I would like to see some homemade bow's. Self bows, laminated bows from the hobby bowyer. Babysaph this is includes you, pic's or it didn't happen ;)

I have made a lot of bows, mostly osage, here are a few hanging in my shop today.

Man I really don’t want to post mine right behind Eric’s:>)). I’ll go inside and take a pic of the ones I haven’t given away

A typical and a reverse handle ASL I made a couple years ago for myself and a friend.

Sinew backed Osage recurve with copperhead skins.

Fumed Osage selfbow I made for a bow trade.

Sturgeon backed hackberry static.

Fumed Osage selfbow with a wiggle right at arrow pass.

Pacific yew backed with timber rattler skins.

Fumed Osage I built for my brother's retirement. He put it to good use.

I think I showed you this one, Osage selfbow, 64", 60#@28"

58" Bamboo backed Yew and Osage

Jsweka, I like the reverse handle ASL

Very nice bows, guys. Gabe shooting his Osage bow:

Osage selfbow

Black locust bow shown in photo along with wild rose, trade point tipped arrow. Jawge

Sturgeon backed osage

Sinew backed Osage recurve.

Awesome bow's! Great picture of Gabe

Glass, Bocote, walnut core lams

Yew English Longbow

Last one I made this winter flipped tip osage. Whitetail leg Sinew backed and Snake skin. Slight wow in the top limb

Fine looking bows Gents.

Heres a old osage bow my friend Roy gave me.

Short 56" about #40, Shot well for about a year.

It broke when I was warming it up before shooting it.

Drug it outside for a better pic

So nice to see such mighty fine bows. Jawge

50's lam recurve

TD Bingham longbow

Nice looking 50s recurve Matt!

Nice bows fellas, very nice.

Jeff D, the dark laminated bow is just awesome looking. More pictures if you gots them please.

Thanks Tom. Here's a couple more.

62" - 43# @ 28"

2 red oak board bows and one hickory bow

Yep Jeff, just an awesome combo of color and woods.

Thanks Tom I appreciate that. I never did make one of those for myself :^(... yet.

These are probably my favorite threads. I deeply enjoy seeing what passionate garage and basement bowyers are doing. It's worth watching, and can be inspiring.

I'll tell ya something though, I don't care how many internet sites we visit, we're not seeing a fraction of them, not even close. Trust me, there are great bowyers you'll never hear a word about. Not. One. Word. Many aren't even 'on the internet'. And even if they are, many thousands of their bows rest in silent dispose. Guaranteed. Bet my life. They're content to grind it out making bows that equal or surpass professional quality, for personal satisfaction. They don't care to be known for it, even locally. I know some that were/are my mentors, and they haven't ever, and will never, post here. Just sayin... we ain't seeing the whole picture... here. Not even close... at all.

My 68" Longbow. JF

A Hybrid from a few years ago. JF

Hybrid

A Lefty

Straight longbow

Hybrid

You guys are so talented !!!

No. We're hacks. Trust me. True talent is much more evasive.

Our craft's summit will be found in the pinnacle of the blend of our craftsmanship, practical application, and creativity. However we approach it, it's a most worthy endeavor. Whittle on my brothers.

"I'll embrace your company while I have it."

Very nice bows fellas!

Great looking bows y’all !!

I’m with Tom, Jeff good looking bow, All you guys have some great talent, good looking bows

This is the third time I've come back to this thread just to take another look at Jeffs Sturgeon backed Osage

I’ve posted these before

Hunt javelina in Az. Made the whole rig, bow, arrows, quiver, string, everything but the nock and broadheads.

Phil I appreciate that... and that You like that bow. One of my favorite bows of all. It's sinew backed too. Sturgeon, sinew, osage. I have dozens of pics of it from raw stave, throughout construction, which took several months, it fought me every inch of the way. Even have few kill pics. Killed a buck with it over in Ohio, late afternoon on an all day mid October sit... anti- climatic compared to its construction, but still a wonderful memory... a beautiful, calm, semi-overcast, eerily quiet, afternoon in a deep pasture gulley next to a small runoff creek. A few old apple trees in front of me, I was in a big elm, long dead now. Standoff with him. A lonnnng nerve-racking standoff. Long enough to for me to get frazzled... but then had time to refocus and calm myself. He sensed something wasn't right too, stopped, got very alert, but then we calmed down together. He almost won. Almost. But elected to pass by me to my right, 7-8 yards broadside, 3 seconds to decide... and it was done. Heard him fall on the hill above me.

With great respect and appreciation.

That bow is a beauty Jeff. Lots of skill making a bow like that. JF

You all are amazingly talented and have created some really beautiful and lethal art IMO. Thanks for sharing your pics with us.

I think you've posted that bow before. It is stunning, as are your others. It's easy to see the care, detail and craftsmanship that goes into them, the grips are perfect IMO. Well done.

How come I have to post a pic or it didn’t happen? Im still waiting for pics of lots of guys on here that say they kill stuff. And pics from others that say they won this tournament or that. I have no problem posting stuff. Just look at my history. I just call out the losers on here lol

Don’t know how to rotate the pics. Sorry

Don’t know how to rotate the pics. Sorry

Nice guys

You guys with the sturgeon backed bows...I can really relate to that since I spent five years of my career working on the Columbia River white sturgeon research and recovery projects with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and saw a LOT of sturgeon. I personally caught a bunch of them after work fishing as well, and I fell in love with that species. I should have kept a few of the skins now that I see a great use for them. TK

Just wanted to make sure you put pictures of your bow up! Nice work!

I’m a hacker when it comes to bow making. They shoot but I need to make a prettier one. Body man is the man. Some of these bows are works of art

Osage bow I did build along on this site.

“Big Bad Wolf”

Bjrogg

Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf.

Stave had some wind checks that I soaked with thin CA glue. Still shooting fine.

Bjrogg

One I did a few springs ago. Was a very wet spring and I needed to get my mind off how late it was and we were still waiting to get in the fields.

Thought I’d start a bow. Didn’t think I would actually get it finished before we got in the field, but I did.

“Rainy Day”

Bjrogg

Rainy Day is a Osage bow made from spliced billets. I put a little deflection in the handle and reflex in the limbs with static recurve tips. Copperhead skins and Emu handle wrap. Water Buffalo horn overlays.

Bjrogg

One I made for a friend of mine.

He gave me several Hop Hornbeam trees.

He harvest Maple Syrup and I thought “Sugar Shack” was a good name.

Bjrogg

Sugar Shack has a Fall Maple Leaf theme. I air brushed ten layers of different color led stains and leaf patterns. With a coat of clear in between each to lock it on. Turned out pretty nice.

Bjrogg

My one and only home made bow , named patience because it took every bit I had

Wow guys I’m really impressed. There I some beautiful craftsmanship on this page

Very Nice.

Bend through the handle Hop Hornbeam.

I don’t think I named this one but it is a lot of fun to shoot. It light I don’t recall exactly, but probably something like 35 lbs.

Garner snake skins I salvaged. One my son got in our house. His mom really didn’t want it there.

One my dad got with the weed wacker .

Built up handle slightly with cork and wrapped with black leather from a old couch. Used the same blue and red d-97 bow string to stitch it up as I used for string. I think I goes good with the skins. Also attached a couple turkey breast feathers to the tag ends of lace.

Bjrogg

Really like the it’s unstrung profile and it held it very well.

Bjrogg

One more. Hope it isn’t to many pictures but want to show its colors

Bjrogg

This is another Freeman made Longbow. The BEST looking bow he ever did. LOL

-Bones

Archery will live forever.Great stuff

I think your right oldhunter. There are some pretty talented young bowyers out there to. I seen some of their work and some of it is really good.

Bjrogg

OH MY! Luv me sum PURDEE BOWS! Keep on going! MERCY BOW COUP!

Here’s another one of mine. Straight ASL, but with a bit different riser/grip. Caramel glass on the back, white on the belly, bird’s eye maple riser.

No doubt there’s somebody out there who’s just about ready to go off on a big rant about how building bows should not be a beauty contest… And I’m just gonna say that I’m glad I don’t have to be one of the judges.

There are some thoroughly impressive samples here!

A couple for my grandsons. JF

Very nice Bodyman. BJROGG love profile of the HHB bow and the colors in the snake skin

See if I can post one here that isn’t a prettied up, but I think it’s still beautiful.

I find the beauty in the profiles. In the bend. In the wood itself.

The more bows I build the less I feel the need to pretty them up, but I do still appreciate them.

This was my first Osage bow. It’s still my favorite.

It’s nothing but Osage and a string.

No handle wrap.

No Overlays.

No snake skins, stains or dyes.

“Simply Orange “

52 lbs @ 25”

Short Static recurves

This one fits me really good

Bjrogg

Love that red and green glass. Nice craftsmanship guy's!

Thanks Jay there’s a lot of nice homemade bows here.

I really like PA Steve’s and Jeff’s and bunch of others to.

I really like threads like this one. I hope others keep adding to it.

Bjrogg

Brian, great pictures!

Thanks Jegs.

I really hope others keep posting though.

I really think anyone who has built their own homemade bow, whatever they made it of has made something worth being proud of.

Bjrogg

This bow was hand built back in the 60’s by a friends father. I inherited it from him…it it very well constructed

Bodyman has this stuff down.

The two I built for my grandsons for Christmas. I used Paduck and Maple for the inlay laminations. There school colors are Crimson and Gray. JF

Bodyman. Lets see some recurves if you have built any. Thannks

I haven't built any Recurves. JF

oh ok. Well you should. LOL

Couple TD D/R longbows Built one and wanted one a couple lbs less for cold weather. So reduced stack but came in same weight . LOL

Son has claimed it so all good .

Couple TD D/R longbows Built one and wanted one a couple lbs less for cold weather. So reduced stack but came in same weight . LOL

Son has claimed it so all good .

My “Walking Stick”

Got this stave just before I left Marshall one year from Frank. He said it might not make a bow, but it should make a nice walking stick.

Turned out to make both.

Bjrogg

Wabenaki all White Ash.

Hickory backed , Red Oak Perry reflex.

Love this thread. Sweet bows and great pictures, but my favorite picture is still the one Damon posted of Gabe with a arrow in the air. Headed for a bullseye it appears to.

Bjrogg

Just finished a couple Osage recurves

See if I can find a kids bow or two.

This is “Grandpa’s Toy”

Kids like shooting this one and honestly so do I. I’ve got a couple red osier arrows that are a good fit for this one. They fly fast and penetrate the target great which kids really like.

Bjrogg

Grandpa’s Toy

One more

Here’s another kids bow.

This one started out as a side split from my Walking Stick stave.

Bjrogg

Full draw

Ahh... Kids n Sticks. It just doesn't get any better.

I'm no where near the pro's here but this is my little osage bow with a cane arrow and knapped head

Great thread, some beautiful bows with excellent workmanship.

The thread that just keeps getting better. Beautiful work guys!

Thanks, BJ, I thought that pic was pretty cool too. Great bows you've made!

Terrific thread. I really enjoy looking at all these beautiful home made works of art.

This thread does keep getting better. You’ve made some nice bows to Damon and I’m sure you will be making more in the near future.

My cousin is arriving tomorrow night. We grew up inseparable. He’s in a roundabout way is response for my addiction to all this primitive stuff.

He’s been living in California for close to forty years. He comes back to visit every summer.

I thought I’d pay him back by making him this Hop Hornbeam bow.

Called it “Deep Roots” and I know he has ‘em.

As he told me just a couple nights ago. It’s time to come home and reboot my soul.

Bjrogg

And shoot his bow

Wow, very cool! I'm taking an ironwood tree off the property this weekend and plan to make a bow for my brother in law. He's usually one of the first people to see a bow I've made and always seems genuinely intrigued with the whole process. He's a compound guy for now, but I'll get him shooting stickbows ;)

Can't wait to see that Damon. I didn't know iron wood was used for self bows.

It'll be my second attempt at one, the first is still in blank form with too-thin (I think) bends in the curves. Gonna try underlays eventually. Best part is he has no clue, I always make it out to be like it's a lot of work, blah blah lol. Can't wait to see his face when he learns it's his when I finish a nice one.

I’m sure you will both have a big smile on your faces when he lets a arrow fly.

I think that’s the what I enjoy most now. Watching someone shoot their selfbow for the first time.

Bjrogg

That’s a nice one Brian

Thanks Jay. The first thing he did when I strung it and handed it to him was get a huge grin on his face and pull it back to his ear. Even though he knew better.

Had to be over 30” draw. I explained to him that even though it didn’t break and could probably be drawn that far. I really didn’t design it for that long of a draw and overdrawing it wasn’t really good for it.

Bjrogg

Two yew bows, one on the left is from billets.

Nice work guys!

I'm so impressed with the bows I see here! I hope my humble reverse handle hill-style is welcome. I also made the broadhead after my brother had an article published about them in 2017. Riser is Osage and lams are maple.

Some real nice bows above both wood,and fiberglass.

Love it. Love it. Love it!

Awesome bows guys!!

Nice bows. Gotta try to keep this one going a little longer.

Made this one for a special family. They had a fund raiser for their son. He had brain cancer.

The family had way more than your usual difficulties.

The father got a staff infection from a scratch on his finger. He ended up in a wheelchair.

His brother got hit by a truck that didn’t stop for a stop sign.

They really were special people and it always made me wonder how they had such bad luck.

They are all gone now. I guess their troubles are over.

My cousin ended up winning this one at the raffle. I’m glad he got it . It brings back some really good memories

HHB. My first recurve the horse hair under the handle wrap is from his brothers draft horses mane

Bjrogg

Some of you guys are pros. There are not any bows shown here that would be embarrassed to hang right beside any of the customs out there. You can take a lot more pride in them than if you just payed out the big bucks for one. Some real craftsmen here. >>>----> Ken

One of my old friend Roy's ELB's.

"Kingswood", Bamboo, wenge, and Yew.

76", 70#@28".

What is the diameter of that arrow buzz?

Thankful to have this forum. Idk anyone locally that’s into trad bows, cool place to get help and inspiration

My thoughts exactly 2bears.

That’s almost a broomstick there buzz. Wondering what the spine is on that one? Probably ash to?

Keep ‘em coming guys and gals. I’m pretty sure there’s some gal’s stuff out there to.

Bjrogg

Here’s one I made for my son in law. I made three bows from one stave. I made a kids bow from a side split for my grandson. A ladies bow from a belly split for my daughter and the main bow for my son in law.

I called it trilogy.

Bjrogg

PS I should take a few lbs off it yet. He struggles getting to full draw.

Trilogy

Probably my prettiest bow to date, I made it for Ghost Dog on this site, he set me some glamor pictures after he received the bow. I made the bow in 2005.

Beauty Eric. Love the wiggles and it’s pretty hard to beat Osage and copperheads.

Bjrogg

PS that might be your pretties, but I’m sure you have a bunch that are pretty close rivals

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here