One of the things that I enjoy so much about traditional archery is, well, the tradition.
Like many of you, I fall back in time when I hunt or even just shoot my longbow or recurve. I think about the way things used to be, and how much I try to avoid the way things are today. I just like old stuff and old ways. Sure, I get caught up in some modern things once in awhile, but I like old things and old ways.

I like to talk to and hang around guys that are kinda the same way as me. since I started vending at the archery events years ago, I have met some wonderful people from around the country. I have shared a camp with a few of them and I count many that I would like to share a fire with.
I get a lot of enjoyment out of hearing from folks that have a good story to tell.

I can relate Chuck. Just finishing up my first stone tipped arrow. Makes me think of how many thousands had been made over the centuries just like it. Every bow I shoot takes me back to a different era. From the selfbow style of early America's to my "Dads bow " of the early 70's. They definitely do take you back in time.

When I started as a member and then sponsor on Trad Gang, I was exposed to many more people that I may have never crossed paths with otherwise. Many of these fine folks have become people that I can and will share emails, PM's or phone calls with several times a year. As if we are old friends, even though we have only been introduced through the common interest of bow hunting and more over, Traditional Bow hunting.

Matt, ya really gonna hunt with that ole chunk of chipped up rock?
Good luck, and don't forget PICTURES!
Jonhhy/JAG
The only thing I hate about the trip, is that I have to come back to the present time!

Chuck, you give more than you get for sure. I am looking forward to where this goes. I have two physical possessions to remember my Grandfather by; a 1949 Grizzly wallhanger and a 1968 Kodiak, that someday when I find a place I can hunt all the time will spend many a sits with me.

I think I am going to deeply enjoy this thread.

I'm with you here ------

I have always liked to talk to those that have come before me, My peers, and more so my elders.

I enjoy the fact that people have great history behind them. Some have been at this game a long time and have many tales to tell. The ones I really like, they think that the past they share is just everyday stuff, "nothing to look at here folks".

I hear ya Chuck!  

I hope I'm not hijacking Chuck's thread.

The 6 month wait for my new Two Tracks Echo, named "Dad's Bow", has been excruciating and seemed like it would go on forever-not a complaint, just anxious. Forever ends soon as Chuck just told me that I have a bow on the way. I'll tell you how "Dad's Bow" came to be, short story long.  During World War 2 my father was in the civil service as a machinist on B-17s stationed at Hendrix Field in Sebring, Florida.  After the war, he was released from the civil service and worked as a gunsmith for a while. In 1946 or 47, he went to visit relatives in Newfield, NY where he cut down a walnut tree and had it cut into 3" planks and shipped to Florida to be used for gun stocks.  He only cut about a dozen stock blanks from the walnut and another 4 or 5 from birdseye maple-the rest of the walnut was left to air dry in my grandfather's garage.  The first 10 years of my life, my family (parents, 2 older sisters, and later a younger sister) lived in a 25' travel trailer.  My parents (and then baby sister) slept in the bedroom.  The other 3 of us slept in the front room, the 2 older girls slept on a sofa bed.  My bed was a blanket laid over a bunch of gunstock blanks between the sofa bed and the front of the trailer, my bed for about 8 years until we bought a house in 1962.  

I was talking to Chuck about making me an Echo and when he asked about the limb cores, I said bamboo, unless he thought another wood might be better (it's his design, he should know).  He asked what I thought about walnut, the light bulb came on.  I told Chuck the story about the stock blanks and he said "we can do this"-Dad's Bow was born.  I sent Chuck some of the 65 year old air dried walnut for the limbs (a stock wasn't long enough for a limb core) and a chunk of birdseye maple from one of the stocks for the riser.  My father never shot a bow, and didn't think much of hunting with a bow, but, my new bow wouldn't be here if it weren't for him.  Chuck asked me a few days ago did I want to name the bow or want him to name it, I said "Dad's Bow".  I now have a bow made from wood my father cut 65 years ago, hence the dedication.  It's as close as I'll get to hunting with my father again, after too many years.

I'll post pictures once I get my grub paws on Dad's Bow.

Great story, thanks for sharing.

Wheew!
You just saved me 2-3 more days of writing Phil.
I will cut to the chase.
When I became a sponsor on Trad Gang, Phil was one of the first guys to contact me. We talked for a while that day and many days since. When will contact each other during season and see how each is doing.
When Phil told me about the old lumber from his father and I told him "You got to get me some for your bow". He did and this is the result.

This is how the lumber arrived to me in Michigan.

Cleaning up the wood,
 

I will be following this one also...love this stuff.  

..to hear from a fellow member about the chance to hold in his hands a piece of wood with a story that brings back part of a relationship that has such special meaning.  "DAD'S BOW"  I can't imagine the pride you will have with it.  

-Mark

Once I had the blanks cleaned up and square, I needed to adjust the cut so I could have some perfect edge grained laminations.
Lots of exposed blade here, WATCH YOUR FINGERS!

 

Riser wood preped and processing.

Ready to grind and shape. Getting ready for glue up.

I didn't get the pics from here to finish, I got to working and forgot about the camera. I need to work on my Build along technique. Sorry.

We will need to wait a few days for Phil to get the bow to see the finished goods.
I had such a great time building this bow and I sure hope it everything Phil wants it to be. He has been a good guy to get to know over the past few years and I feel blessed to be a part of this story. Thank you Phil.