Your thoughts on Selfbows?

[WINDTALKER]

So Wannabe when are you gonna be ready to learn about the labor of love involved in building your own ?

[Wannabe1]

Windtalker, I have a copy of the Traditional Bowyers Bible Vol 1 coming soon. I am hoping this will provide enough instruction to complete my first attempt at a selfbow. I have always like learning new things and take pride in the accomplishment of something done by hand. Especially my hands    

Have you built one before?

[WINDTALKER]

Yes I took Teds class at his place in Hood River got to put in to practice what I read in the books(and learn from his years of experience)And got to check out some of his work. Let me tell you, a selfbow is every bit as efficent as any other weapon.And fun to make , I'm on #3. Oh yeah go ahead and order volumes 2,3 and 4 your going to want them(great books)and give me a holler when your ready I've got a stave of osage I'll give you if you want it. Art

[Tree man]

There are lots of ways to spend money. For $1500 you can spend 1 week getting one on one instruction from Ed Scott of Owl bows. For those dollars you get lessons, leave with a completed sinew-backed bow, a sinew-backed bow partway through the process and quite  few guys manage to crank out a completed selfbow also. You can rationalize that you will wind up with $1300-1700 worth of bows plus a ton of ideas.

[newtotrad]

Hey Wannabe,

I am thinking of ordering a bamboo backed bow from Maddog as well.  My question is what length I should get with my 27" draw.  I am only 5'8" and don't want to go too long.

[James Wrenn]

All wood bows are great fun.I personally believe there is no better hunting bow for whitetails if you have a good one.They are so quiet it gives the hunter an edge.As far as I am concerned the only true custom bow is a selfbow.No two can be exactly alike because the piece of wood decides what the bow will be like not a form. jmo

[Wannabe1]

I now have 2 bows on order. I've got a 70" Yew D-style longbow in the 45# range in the works from another member. By the time I'm ready for another one, I'll be up to making it myself. Wanted to give a couple a try before taking on that job.

James, appreciate your input. Solidifies my decision to hunt deer this year with only a self bow.

[George Tsoukalas]

Selfbows are all I shoot. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/

[Pat B]

Wannabe, These are the 2 self bows I made this year to hunt with. One is a 60" osage bendy handle recurve and the other is a self yew bow. Both about 48#@26".  The yew bow is sealed with hand rubbed bear fat and the osage recurve is sealed with Tru-Oil gun stock finish.    Pat

[Wannabe1]

Those are real nice looking bows. I especially like that recurve. Was that hard to get the tips to bend like that?

[Pat B]

Osage bends easy with a bit of heat and holds the bend well.     Pat

[gordonf]

Here is a sampling of some self-bows that I have made.





 

[ishoot4thrills]

Excellent, gordonf. Those are gorgeous bows with superb tiller. Very nicely decorated, too.

     

[Wannabe1]

Man, this is getting better and better! Those are sweet bows!          I particularly like that last one.

[NightHawk]

TW go for it!! nothing better than to work on one of your own, heck if you mess up and you will (we all have) don't worry it's just wood. Get another piece and start again. It's kinda theraputic (stress relieveing) to work on a selfbow

[Bjorn]

Aw man those are so good!! Especially the last one!      

[Wannabe1]

Gordon, seems I remember that you tend a gathering every year that has self bow making classes. Is that correct? If so, what is the name and what time frame does it take place?

[Walt Francis]

T.W.
I might be a litle slower them some of the more experienced bowyers here (I have only made around 60-65 selfbows) each of these bows took over eighty hours to make and finish.  If I was to sell it for what the market is willing to pay I would be working for less then minimun wage, therefore I will not sell my bows.  Those I do not keep for myself are donated to good a cause/group or given friends.

Donated to PBS for the 2008 banquet.







Donated to Tradgangs St. Judes Auction, 2008

[Wannabe1]

Walt,I really like the shape of that top bow! Much respect to you and for what you do.  

[Roy Steele]

Indains lived over 10,000 years with theres.For me I've built bows for 18 years.Kiied 33 bucks so far.Just hunt the wind a little better get a little closer.But ain't thats bow hunting all about.   ROY steele WV.