappy]

Nice one, Love the bark backing,really cool looking. She looks like she knows how to handle it also.
 Pappy

[paoliguy]

Got to love that bark backing!

[Dan K]

I've thought about the birch bark but afraid it would crack after repeated bending. Will this present itself after 1000 shots or so?  Being a lighter weight the stress is not to much. What about a heavier bow with a 28" to 30" draw?

[Blackcoyote]

Thanks guys - Slimbob, Blackhawk, Onebow, Del, Adb, paoliguy and Pappy!

[Blackcoyote]

Oh man, I really like the look of this one!  Any particular kind of cork or will any champaign type cork work? Did you just kinda tap it into there after putting on the leather handle or glue it before wrapping the handle?  I'd like to try a handle like that.  If you have any details or links please share!  thanks and great job!

PAHunter - thanks
it was just some cork board I had laying around - I built it up to the thickness I wanted, shaped with sandpaper, then glued it on the handle....then I wrapped the handle.

[Blackcoyote]

I've thought about the birch bark but afraid it would crack after repeated bending. Will this present itself after 1000 shots or so?  Being a lighter weight the stress is not to much. What about a heavier bow with a 28" to 30" draw?

Dan, I'm not sure, I know others have used with shorter/heavier bows with normal draw lengths...it's not thick at all, I peeled the outer layers down after I cut the strips, then once the glue was dry I peeled down several more layers, then went over it with steel wool.

Being that I haven't made many bows and this was for my wife - I've shot a lot of arrows through to make sure everything was fine before giving it to her, and there are no cracks so it appears to be holding up very well.