Hophornbeam/Ironwood Selfbow 63' 54# @ 28"

WOW, certainly some skill there. Beautiful job.

Another looker - cool! Ben

I like your style... it's a lot like mine ;^)

I have a hhb almost exactly like it, all profiles, cross section, handle shape, draw weight within a few, except for the color, I dyed mine. Wished I wouldn't have. That's why it's still here... unused. Wife chose the color. I hate it. When I get time I'll refinish it or burn it.

Outstanding

Thank you!! HHB is some awesome bow wood.

So beautiful!

Beautiful bow, I love everything about it. Don’t change a thing! And Jeff, I’ve followed you for quite awhile. Before you decide to burn yours because of the stain, SEND IT TO ME, I’m pretty flexible LOL.

Appreciate the nice comments. Thank you!!

That looks great! Do u have any pictures of the handle area?

Very nice!

You did a nice job. Very icely done.

Mark you are talented for sure!!

I want one!

Beautiful bow; I haven't built one yet, but that's what I'll want it to look like! The cambium on the back is a real nice touch. We have loads of hophornbeam on the property... I cut one and have 5 or 6 staves up in the shed... looked good and straight on the stump, but it's pretty wavy. Straight, but wavy in profile.

Ive made a bunch from HHB. It makes a very nice bow. Nice looking bow. I'd love to see a braced and full draw picture. For me that's where the real beauty is in a selfbow.

Bjrogg

Thank you! I will post braces and full draw pictures tomorrow.

Thank you! I will post braces and full draw pictures tomorrow.

Very nice looking HHB bow!

I’m sending you a long tube that is postage paid addressed to me! Just slip it in there. Arrowchucker

Nice bend. Thanks for the view.

Bjrogg

That is attractive wood grain. I wonder if this the same Ironwood I have experienced in SW Wisconsin where blue sparks actually fly from a chainsaw when you cut down the tree? We cleared several Ironwoood trees one evening, and finished as it got dark. By that time my saw was dulling a bit and I actually saw sparks in the dusk. Very hard, dense wood.

If I ever get back to it I have a HHB close to finished that looks very similar, but a little thinner on the width, all my bows from now on will not have an arrow rest, I seem to do good shooting off my hand. Being not center cut or near so the arrow spine is a little more critical.

Great job, I wouldn't mess with it, now go hunting.

Thats a fine looking bow.... congrats!!

Nice bow. I just finished an American Hornbeam, Blue Beach, Musclewood, self bow that looks much like yours. Shoots good, and because of heat treat is holding it shape well.Have fun with yours.

Beautiful! I wouldn't narrow the arrow pass- at least not yet. IF the bow is total symmetrical, you have option of flipping top limb for bottom if that would become desirable due to unforeseen tiller development as it gets shot in. And if you get good flight with the arrows you like as it is, why weaken that spot at all?

beautiful bow

ditto on the tip thinning and narrowing too.

Now that is a pretty bow!

Awesome. We have hop horn beam here, but i wouldn't know where to begin.

Congratulations on a job well done

Well done !!

Very nice bow!

Beautiful bow, I love HHB it is a great wood for selfbows. Pappy

Very, very nicely done! Just about the design I'm picturing for my first attempt. Have 5 or 6 ash, and 1 HHB stave seasoning from this summer. I really like how the bow looks with some cambium.

Well done! Arvin

Sweeeet Bow :-) JF

Very clean, great craftsmanship. John

Very nice, indeed!

I have been making bows out of what i believe is hop hornbeam . Im pretty sure thats what im using but when i look up what hop hornbeam looks like i seem to get many different pictures . some look like the trees im using and some do not . i believe that maybe there are many subspecies of hop hornbeam or maybe the bark changes as the tree gets bigger . not sure which . i know that i have alot to learn but i have finally made a bow that i was pleased with for this hunting season and i have had a blast . i have killed 3 hogs . 2 bucks and 1 doe so far . i also was pleased that my bow seems to be holding up well . i just knew that it would probably break or get weak midway through hunting season but so far it has not lost any poundage and i know i have shot over 3,000 arrows through it . i am making mine to rough untillered bow while its green and then clamping it down to a form ive become happy with and letting it dry like that . then after dry im heating the belly slightly because the belly seems to wrinkle if i dont . then i tiller it . everytime i build one i cant wait to build another one because i can see how to improve it . john agostinelli

Nice tiller! Well done. Jawge

John their is Hop Hornbeam and American Hornbeam. I have the Hop Hornbeam growing by me. It doesn't get seed every year so it doesn't get the "Hop" buds every year. Sounds like you made a nice hunting bow and know how to use it. My first hunting bow was a HHB I made and harvested my first bow kill with. It makes a very nice bow.

Bjrogg

Hornbeam, aka Musclewood or Blue beech has smooth grey bark.

Hophornbeam, has scaly, flaky bark.

Both generally maintain their own consistent bark appearance once beyond sapling stage.

They're confused because both are called ironwood. I tend to reserve that name for Hophornbeam, but both are hard and heavy.

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