I am redoing an old NIRK Woodsman recurve and I would like to cover the brown painted limbs with something that is not to expensive like imitation snake skin backing. Any input on sources and how to would be greatly appreciated.
Look at Onestringer " Limbsations ".
I agree with hockey7. I purchased a bow that had the Limbsations from Onestringer on it and they look good.
Now I will say this, they looked pinkish red to me inside the house under artificial light but out in the sun light and nature they are really nice looking.
I have the copperhead skins.
I've used Onestringers limbsations and they worked out great,Ibelieve their the best out there next to the real thing.
I too can vouch for Onestringer's Limbstations (have a set of copperheads on a bow right now), they look quite nice are easy to apply, hold up well, and can be easily changed or removed all together if you change your mind. That being said, I have also used the "artificial snakeskin backing" available at 3Rivers. It is a printed linen cloth and is applyed much the same way you would real skins (pretty easy really), only drawback if any, it's permanent. I have used both the copperhead and diamondback on wooden flatbows. I personally think the diamondback looks quite realistic and is difficult to tell from real skins without very close inspection and the copperheads not bad either, just not quite as realistic. I'm pretty sure I have a close up photo of the wooden bows on my phone and would be more than willing to text or email that photo to you if you shoot me a PM with contact info (just be patient with me, I sleep days and work nights). Hope this helps.
Onestringer's the way to go!!!
I have a set of limbsations as well. They look good and are really easy to put on. From a few feet you can't tell the difference at all. If you are going for realism though, kustom king do a fabric one. You need to glue and coat those ones but you could get texturing underneath with some rough tape.