Awhile back a fellow LW member harvested some Hop Hornbeam and it got me thinking about doing a HHB bow again. This stave came from the same tree I made the selfbow I shot my first buck with. It was standing about thirty feet from where I was standing when I let that arrow loose. I cut it about four years ago. Hop Hornbeam doesn't bend with heat nearly as nice as Osage but it's not impossible. I did some work on a nasty kink and got it close enough to steam static recurves in and put a little reflex in the intire bow. I was a little disappointed when I took it off the caul. I lost more than I cared to lose. I tillered it out to 52@24" and it seemed kinda snappy. I still was disappoint how much I lost when I took it off the caul so I steamed in the recurves again, put it on my caul and heat treated the belly to a nice toasty black color. I also set the recurves in with dry heat. I was much happier when I took it off the caul the second time. It gave up a little but I was pretty satisfied for HHB. I scraped off the chard stuff but it was still pretty black on the belly. It had gained some weight and I tillered her out to 52@24" again. It was still pretty dark on the belly. I shot her in and she seemed really snappy now. Seemed like she was going to hold together so I decided to finish her up. I put whitetail Antler on the tips. The back already had a nice brown stain from when I first harvested the stave, before I sealed it. It needed a little more. I had a snake skin I got from the outlaw. He threw it in on the deal when I bought a couple pair of skins. He's a really good guy to deal with. I only had the one and it really looked kinda plain. I really couldn't see much of a pattern. It was kinda wide and my bow was kinda narrow so I cut it right down the center of the back. As soon as I put it on the bow and wiped the scales off the pattern just popped. It's kinda translucent and the stain shows off the pattern really nice. I asked Clint and he thought it was water macasin. I really like it. I was needing a name for her when it popped into my head. "Burnt Offering" . I'm really liking this one. I took her to PA Meet at Marshall and Ive been shooting her a quite a lot. She's holding her shape nicely. I'm thinking she might be my hunting partner this fall.

Bendy handle HHB 54" t-t-t. 52@24" Hope you like her.

Bjrogg

Nice lookin' bow.

Thanks fdp.

Oh wow. I love it. Love the flag too. You do great work.

Absolutely filthy!! Love those tiny tips and 54" is the length of most my favorites to shoot. Very nice!

Thanks B arthur. I was hoping old glory would show up on the pictures. I just returned from a fantastic week at the Primitive Archery Meet in Marshall on Memorial Day. I very much thank all those and their families who gave everything to give me the freedom to able to go.

Thanks Mortis Sagittas. I like the length to. She's still short enough to be quite maneuverable, but long enough I'm hoping isn't to stressed.

Bjrogg

Very nice bow Borg. It makes me want to learn how to do snakeskins. I have an ample supply of them here.

You self bows always look good , you bring out the beauty.

Thanks Brad, you should give them a try. It's really not that difficult. If you have any questions give me a PM. By the way I'd gladly help you out with using up some of your inventory of snakes. You don't even tan them. Just skin n scrap. Then pin them to a flat piece of cardboard to dry. Then you can roll them up and store them wherever. I have a old roaster cookie jar my wife wanted to get rid of and I store mine inside it. I put a little borax inside just to be sure no bugs get in.

Thanks Wayne. I've always heard that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some people might like this style and others maybe not so much. I try to make what I can get from a piece of wood that my eye likes. Glad yours likes it to.

Bjrogg

Very nice!

Your bows are true works of art and much more. I bet they shoot like the dickens. Thanks for sharing.

Very nice, I like how you did the tips.

That's a keeper.j

Always a pleasure looking at your bows Brian. Love the name, too. Excellent job. It was great meeting you at Marshall. Already looking forward to next year.

Came out great. Nicely done. Jawge

Wow, that's pretty bow and a great name. Hope it has much success for many seasons.

Great story, nice bow, plenty of pictures. You put pizzazz in the Leatherwall. Thanks.

ThankYou everyone.

Riverwolf I kinda like that word. I've always felt blessed to grow up like I did and to live where I do. Even honored and humbled. I've grown up surrounded by very talented people. Most only went to school to the sixth grade. Gifted though, that's a nice word. I think we all are gifted. I'm glad I found this hobby or passion, whatever you'd like to call it to use the gift I've been given. I'm still more of a jack of all trade master of none, but I do enjoy bringing a piece of wood back to life as a selfbow. It just really gives me a satisfaction that I find very rewarding.

Steve I enjoyed meeting you and your brother to. I'm ready to do it again. Next year seems like way to long of a wait.

Thanks again everyone for looking Bjrogg

Once again, it’s amazing what some people can do with a piece of wood!

MP

Nice bow I always look at those unstrung pics and just shake my head. Sir you can tilller. Arvin

Slick looking stick!

Really like those tips and the burnt finish. Great job and good luck with her. John

Sweet looking bow.

It takes the eye of an artist and the hands of a bowyer and I have neither. Your bows area always interesting works of functional vision. Great work.

WOW NOW THAT'S NICE.

Thanks everyone.

Grey goose ThankYou sir. I'm pretty new here and I really appreciate that reply. I like it here.

Arvin thanks. It means so much to me to hear that. It really does trump everything else when it comes to building a bow. I'll take tiller over looks every time.

Thanks again everyone

Bjrogg

Another Masterpiece!

These guys have used up all the correct adjectives. Beyond sharp my friend.

Thanks everyone I'm glad you like her.

Bjrogg

You really make some nice looking bows, keep it up enjoy looking!

Niiccce :-) JF

Thanks guys.

Usually by this time of year I'm way to busy to work on bows. This year has been weird. Hard to get two days of sunshine in a row. Got a couple narrow windows to get some farming done but been watching it rain a lot. There's going to be a lot of land that isn't going to be planted and a bunch more that shouldn't have been because it wasn't fit when it was.

I've been needing something to take my mind off the weather. I'm working on a couple more therapy bows. Hopefully I don't have enough time to finish them till winter.lol Really needing some sunshine.

Bjrogg

That is a great incentive for me to finish my HHB self-bow.

My work shop is not quite finished due to ailments, but that is rapidly changing.

I just love the name, I am going to toast mine also. no snake skins, I like the looks of the natural wood.

Brian I can't compete with your experience and skill, but I love what I have done so far.

That is definitely a keeper, that should be at the top of your bow rack.

Thanks Ron

I look forward to seeing your HHB bow finished up and shooting. I'm guessing you'll love it. Absolutely nothing like shooting the first selfbow you've ever made. I know it changed me forever. Show some pictures of your progress as you go. Love to help you if I can.

Bjrogg

I really like that bow.

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here