My first try at an arm guard. Let me know what you think.

[tomsm44]

I never needed an arm guard the last few years when I was shooting recurves.  But I got me an R/D longbow this spring and the brace height is about 1-1 1/2" shorter than I was used to.  It will occasionally hit my arm hard enough to leave a little red mark, but nothing extremely painful, so I wasn't too concerned with it.  But the last week or two, I've started wearing long sleeve shirts a little and they were catching my string and affecting arrow flight so I decided I'd have to have an at guard after all.  I finally dug my leather working supplies out yesterday (haven't used it in about a year because I haven't been building any knives lately).  I considered doing the simplest arm guard possible since I needed it right away, but I decided if I was going to drag everything out, I might as well do it right.  I sketched out a pattern on paper, cut it out, and tweaked it a little to get the fit right.  As it turned out, I didn't have a single piece big enough, so I couldn't do one too simple anyway.  I decided on a three piece design and did a basket weave pattern on the middle section, two tone color, and used some plain silver grommets for the lacing.  Here's what I ended up with.  I'm happy for my first one.  You guys let me know what you think and what I could do to improve it.  I think I would like an elastic band/hook closure better for easy on off, but I was using what I had on hand.  Never know, I may fine tune the design a little and become a sponsor on here in a few years.  I haven't been building knives lately because of the time required.  Projects like this go a lot quicker.

[Roy from Pa]

That is awesome...

[D. Key]

Great job.  That will work.

[Chad Orde]

Sweet great job!

[Paul Cousineau]

Looks pretty dang good to me.

[fujimo]

very cool! only thing i might have done different is to have stitched  the centerpiece over the side pieces- just an aesthetic opinion- but i think its great, well executed- and your tooling looks great. classic basket weave is always great!!!  

[KyStickbow]

Very nice...I like it!

[tomsm44]

Originally posted by fujimo:
very cool! only thing i might have done different is to have stitched  the centerpiece over the side pieces- just an aesthetic opinion- but i think its great, well executed- and your tooling looks great. classic basket weave is always great!!!      

I think you're dead on with that.  That was actually my original thought, but as I said, I was using scraps.  The piece I used in the center has a couple of 1/8"-1/4" nicks along the edge from cutting pieces off of it.  I would have had to cut it about 1/2" narrower to stitch it that way.  With it on the bottom, I could leave it wider and the nicks would are hidden.  My son wants me to build him one once I get some more leather and I may build it that way.  I also think it would look better if the center piece tapered toward the front.  I'll post pictures if I build anymore.

[tomsm44]

Also, as I said, I'm not crazy about the lacing method.  It looks good this way but isn't the easiest to get on/off.  I've seen the ones with elastic that stretches around and hooks to the other side.  If any of you have other preferences on closure methods, I'd love to hear it.

[fujimo]

well good plan made- tricks of an ol' crafter eh?

i make buttons out of antler or bone, then attach them to the arguard- not too loose , but with enough clearance to get the elastic under. then use a thin piece of shockcord to "quick lace" it up.
have seen the guys using the boot lace hooks- but the buttons work well for me. if i ever get back to the mainland again- i will look for some of the hooks.

[Ryan Sanpei]

Well Done!

[Sam McMichael]

Nice work!

[MR BILL SHORTY]

       

[M60gunner]

Nice leather work for a "rush" project. I also prefer the shock cord over lace up style as well. Since I do not have an ASL anymore I only wear an armgaurd with long sleeves like you. And like you I found the lace ups to much to fuss with.

[Tsalt]

Looks great!!

[Matty]

Very well done. I hate my arm guard!!

[Stump73]

Looks like you have a nack for arm guards!