There were to many posts and photo's in the first one I decided to start another.

I dried my Hickory bow down to 7.2% moisture and strung it up with my new string.

I went out and shot over 94 arrows at the hay bales.

I had some arrows that I never had a bow that would throw them very far, I don't have a gram scale, but these things are logs, I think they are douglas fir, I shot at 15 yards and sunk the arrows up to the feathers so I got back after tightening up the bales with a tie down strap, to twenty yards the arrows went in pretty deep, I'm thinking to my self this thing has cast, so I backed up to thirty yards and aimed a little high, the arrow went right where I aimed it.

Now wait a minute, I have never had a bow that would cast an arrow that far with very little altitude ajustment.

I figured it out, I am dreaming and will wake up at any moment.

I am shooting off the arrow shelf without a pad, I will put one on later after the bow is finished. I don't have a nock locator on the string, just eyeballing it. That bow makes no noise at all not even a whisper, the only noise I can detect is the wood arrow sliding against the bare rest.

Brace height is 6.625, poundage is 52lbs at my draw, I think it will drop a little after a couple hundred shots.

I understand Hickory is not supposed to have a lot of cast, but I think the tree that this one came from didn't read that part.

This is my favorite bow of all times, I would compare this bow to my D/H Mamba at 60Lbs. only in cast, this bow is much smoother and quieter than anything I ever had.

I have so many people to thank I'm afraid to list them as I might leave out someone. Just look at the first post and you will see everyone who had a hand in this bow.

I hope this bow doesn't change too much after extensive shooting.

I will post a few pictures,

the one with the group of arrows was shot at twenty yards and were the last of the 94 arrows that I shot with it, I was definitely getting tired.

I forgot to mention that this bow is heavy, I will weigh it and post that later, it probably weighs three times what my Howard Hill weighed, most likely contributing to the accuracy and quietness of it.

I will shut up now and post photo's.

Sorry about the background it is difficult to get a clear photo on flat ground,,,Ha!Ha!

How does the tiller look fellas

Fantastic, Ron. You will read many times over that a well built self bow is as efficient as a comparable glass bow. Now you can attest to that :)

Hickory isn't slow by nature, poorly built bows of any wood are slow. And I wouldn't expect much draw weight loss now. You have shot that bow a lot already and whatever changes that are going to happen already have happened. Just keep firing arras and enjoying that bow.

Here is the last group of arrows of the 94 I shot at twenty yards, I'm going to pay for that tomorrow.

Great to see you so happy with your own creation! You might pay the price tomorrow for the shooting today, but who cares? Enjoy!

That thing loos like a War Bow! And the limbs have a very pleasing arc to them.

Very nice...

I'm just so excited because I didn't really think I could do it especially with the results I got.

Thank you Pearl Drums, yes I can attest to that...Wow! I just can't get over the quietness also.

Draven, I may have to recover tomorrow, but will be out the next day shooting.

Elderly OCR, Thank you for help on this project as well.

Unhinged, WAR BOW, Yes it is a little stout, but needed it to get the poundage I wanted. Like I said it will cast a log. I can't wait to go Hog hunting with it to really see what it can do.

RC, thank you

I love that bow, Ron and from the looks of it and the way you describe it shooting, you obviously did a good job on it. Nice work!

Ron don't forget to put a bloody thumb print on the belly after you stick an oinker!

Excellent job. Good looking bow and great shooting. >>>----> Ken

Ron- We all knew you could do it. The bow looks great. Is there a leather wrapped grip in the future? Lance

Ron, that's awesome. You made a fine bow, and just made my whole weekend!

Will do that Chris, I'm not going to stick a hog, I'm going to blow one away.....LOL! Thanks again

Thanks 2 Bears

Lance, Yes I wasn't going to, but it would look better if I did and the grip would be more comfortable.

Thank you Jeff and you made the rest of my life with your support and contributions. As far as I'm concerned, Jeff and Chris made this bow I just used the tools where I was told to, plus I had help from several others also.

I think the excitement will go away in about ten years.

I appreciate the sentiment my friend, but you deserve a LOT of credit for what you created. You had good woodworking and comprehension skills going in to this and any time we answered your questions, you got it right off the bat. You made it easy on us. Enthusiasm and happiness like yours is why we help others. I hope your excitement never goes away :^)

I understand your excitement and have shared that same feeling..

You do understand that ONE isn't going to be enough??

I can truly feel your excitement.. thanks for sharing it.

Chris

I know that feeling Ron, it might never go away.

I've hunted with many different bows from compounds to glass both recurve and longbow and nothing and I mean nothing compares to sitting with a self bow over your lap. I don't always hunt with one but when I do there's something satisfying way down deep walking in the woods with a wood bow in hand. great bow and congrats

Thank you everyone, I'm glad you understand why I'm acting like a kid at Christmas time.

Duvall, yes it gives worth to your life, if you can get my meaning.

Woodsman, I have a pair of Hop hornbeam billets and a pair of Osage billets on my work bench, I'm hooked, this Hickory was my first stave.

That is an excellent tiller, Ron. Congratulations! Jawge

Thank you Jawge, I had a lot of help here and from your site also.

The positive comments from the experts like you and the other well known bowyers makes it more fun to continue with more bows.

You are welcome Ron. Good for you. Keep it up. Jawge

You tiller is excellent... Great job, and I completely understand your excitement !!! If Jawge says it's good... it's good... He helped me when I started and helped so much..... And would tell me the truth....

That's really nice looking bow.

Hey Ron. If you get tired from shooting it, my birthday's in May! Ha! ?? Lance

looks great Ron! must be the love and time you put into it that made it have it's magic! -ted

Hey Ron, great lookin' bow, and the tiller looks as good as I have seen! And I do understand your excitement, same for me when I finished my "snakey Osage"! Great fun, and can't wait to hunt w/ it! Wyatt

looks like a nice hunting bow to me. You did a good job.

Very nice.

Knifeguy, I'm not sure I will be tired of shooting it that soon, but I will keep you in mind....Ha!Ha!,,,Thanks Lance

Dao, it does have magic....I haven't named it yet, but it will be related to the forest spirits. Thank you Ted

BowAholic, I plan on reducing the hog population in Florida this summer.....Thank You Bob

Thanks Wyatt, I really appreciate that, the bows you made were supreme.

Greyfox, Thank You, Kenny

Snowshoe, Thanks Richard

I shot it this morning and I seriously have to admit, this is the best bow I have ever owned, not because I carved it out of a stave, but it has everything I could want out of a bow. Talk about beginners luck!!

I'm now curious how my next two will turn out, I hope as good and if not, that will be fine, I'm learning and enjoying every second.

It sure turned out great Ron. Congratulations!

I dyed the bow one more time after shooting a lot of arrows though it and reshaped the rest and string nocks, sanded it down again with 400 grit.

I am on my third coat of six and have my leather wrap for the grip and beaver tail arrow rest. I will post photo's of the finished bow soon.

That straight grip is a candidate for a beaver tail Ronny boy :)

OK Chris, .......now back to the internet to find some beavertail for my grip also, gee whiz I thought a beavertail arrow rest would be enough.........Ha!Ha!

I put the last coat of tru-oil on my hickory today, I am waiting a week before I buff it down to a satin finish, then I will take some good photo's. It's amazing how long it takes to put six coats of finish on a bow. Plus I had a few momma's projects in between, had to install a new floor in the goose house, paint the inside of the garage, clip four dogs and give them a bath, I was tired when I worked, now I'm re-tired!!!!!!

nice bow, there's nothing like making your own and shooting your own.

Can't wait to see it. Staying busy here too Ron. Plowed snow yesterday, then had 6 more inches to plow again today. I have piles of snow 6' high in the front and side yards.

I have a couple of bows I want to finish, then I'm going to try and build a Pennsylvania Longrifle. Something different. Some new challenges.

It's been a long time, but I remember snow drifts in North Tonawanda and Buffalo area, Niagara Falls had mostly Ice from the mist off the falls. I say now and then I miss it, but after thinking about it and having temps in the twenties here, I'm glad I'm here.

I put another coat of tru-oil on the hickory tonight trying to fill the grain, our moisture is so bad here I want to seal that thing up as much as possible,

The HHB billets went from 5 to 9.2 in four hours, the humidity is really bad.

I am building a 1770 Pennsylvania Lancaster long rifle after the John Bivens style, probably start back on it after these two bows also.

Basically the same gun I'm looking to do, late 1770's Lancaster, Issac Haines, who Bivins emulated... after these bows are done of course.

Yes he did, but I like Bivins much better because it wasn't so flashy more basic, I hate all that brass around the patchbox, actually with mine I'm not installing a patchbox, not required or needed.

I'll probably wish I didn't either ;^)

Nice job! Good looking bow. Good luck with it. Could you show a picture of your limb tips?

Tonto59 I will take a close up of those for you and try to post tonight.

Jeff, My other one had all the fancy brass and it was a beauty, nothing like your friend makes, but it was just something extra to take care of, I just want a basic very accurate long rifle, I'm kind of over the fancy except for my new found bow making, I'm looking for ways to add little details to make it my bow. You know what I mean. I'm really excited for you, you are going to love it.

I already love it and I haven't made anything yet. You know what I mean :^)

We're on the same journey my friend... on parallel planes ;^)

YES!!!!

Not real great tips, they were painted then I realized they weren't exactly parallel from side to side so I refiled the best I could and touched them up with a brush, I dipped them originally.

I took a V shaped chisel and made a couple grooves in the tips then took a paint brush in my arthritic shaking hands and attempted a couple of straight red lines...Ha!Ha! May have my wife try the next brush work.

Ok Folks it still isn't finished, but I couldn't wait, all I have to do is continue to rub it down to soften the gloss and wrap the handle with sinew.

It came out at 53lbs at 27.5" it was a bit for me to draw, but I will work into that, the brace height is 6.75 and it is a little rough in the bow hand, I will increase the brace and recheck.

These photo's were in the evening and no sun, the flash highlights the high points.

I will redo after the rubdown and hand wrap in the sun.

OK enough excuses, here are some photo's.

The string is dead center, if nothing else I'm proud of that feat..Ha1Ha!

here is the bow strung, trying to find a plain background so you can see and I still took the picture at an angle.

Unstrung

Those five arrows shot were at 15 yards.

Pearl Drums, I checked with a couple of primitive bow suppliers and they said that beavertail was unavailable at this time, I had some beavertail arrow rests which I put on, but the handle is cow hide.

Now I can finish up my Douglas Fir arrows and tune them to the bow and practise for the hunt.

It's a backed bow anyway so I will go with it, the HHB will be my first selfbow, I will have plans for that one to make it more in line with the selfbow crowd.

In case anyone is wondering, the string is a BCY-X 10 strand two bundle with a double wrapped serving. Color is Mountain Berry, which is my favorite color for bow strings.

Will have better photos with the finished arrows later this week.

Ron, BEAUTIFUL! You have inspired me to refinish my old Hickory bow and to narrow the limb tips about 25%. Lance.

That is a beautiful weapon, Ron..... Great job !!

Ron has skills, really nice!

Those tips look really nice to me Ron.

That's a fine bow you made there, Ron. Well done sir.

Very nice, Ron. I am glad you are having fun. Jawge

Thank you everyone, I love this bow it really shoots those heavy arrows with authority, it's the only bow I have that will do that.

I put eight coats of Tru-Oil and rubbed it down with stock sheen, but it didn't dull the finish enough so I will try again.

Thank you again for your kind words and now I can get full time on my next one.......Yes, as you can tell I have the fever and there is no cure as If I wanted one....Ha!Ha! It took me forever, but I learned a lot and this meant a lot, I just can't thank you folks enough.

The biggest thing that came out of this was inspiring others to make one and get involved in the craft.

Ok folks the sun is up and I'm going out to shoot my First Shot of the day, this piece of wood has sat around long enough, time to go to work.

I shot arrows until I got a little shaky, around thirty shots. will get my arrows tuned to this one and I'm sure it will be my favorite for some time to come. When I can't draw it comfortably or build a better one, I will pass it on.

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