Another longbow build-along...

[smj]

I got an email some time ago from Red, who asked if I might build a bow for him and do it as a build along here on the Stick & String thread! I have accepted the challenge, and this thread will record the creation of a longbow for him. Of course, we started out trying to determine what materials to use. Since I have a nice ipe plank, we are going to use that for the belly wood. The bow will be about 68" nock to nock, and set up for his draw length and shooting preferences. For the grip section, Red needed to pick a wood to use. I sent him this pic and asked him to choose what he wanted - I tried to give him something to choose from:



The winner was the redheart in the lower right hand corner of the picture. Not a bad choice at all...

The final combination, in the raw so to speak, plus or minus a few additions along the way are shown here... Plus another bow that I am trying to finish up in the next week or so.



You are all invited to follow along, add in comments, criticisms, and any advise you might have about what changes we might do to Reds bow for him. (Make it pull backwards or something...) I thought about making like a flyrod - 4 piece take down... (Just kidding folks!)

I will try to answer any and all questions, and also post enough pictures to keep everyone happy. Let me know if anyone has any specific requests for photos or information.

As to how long this will take - I have interviews next week. If someone gives me a job, it might take longer, but I'd like to have the bow done by the end of February or some time in March.

stevej

[red]

What a great guy stevej is! This is my first foray into tradional gear and he's had to put up with a lot of questions from a true greenhorn. I try and approach new activities with an open mind and I know there is a lot of experience I can benefit from here. I am beginning to gather some traditional accessories (i.e., tab, armguard, etc.). Next question:

Quivers: on the bow? shoulder? hip? I like the idea of going with a small on the bow quiver, but I've never done that with compounds...opens my groups up too much. But maybe if I start with one on the bow...?

Of course, I'll start out practicing and shooting targets. However, my ultimate goal is to hunt with tradional gear.

[arwin]

SWEET!!!!! I might just build along with ya!

[smj]

As to quivers on the bow - these bows tend to have thicker limbs than a 'glass bow does. This can be a problem for a lot of limb quivers, at least, that has been my finding. I would say that if you want a limb quiver, wait till the bow is done. That way you can go to a shop and make certain that the quiver will fit properly before spending the money on it.

Hey arwin - if you decide to tag along on this one, will you be using ipe as well for the belly wood, or something different? R/D design, or flat? Bamboo backed, or something else?

[BT]

Very nice!....I love to see this kind of thing
Good choice Red!....you'll really like this if you give it a chance.

[oldgun]

I to will be following along, not building yet but soon thanks smj.

[easternhunter]

Oh Yeah! I always learn something new from SMJ!
I got alot to catch up on this winter and we'll have to just do a bit at a time here....Hey SMJ, did you notice my back quiver in the equipment section? I guess I should get BT to move it to the STICK and STRING section huh?

[smj]

OK - red. Time to pick what bow you want me to make, pattern wise. We know what matterials you'd like to use, This is about the grip section. You've seen the bow I've made in past threads, it come in close to a center-shot for the arrow rest. The grip is necked below the rest, and flairs nicely out to the lower limb. To compare ipe to ipe, here is bow from the past -

(near center shot...)








Here is the other choice, no rest cut into the bow, rest is added to the side (purple-heart - I may grind that down and add a rest of zebra wood so it matches the nocks), elk antler added to fill out the grip, note this is a left-handers bow (Kevins wife) -








Pick a style, and tell which it is! We can get this thread fired up!

stevej

[red]

Those look great, stevej! For someone new to traditional gear, I am guessing the near center shot would be best. Let me know if I am mistaken in this assumption.

[smj]

You are mistaken. It don't matter which one you want to go with. It is a matter of arrow selection, passing through center is not required at all. A lot of folks say different, but I have set up both of the bows shown. Both shoot just fine, but shoot different arrows.

Bows have been made for centuries shooting around the grip. Robin Hood would have shot a bow that shot off of his hand with no shelf cut into the bow... To be honest, I like the more traditional look of the second bow - one that shoots around the grip. I like the way the limbs curve in to the grip both above and below, almost a mirror image of each other with the grip between. That said, I also really like the grip of the other pattern, more of a 60's look I suppose... (Realize that if I didn't like both, I would not make both! Both shoot just fine.)

It is your call - what do you like?