I got the idea for this arrow while talking with a good friend, then my mind started going wild on how to actually complete it. I tinkered with making jigs, testing, and more testing, then after many many frustrating evenings (over 2 months total), I finally figured it out. Here is the breakdown of my hardest arrow build to date...
The fore shaft is made from Douglas Fir and stained with the spice Turmeric. The shaft is footed with Buffalo Horn and tipped with an Eclipse 145 grain broadhead. The center of the shaft is Clear acrylic that has been polished and footed into the fore shaft and also into the tail of the arrow. The tail is formed with 4 pieces of Mahogany and Poplar then hand planed and wrapped in Copperhead snake skins. The arrow is crested with a custom blend of Testors paints. Fletched with natural Turkey feathers that have been membrane spliced with yellow feathers, and topped off with a hand carved self nock.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/Tradgang/IMG_0013-2.jpg)
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/Tradgang/IMG_0017-2.jpg)
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/Tradgang/IMG_0011-2.jpg)
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/Tradgang/IMG_0012-2.jpg)
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/Tradgang/IMG_0018-2.jpg)
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/Tradgang/IMG_0010-2.jpg)
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/Tradgang/IMG_0019-2.jpg)
very nice Mike, I would love to do, but I think I will stick to buying.
Sweet! I will take 2,NO! 3 Dozen.
Thanks Mike,
CTT
OUTSTANDING! The time and effort is apparent. You might want to check into a 12 step program. HA!
Sarge
Very sweet !
:archer:
WoW! I wish I had the talent, the time, and the medication needed to complete a project like that!
wow. thats amazing. fantastic work.
That's just too cool Mike. So how does it fly? :goldtooth:
Seriously you done good!!!
Never seen THAT done before!
Looks cool!
Killdeer :clapper:
Thank you everyone for the kind words.
Right now, the arrow is in Portland, OR at the Professional Bowhunter's Society 50th Anniversary Banquet. I entered it in the arrow building contest, and after the contest, it becomes the property of PBS to auction off for the benefit of the organization.
AND.. Very nice job on a cool arrow.
Amazing! What a wall-hanger.
Its nice to see that your a-d-d medication is working Mike. Don
Forgot to say it looks cool as heck.
Great craftsmanship and a beautiful arrow..!
Where's the other eleven... :laughing:
Next year Mike Ill help you drill out the piece of acrylic and we can put a led light in it for the worlds most unlosable arrow. :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
QuoteOriginally posted by DWT:
Next year Mike Ill help you drill out the piece of acrylic and we can put a led light in it for the worlds most unlosable arrow. :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
Believe me Don, I have begun thinking about the next one. It's 2 years away, and I think I'm going to need it. The hardest part of this whole thing is not telling anyone about it. There was only 2 guys who saw it (1 in person, and 1 by email). Besides that it has been in Portland for the past 2 months in a box in Gene Carroll's camper. My biggest fear, besides it breaking, was that my secret would get out. So you will just have to wait 2 years to see the next one.
That's a doozy! Nice job, very creative!
QuoteOriginally posted by wooddamon1:
That's a doozy! Nice job, very creative!
Figured I would do something different than everybody else.
Very nice!
Excellent job-
Big Mike, getting ready to head to the banquet. You have some stiff competition, but I think all us Michigan guys that made the long haul out may have put you on top.
:thumbsup: nice job buddy.
It was ALL the Michigan guys who motivated me, so I appreciate the much needed help.
Mike - I saw this arrow today at the Banquet. very nicely done. very impressive!
:clapper:
Interesting design/material combination. Good luck in the competition.
That's a fine piece of craftmanship and creative work. Bet you don't do any stump shoot'in with it ;-)
If I can finally get you some juvie snow goose feathers...wow!
Very nice!
you better put one of those away and save it to pass down to your grandchildren! just awsome work
:clapper:
Good Luck Mike!
Mr. Vines,
What happened to the photos?
Best Wishes
yep they gone... I was all excited to see the arrows. Can you post another set of pics please
I don't know what happened, but they were gone. Must have been when I organized my Photobucket account. Anyway, they are are back up again.
Thank you for the kind word everyone. I found out last night that I did not win the single arrow contest with this one, but I did, in fact, win the 3 arrow contest. But the PBS won with both at the auction, and that is what it was all for.
Congrats Mike on the 3 arrow win. Got pics of the arrows you entered in that?
I'll get some in the morning. I have one left that I hafted a flint knapped head on yesterday to keep on my arrow rack as a reminder.
Nice arrow Mike.
It would be nice to know how much it goes for/went at auction.
PM sent.
Well how does it shoot?
Very nice. :thumbsup: :cool:
Most awesome arrowdude! You're there! Especially like the bone tip idea. How about some specs; l, w, wt?
Awesome arrow Mike!
Benny
Very nicely done. Thanks for sharing this!
Great job Mike!! :notworthy:
I just went out on this georgious morning to take a few pics of the brother to the 3 arrows I entered. Only thing different is that the broadhead on this one was made by Woody Blackwell, and man is that guy great at what he does. I can only hope to be as good as his throw aways.
I decided to try my hand at hafting it on a shaft, so why not test my abilities, and use the arrow it was going on as a test dummy. I think I did just OK. Woody does a much better job than I can.
The 3 arrows I entered had 145 grain Eclipse heads on them. I like those heads so much, they are going to accompany me to Hawaii this fall to go hunting. Now I just need to figure out some arrows for the hunt.
Anyway, here are the pics I just took...
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/Tradgang/DSC00871.jpg)
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/Tradgang/DSC00870.jpg)
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/Tradgang/DSC00869.jpg)
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/Tradgang/DSC00868.jpg)
Congrats Mike. Awesome arrow.
Where you hiding the three arrows?
Ask and ye shall receive. :p
Wow, that's some amazing work Mike.
That blows all arrows I have ever seen away, Amazing work.That is the one!
All I can say is wow
great job, very nice
Both of those are incredible arrows, you did good.
very-very nice! :thumbsup:
That's sweet! :thumbsup:
Wow!! I'll stick to my plain and simple arrows.
Incredible artwork. Well done.
I don't think anyone would be too proud to "Robin Hood" one of those beauties!
Best for looking at, I guess.
QuoteOriginally posted by Hopewell Tom:
Best for looking at, I guess.
The pictures on page 3 are what most of my hunting arrows look like, minus the stone head. I enjoy making arrows and even squirrel hunts get special arrows for them.
I'll bet even your stumpers are way better than my best hunters.
Nice work Mike. Got your voicemail. :thumbsup:
Good looking arrows, something to be proud of.
WOW!!!!!!
Bisch
What a project!
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Very Nice work Mike, you are a true innovator, you come up with some of the best projects I have seen. :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by Mike Vines:
....I found out last night that I did not win the single arrow contest with this one, but I did, in fact, win the 3 arrow contest. But the PBS won with both at the auction, and that is what it was all for.
Congratulations Mike! You can't win them all though! haha Got to leave some for the rest of us. ;) Very different arrow that is for sure. What was the spine on that one? Looking forward to 2014. I was surprised to hear my name called for the "professional single arrow". There are a lot of good arrow builders.
Congrats to both of you guys. Great job!
From what I heard, you did a wonderful job as well David. Believe me I was just as surprised as you when the guys were calling and emailing me. I'm hoping someone will post pics of all the creations that were there for all of us that were not able to attend.
I have some ideas for 2014, and It is going to be a lot of fun getting them ready.
great job, I gota buy mine
simply amazing!
Mike, I pulled one of these out for the one arrow contest.
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/snag23/IMG_0559.jpg)
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/snag23/IMG_0561.jpg)
These are the ones I entered in the 3 arrow contest.
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/snag23/IMG_0539.jpg)
Those are very impressive David. I'm looking forward to meeting you in Cincinnatti.
Mike, that arrow is amazing! Never seen anything like that! I'll take 3 dozen!
HEY JON! I already have my order in for 3dz. No cutting :p . Besides,Mike has not even confirmed my order yet. :readit:
Congrats to Mike and David for some sweet looking arras. :thumbsup: :clapper:
You boys make some aweful nice arrows!! :notworthy: :notworthy:
Not taking orders unless you have an archery related fund raiser you need a donation to, then we will talk. If I took orders that would make it a job, (which I already have one, and don't need 2) not to mention I hate working.
For now i will let the professionals do that, and i can honestly recommend Snag and also Magnus when it comes to making some trully custom arrows that are both functional and beautiful for you to shoot and hunt with. There are many others out there, but I can vouch for their work.
So until I then, my arrow making is for fundraisers, close friends and myself to hunt with.
Congrat's on the win Mike, and Thanks again for the St. Jude Hunt arrow.
Heading back to Ray's in the morning.
Dennis
Congrat's on the win Mike, and Thanks again for the St. Jude Hunt arrow.
Heading back to Ray's in the morning.
Dennis
Mike, I don't expect you to give up trade secrets, but can you offer anything on how you built the arrow. I am especially interested in how you joined the acrylic to the wood. Very neat.
And don't worry, you will not see me building one of these!
Great stuff thanks for sharing.
Mike you out did yourself! Congrats!! You to David :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by lt-m-grow:
Mike, I don't expect you to give up trade secrets, but can you offer anything on how you built the arrow. I am especially interested in how you joined the acrylic to the wood.
You will have to be the highest bidder to find that out.
QuoteOriginally posted by Dennis Allman:
Congrat's on the win Mike, and Thanks again for the St. Jude Hunt arrow.
Heading back to Ray's in the morning.
Dennis
Get a hog for me, Mike, Todd, and Benny Dennis!!!
That big ol' coal black Boar is still there in that same area I'll bet.