49 lb @ 27" Black Locust

[M2A]

Had this stave outside my office door for about a year and a half. Great rings and too interesting to put in the rafters but with a large knot in the center that made me always set it aside. The knot seemed to change direction in the handle and comes out the side near the arrow pass. Where it exits it was a bit soft so I removed as much as i could and filled with ground rock/super glue mixture. I left more mass in the handle than normal to prevent any movement in that area. Because of the knot, the limbs have some natural deflex starting in the handle. I left them that way and only reflexed a bit near the tips. Limb width was a bit more narrow than I like on a handle bow, if I recall correct it's just over 1 3/4" wide near the fades. I trapped the limbs to even out the compression/tension forces a bit better and to lighten the limbs up. Finished with a couple coats of Danish oil. Left handle bare to see the character and grain in the handle. Not at all what I expected when I split this stave out a couple years ago but turned out ok.
Hope you all have Merry Christmas!
Mike
IMG_3988 (2) by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
IMG_3987 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
IMG_3985 (2) by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
IMG_3984 (2) by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
IMG_3979 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
IMG_3978 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
IMG_3976 (2) by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
IMG_3973 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
IMG_3972 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
IMG_3971 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
IMG_3970 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
IMG_3982 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
IMG_3980 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr   

[Kidder]

Absolutely stunning!

[Will B]

Beautiful bow!!  I love your tip overlays and the character in the handle. Black locust makes a great bow!  Well done

[bjrogg]

Looks great Mike.  Like how you used what it gave you. Really nice bend

Bjrogg

[Allyn T]

I dig it, sharp looking bow

[PaSteve]

Great looking bow Mike. Merry Christmas to you too.

[Morgan]

You did a fine job on that one mike!

[Lehtis]

Great handwork!

[HH~]

That's a little gem of a bow there.

HH~

[Hrothgar]

Good looking bow, nice job with the handle .

[monoloco]

Superb!

[Swampman]

That is one nice looking locust bow!  Excellent job on that one.

[George Tsoukalas]

Wow! Very nice bow. Great tiller. Jawge

[organic_archer]

Wow! Awesome character in that bow and nicely executed. One to be proud of!

[M2A]

Thanks Fellas! Forgot to mention its 66 ntn. That little bit of deflex in the handle sure makes for a smooth draw, Going to look for another stave like that to work on in the future but without a large knot I hope. lol
Mike