I just want to know different opinions on cutting a arrow shelf into a self bow? I know if it is a working handle you can't. I am curious which one different self bowyers prefer. all opinions are welcome.

a self bow would probably look more fluid without an arrow shelf, but the arrow shelf may make aiming and shooting easier. I have only made one worthy self bow (without an arrow shelf)so i don't know which i prefer yet.

I myself do not.. Most old school bowyers will give you the mean eye just talking about it....lol That being said, many folks do, I myself would like to see the longevity of said animals.. Most folks jump from bow to bow without many many arrow testing.. Many will put a wedge of leather there instead of cutting into the bow itself, that is my recommendation.....Either way, make many bows and try what intrigues you..

I get that mean eye a lot.:)

It's an abomination!

That said, some of my favorite bowyers do cut in an arrow rest. It would be hard to make the case it's a problem, at least for an experienced bowyer, given what I've seen done with them.

But it's still an abomination!

I use a build up of leather, when I want a rest.

Now, when you got a glass backing holding things together, I'm all for taking what centershot is practical... although you can go too far. I'm of the opinion a bow is easier to tune, more forgiving of form if it is cut not quite to center (or less than 1/2 an arrow diameter past).

Very uncommon for my selfbows, or all natural, to be more than 1" wide at the arrow pass, frequently only 3/8" to center on the arrow pass side.

Guess what I'm going to name that bow I recently made from those Osage billets you sent me David (laughing)?

Greg, you'll find it much easier to match arrows to these bows when their arrow passes are closer to center. Having to make up and maintain a bunch of different "sets" of arrows is a pain in the butt. ART

LOL, Stan. I'm old school. Jawge

Art, thanx for having a sock on :)

No, I never cut a shelf into my self bows I shoot off my hand.

keep em coming guys. I am just getting back into bow building. my Dr. put me on those statin drugs and they hurt my muscles.So it was all I could do to go to work.and after breaking three bows and sore muscles, I just quit.but I'm back. I just finished a bow for my wife. posted in a previous thread.yesterday i went out and cut a 3" white oak and got it curing for me. I am shooting for 66" or 68" 60#@28". that's the reason for my question about the arrow shelf. I think I will have a better chance with a working handle and no arrow rest.i have tried gluing leather rests on before but it just didn't feel right.so any and all ideas are welcome,and pics. it 95degrees here in bama so about 6 weeks in my garage should be about right.

that last sentence should say.6 weeks curing in my garage at 95 degrees.

;-)

Geraldo?

I dont,I just use the folded top edge of the leather grip-like Gary Davis's rattlestick bows.I stole the idea from him.

Horseapple, you don't know how hard it was standing on just one leg to take that shot :).

Geraldo! Now that's another good on' too.

Greg, those statins had the same effect on me. I quit 'em all.

Hey, as long as you have a good handle on arrow/hand placement and the proper tiller to help maintain long term tiller health then go for it. But if you're not at that point yet then having the option of moving your rest/arrow pass or switching limbs is good to have also........ART

I do as Art B with all my stave bows but no glue on built up handle area on anything I have built. I have made limb bow that shot right or left of the knuckle that shoot just fine.

4nolz, the bow I am going for was inspired by Gary Davis's bow, on masters bare bow 2. I'll watch the video to see if i see the grip.

Folded leather "floppy shelf."

Dang wrong photo!

Folded leather "floppy shelf." Correct photo

A quote from Rod Parsons of England,

Shelves are for storeing books on

I like a shelf. Here's one I just started shaping.

That being said. I have probably done them on 1 out of 10 selfbows. They just seem more natural without them.

Never do it

Have and don't whats wrong with me :)

JD

I use 2 pieces of leather which I glue on. Old school. :) Jawge

No it hasn't. LOL. Goodnight! Jawge

greg, if you do a cut in make sure the handle is thick enough to accommodate it. Jawge

I cut them in. I leave the handle thick so I can cut it in and don't have to worry about it. They will allow you to match arrows easier. Your call but I will always cut them in from here on out. I also use leather to make it thicker.

I prefer to add a shelf rather than cut one in a bow.

DCM: wow, great craftsmanship on that selfbow handle.

Good looking bows,I usually cut in a little for the arrow pass and build up with leather to make it wider,never try to cut them to center shot.I like to hang my bow when hunting from a stand and want the arrow to set on it also so I build up enough with leather to be able to do that.I'm about middle school Jawgs. I make a lot of bows with character so I like using the natural bends and twist to center the arrow more. Pappy

If its a board bow with a backing id go for cut one. A self bow add one.

just my two cents

R/D

On the few I've made I cut a shelf in. Usually to within about 3/16" of center. I started out gluing a small piece of wood on for a shelf and still ended up cutting a bit into the handle. It seems to help out with arrow spine. I leave the handle area of my staves with enough meat to cut in the shelf I want now. If you have the wood there, I don't see the point of gluing anything on to make a rest. Like I said, I did that with the first couple then realized there was no need to. But, to each his own.

Aaron

Just so y'all know my thinking on this primitive stuff.You have to understand that I'm a primitive kind of a guy (just ask my daughters). I use B50 strings but feel as though I should be using a natural string so when the topic comes up to use FF I won't because I want to go all natural for hunting eventually and I'm almost there. Now, there are no instances of Native American bows with any type arrow rest cut in or a leather shelf. I shouldn't even be using glued on shelves because I want to go authentic. May be this fall it will be a sapling bow and shooting off my hand (George, don't shoot off your hand; you'll need it!). Natural bow string too. My hunting arrow is already authentic...sort of. Anyway, that's why I don't cut in shelves and won't with anyone who asks me to help them make a bow. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! Jawge

Depends on the type of bow I'm building. But I like them without the best. I'm working on a glass bow now after I cut the shelf in I didn't like it so I filed it off and will just shoot it off my finger. David

On some it is built up with leather.David

Jawge - I think you hit the nail on the head. It depends on what he is going for. If your personal desire is to be totally authentic then that should govern your decisions as to how you construct the bow.

If your desire is to have a selfbow that shoots well but you're not overly conserned with it being the exact bow that an indian brave would have hunted with then that should drive your choices in construction and materials.

I do not think there is much debate that a bow that is center shot will allow the shooter to match/tune arrows more easily. We've continued to learn better ways of constructing the bow over the years. Perhaps, the indian of old would have smiled and thanked us for showing him a cut in arrow rest. Who knows?

Bottom line - only you can decide what is important to YOU, so Greg you have lots of opinions posted. I think if you decide to not cut it in you have good options for how to build it and if you decide to cut it in you have options as well. Either way the most important thing is that you are happy with your bow.

I agree with Jawge also, I started off with shelves in everything, now I seldom cut a shelf into a self bow although my laminated wood bows nearly all have shelves. I have 2 current favorite selfbows without shelves and I am contemplating cutting a small shelf and building it up the rest of the way with leather.

on the the best bow I have made so far.I have tried a floppy rest and a built up leather rest ,but it just didn't fill right.and shooting off the hand cuts my hand, i have to wear a glove. the gary davis rattle snake bow grip sounds good. can someone post a pic or explain how to make it. I will try it on my best boardbow.

Skyve and wrap the leading part of the feathers to protect you hand, greg. I actually wrap through the feathers after fletching and take several turns at the front and then coat with glue. That way I don't have feathers sticking out of my hand because my leather shelf is small. Jawge

I have to admit some of the best luck shots I have made were off the knuckle.One reason I cut shelves is because when people gather for say a BBQ and someone shoots one of my bows without a shelf and gets feathers stuck in the knuckle you can see the look on their face on hear someone says no wonder the Indians lost their land if this is what they had to fight with, and I tell them the repeating firearm gave the white man the edge in a fire fight before that the bow like they just shoot was deadly in a fire fightand could put 6or7 arrows into a target before they could reload a patched ball muzzle loader even without the patching as it took the most time to fix to the projectile.

I dont think I cut in a shelf as much as I just leave some wood on the handle for the arrow to rest on, why glue leather on later when the wood was already there? When making a bow I work on the arrow pass while shooting bare shafts, as said earlier this helps with not having to keep so many different spines.

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