Selfbow Fun ! Thanks, Son ! (MORE PICS ADDED)

[sgrogg]

Eight years ago, when he was 13, my son built a selfbow under the tutelage of Gary Davis.  He started on it at the Cloverdale shoot and finished it at the GLLI a few weeks later.  He shot it for about a year but High School, and all that goes with it, came along and the bow didn't see much use.

Two years ago on my birthday he told me he wanted me to have the bow.  While I appreciated the gesture I wasn't sure I'd ever really use the bow as I've been shooting 45-50 pound recurves for the last several years and, though I didn't know what the selfbow weighed in at, I was sure it was "out of my league".  So, it hung on the wall for two more years.  Well, a few weeks ago the longbow bug started biting again and I thought what the heck, I'll give it a shot.  I was careful to work it up to brace height slowly and finally got it strung.  Eventually I started pulling it to 1/4, then 1/2, 3/4 and finally full draw.  Man, was it heavy!  Amazingly, though, I wasn't sore the next day.  So, a few days later I took it up to 3-Rivers and tried some different spined arrows and found that it shot 65-70 the best.  After shooting it, Danny put it on the scale for me and it measured 67 pounds!  Wow!

Well, I've been shooting the heck out of that bow and having a blast!  I think it might go hunting this year!

Anyway, thanks Mitch!  Someday our bow will come around to you again and hopefully it will have a few critters to its credit when it does.  Then it will be your turn.

Here are some pics............
 
 
 
 
 
 

[tradtusker]

thats a great looking bow! bet she's happy to get some bend into the old limbs again.

[sticshooter]

Awesome bow! Cool Beans as the famous Ferret word say.<><

[Jason Lester]

Sweet. Great tiller and a sweet looking bow.

Congrats.. Seems like like you'll have a nice bow to pass back down.

[BamBooBender]

Nice bow! Should make for lots of fond memories.

[jchunt4ever]

That is a very nice looking and beautifully crafted self bow! Does it have any sort of backing, or just all wood? Any how congratulations.

[sgrogg]

Thanks guys.  I love the way the bow shoots.  It really sends an arrow.

jchunt4ever, It's all wood....osage.

[JEFF B]

oh nice cool bananas      

[the Ferret]

Yes..most definitly..COOL BEANS! that's a very nice looking bow. Your son did a wonderful job. Of course he got a great start with Garys blanks and tutelage.

wow 67# that is a mighty stout bow. How big is your boy? Hard to believe a 13 year old could draw that much weight.

[sgrogg]

"wow 67# that is a mighty stout bow. How big is your boy? Hard to believe a 13 year old could draw that much weight."

He got off to an early start.  He was shaving as a freshman in high school and playing varsity football.  The other kids caught up, though.  Today at 21, he's 6', 190#.

[Billy]

Steve!! I am glad you posted this.
Guys , I got to hold this bow last weekend at 3Rivers, And it feels magical in your hand.
The pictures do not do it justice.
Steve was there shooting when Brent and I joined him and Danny upstairs.
With no silencers and heavy arrows this bow is almost silent. Steve is a consistent shooter and was drilling the center dot consistently with a thud.
Speaking from our view, Brent and I had a great time with a couple of fine men. We got to share in the 're-birth' of this bow and took away wonderful meemories.
Thanks Steve,Danny,Randy, and all the others who were there.

[Jake]

Steve,  That is really cool.  You'll have to come over and shoot with us.  Danny and a bunch of guys come over every Sunday at 1:00 and we shoot til dark sometimes.  Starting on my first self bow this week.

[sgrogg]

Jake,
I'd love to!  We've talked about getting together for a couple of years...we just gotta do it!  Let me know if you're going to be shooting next weekend.  That would be great.
Steve

Billy,
Thanks for the kind words.  It was nice meeting you and Brent.  Maybe we'll see each other again at the Southern Indiana Hunt.
Take care,
Steve

[Killdeer]

I see magic being made! This bow is weaving people together in a grand tapestry. Thanks for sharing a glimpse into the workings of a real family, a real community. Gave me a smile this afternoon!

Killdeer  

[Ghost Dog]

Pictures of beautiful osage selfbows make me weak in the knees. Great story too.

I have noticed that a heavy glass bow feels a lot heavier than and an equally heavy selfbow at full draw. I have spoken with a few bowyers that make both glass and selfbows and they agree that this is the case. I have thought about why it may be so, but then I give up and go shoot, which is my recourse for all perplexing questions.

[NorthShoreLB]

Right on !!!   :D    :D

[sgrogg]

Mitch putting on the finishing touches at the GLLI........................

[sgrogg]

.....and shooting aerials the next day with his new bow...............those were good times......

[sgrogg]

....and here with the first selfbow he ever made.  Used a hatchet and a pocketknife to whittle it from a board.  Shot pretty good too.