Hazelnut self-bow

[gordonf]

Here's a little D-style bow that I made from a hazelnut sapling that I found at my local archery range. It's 58" ntn and draws 50# @ 27". It's 1 ¼" wide at the handle and tapers to 3/8" at the tips. The nocks are reinforced with tropical hardwood overlays and the tips are stained with black leather dye. The handle is dyed elk-hide with a Strunk style wrap. I used black and red serving for the wraps on both ends of the handle. The bow is sealed with Tru-Oil. No arrow rest because the bow is meant to shoot off the hand. I made the bow lower weight because I'm finding that I rather enjoy shooting lighter bows. I hope  you enjoy the pictures.

[indianalongbowshooter]

you sure do make some pretty bows...

[joekeith]

[Shaun]

Hey Gordon, another gem!! You are getting me interested in semi bendy handle sapling bows with the several you've made this season.

Did you know there is a new forum on TG called Bowyers Bench? Lotta guys looking at that forum could use inspiration and your tillering, finish, heck... even that hat would help them a lot. Let em know what they are working towards. They might even learn what a full draw looks like.

Real glad you keep popping over here from the PA site to share. Keep em coming.

[BBK41ND]

Way cool bow! We have Hazel nut trees in the wild ,Does it shoot as good as it looks?And cool hunting hat also.

[Wannabe1]

Once again, outstanding!! Love your bows!  

[snag]

Hi Gordon. I have 6 cut and cured for about a year now. I guess I just need a push to start one...

[WINDTALKER]

You make some mighty fine looking bows !!!

[Bjorn]

Way cool! That's a beauty!

[barebow17]

NICE!

[Osagetree]

As always,,, very nice.    

Good to see selfbow stuff on here. There should be a lot of people building this time of year, but I don't see a lot of selfbow posts. What's up with that?

[Aram]

Beautiful! I never thought of using hazelnut for bows, we used to use the shoots for arrows when I was child. #50 at 27 =light?    What do your heavy ones pull?  

[ishoot4thrills]

Very nice, excellent work!

[2fletch]

Gordonf, you may bring me out of bowbuilding retirement with that bow. I haven't made one in several years now, but I suspect that the next one will be a hazelnut bow.

Last year Lucas (Saluki) was here to get some of the Japanese Arrow Bamboo shafts that I grow. While walking across the yard he spotted one of my hazelnut patches and got excited. I had used hazelnut shoots for arrows, but until then I had not even considered it for bows. Now I'm trying to cultivate it for bow use. I have a number of them at 1" in diameter and of good length. Guess it will be another year or two before they are ready. Thanks for the inspiration and that is a nice looking bow.

[Drew]

nice work as usual!

[gordonf]

Thank you Dean.

Thank you Joe.
Thank you for the compliment John.  I did notice the new bowyers forum – I'll make a point of spending some time on it.

Thank you Harold. The bow seems to shoot very well. I removed as much limb mass as I could to keep the speed up.

Thank you for the nice words TW.

Thank you David. A year  is plenty of seasoning time – you need to make some shavings! Are you planning on attending the East side bowyers gathering this year?

Thank you for the compliment Art.

Thank you Bjorn.

Thank you Leon.

Thank you Joseph. I agree, it would be nice to see more selfbows on this forum.

Thank you Aram. My hunting weight bows are between 60-65#.

Thank you Doug.

Thank you Don. Hazelnut makes fine bows. 1" is a little small yet, but in another year you should be able to make a bow like this one.

Thank you Drew.

[Izzy]

You sure make some beautiful bows.

[razorback]

Osagetree; look at the new forum The Bowyers bench. Lots of selfbows going on over there. It is fairly new and I thinkl that were most bowyers post now.

[NorthernCaliforniaHunter]

That really is one gorgeous bow. Nice work!
Hey, would you do me a favor and PM me with the make and model of your hat? I've been looking for one like it but don't know what they are called or where to start... THANKS!
Juan

[Broken Arrow 1]

That is a great looking bow!