53" sinew backed osage

[Pat B]

Last year at the Tennessee Classic Gary Davis walked up to me and handed me this 53" osage stave and said he wanted to see what I could do with it. As usual with Gary's staves it had a bit of backset but had straight limbs and was in good shape to begin tillering. It was obviously meant to be a kids bow as Gary had marked it with "35#". When I saw it I immediately thought a short sinew backed bow.
I flipped the tips a bit and did a little tillering to insure both limbs were about the same. I made a small loop of sinew which I used to draw the handle down and attach to a small cup hook while lifting the tips up on blocks giving it about 5 1/2" of backset.
About a month ago,I began adding sinew I recovered from my second failed attempt to sinew back Elkie, a bow I made for a 2006 elk hunt. Just the other day I added about 3 or 4 back strap sinews over the first layer. I will let the hide glue/sinew cure out for at least another month before completeing this cool little bow. I plan to add snake skin backing, tip overlays and a handle wrap but those will be later. Here is how she sits now...





...here you can see the sinew loop holding down the handle area...

[Frenchymanny]

Very nice!          

F-Manny

[twitchstick]

I'm sure it's going to be a great little bow like all your others. I love your jig,it's so simple. I can't wait to see it when it's done.          

[Kapellmeister]

Are you planning on selling that bow when you're finished with it?  If so, can I call "dibs" on it?!  PT me!    :D

[Benjy]

Pat, I heard that cigar smoke realy helps hide glue/sinew cure faster    :D  

Looking good!

Benjy

[Pat B]

I don't know what my plans this bow are. I rarely sell bows anymore but I give them away or trade them quite often.  My curiosity wants this to be a hunting bow but only time will tell.
 Benjy, I'm sure cigar smoke will speed up the sinew/glue curing but would also increase the medicine of the bow too. We'll have to discuss that at our next meeting! d;^) I think bourbon helps too!!!

[Pat B]

I'm hoping to make this a 50#-55#@26" hunting bow when done. Time will tell!

[Benjy]

Pat, make sure the bourbon comes AFTER you have worked on the bow!

It is time for another meeting!

[Bjorn]

Really nice!!

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Very nice!    

Looking forward to seeing the finished bow.

Tracy