So I'm toying with the idea of getting a new one piece recurve.  And I really like the way a copperhead backing would look.  But I've never really handled any snakeskin backed bows.  Are there any issues?  Wear, fading, weather resistance, etc?  I'm assuming that a professionally done job from a reputable maker with modern glass/epoxys will protect it.  Or am I wrong?  Tell me what you know and oh yeah, throw in some pics of your bows if their backed (especially with copperhead!).  I could use some eye candy!

Here\\'s One I Did.

Here is a good thread from the past.  Also PM Eric Krewson for a pic of the snakey copperhead bow he built.  It was one of the prettiest bows I've ever seen.

 snakey bows

Bunyan

Here's my 2.  No problems with wear, fading, peeling etc...  Obviously they'll take a hit if you bang one against a tree step in the dark but other than that, they're pretty tough.

working on one right now,i'll try to post some pix tomorrow...

Fantastic!  Thanks guys!  And of course feel free to keep em coming!

pghttp://www.gutstuff.com/images/640x480/bows/03
Hey John that sure looks like a bullsnake not a copperhead..here is a pic of multi snake skinned bows ..there is a copperhead and a bullsnake in this pic...gut

one of these days I'll figure out how to post a pic...sorry guys.....geeze I suck at the computer..glad I build better bows than I do posting pics..LOL..gut

"GUT"... we don't allow web addy's to personal sites....please post the pics if you'd like.....there's a sticky post at the top of the PW page about posting pix...thanx

A few years ago I was sitting in my tree stand and it was just after sunset. A Brown Thrasher flew up and began dive bombing me. After about 10 minutes of this I figured it wasn't ant since sitting there so I got down and went back to camp. The next evening, same tree, same situation. The danged Thrasher was at it again. On my way back to camp I realized it wasn't me he was after but the copperhead across my lap. I was in full camo with face paint and was hunting with a copperhead skinned osage self bow. Now I use other snake skins but not copperheads to back bows.   Pat

Hey Andy, check out the "How To" thread on this site. MSwickard has a great tutorial on skinning bows. It's easy and a lot of fun! I did two bows and they turned out great! One was an Australian Tiger Viper on a Great Plains Texas Hunter and the other a diamondback rattler on my Hornes Combo Hunter. I can send pics if you're interesed. Good luck!

One more--something happened with one of the pictures....

Here is the Eric Krewson copperhead, which is my bow. Life is good.

Here is another copperhead selfbow, and a John Strunk copperhead grip on an osage selfbow.

I have found snakeskin backed bows to be pretty durable, but then again I am real careful with them.

 

 

Gut, is it too much to ask for you to follow the rules like everyone else here?  

You're absolutely right,this site is full of great people,and the moderation is part of that reason.  

Guys that have a problem with how it's run choose to go elsewhere.....that's why TG is what it is......