Bow No 1

[scuzz]

I was putting yet another coat of wax on my first bow, so i took a few photos to send to a friend. So now i thought i would post them on here for you guys.

Yes it seems like a horrible photo now that i look at it. But it does show the R/D profile.

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An attempt to convince me to use coloured glass fell on deaf ears

Quarter sawn red tulip oak, under clear glass

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Its going to be a bit of a shame to put leather over this handle but it is a preference of mine.

Laminated handle Purple heart/osage/maple

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Scuzz

[Fraser]

Nice bow Scuzz, that handle's to pretty for a leather grip, give it a run with out a grip and see how you go.

Fraser.

[bigbob]

Great bow Scuzz!. I wouldn't use a leather grip either. The handle is about the only place to show your workmanship and it seems wrong to cover it with leather.

[Stickbow Hunter]

Congrats on making such a great looking first bow. By the way it is deflex/reflex in design if it is right handed and not reflex/deflex as you have said. Like you, I too like the handle wrapped in leather mate so go with what you like.

Jeff

[Macca]

Good job Scuzz , what are the specs? I like the grip not sure about a leather overlay but that's why each is a custom build , so why not,

Cheers Macca

[scuzz]

Deflex/reflex, well i have learnt something Jeff

Its 54lb at 28", 66" ntn

Thanks for the kind words guys. Im hoping uni holidays come fast as im itching to get back out and make another!!

Scuzz

[Gilly]

Looks great Scuzz, well done!

[little arrows]

well done Scuzz, love the honey colour and I especially like your bow tip "protector" It is going to be a pity to cover your handy work, however part of it will still be seen.

cheers
sue

[lanky]

Looks real nice!!, and I agree, no leather!

[scuzz]

Thanks again, im very happy with how it turned out. I had a great teacher who doesnt take 'rough' as an option.

Im a little more comfortable with a leather grip, comfort before looks haha

Scuzz

[Stickbow Hunter]

Thanks again, im very happy with how it turned out. I had a great teacher who doesnt take 'rough' as an option.

Would you mind telling a little about how you got to make your own bow? It's always great seeing people crafting their own equipment.

Jeff

[longbow steve]

Looks fantastic Scuzz. Do you have the belly glass running completely over the handle? Your bow does look familiar Would have been fun working with such a good bowyer. Cheers Steve

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[scuzz]

Thanks again, im very happy with how it turned out. I had a great teacher who doesnt take 'rough' as an option.

Would you mind telling a little about how you got to make your own bow? It's always great seeing people crafting their own equipment.

Jeff

Sure Jeff. It starts with asking a bowyer from your club. I was offered this to me some time ago and i think in my teenage years i lacked motivation

But to be honest, most bowyers are happy to pass on their skills and jump at such opportunities.

Apart from that, its being dedicated to learning, and i think a love for the sport. I doubt you could make bows without a love of shooting them. I know I spent a couple of weeks watching Alan make a couple of bows, before i started my own.

I think in the end, dedication is Key.

Looks fantastic Scuzz. Do you have the belly glass running completely over the handle? Your bow does look familiar Would have been fun working with such a good bowyer. Cheers Steve

Hi Steve. Yep Alans form is designed to use all full length lams with the handle piece lying between. Everything he has done with this design, the full length lams, the laminated handle is to create strength throughout. He has alot of his own knowledge, developed from 40odd years of bowmaking, while constantly experimenting with different designs.

Scuzz

[Stickbow Hunter]

Thanks Scuzz. You are right in what you say. I didn't know where you were from but looking at the the bow shape and the giving of the bowyers first name I'm pretty sure I know who it was. If so you certainly did have a good teacher. I haven't seen Alan I'd say since the very late 1990's. That bow design reminds me of one he made way back around 1985 or 86 for Ted Mitchell. Once again congrats on making your first bow.

Would you have a photo of it strung and at full draw?

Jeff

[rodlonq]

That is a fantastic result for your first bow Scuzz, no wonder you have been bitten by the bug.

Cheers...... Rod

[Guy Layton]

Top Work for you first attempt mate... Well done...!

With all the laminations in the it handle it kind of reminds me of a Toelke Whip...

Cheers Guy..

[greybeard]

Scuzz,

Top effort for your first bow and I am sure there will be more to come.

A leather wrap in the right colour will probably enhance the colours in the handle.

Daryl.

[scuzz]

Just for you Jeff

Full Draw

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The same 'tip protector' Sue

Strung in Sun

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Strung in Shade

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Top Work for you first attempt mate... Well done...!

With all the laminations in the it handle it kind of reminds me of a Toelke Whip...

Cheers Guy..

Thanks Guy. I hadnt seen a Toelke Whip untill i just googled it. But there are many similarities. Notice the straight limb at brace. A small difference in handle shape, but very close.

That is a fantastic result for your first bow Scuzz, no wonder you have been bitten by the bug.

Cheers...... Rod

Thanks Rod

Scuzz,

Top effort for your first bow and I am sure there will be more to come.

A leather wrap in the right colour will probably enhance the colours in the handle.

Daryl.

Hi Greybeard, long time no see.
Yea i went with a darker coloured leather in the handle, i packed it out a little with other pieces of leather so get a soft/bulbous feeling that i like, i had a bright red piece i was considering using, but i went with something a little less flamboyant

[scuzz]

Thanks Scuzz. You are right in what you say. I didn't know where you were from but looking at the the bow shape and the giving of the bowyers first name I'm pretty sure I know who it was. If so you certainly did have a good teacher. I haven't seen Alan I'd say since the very late 1990's. That bow design reminds me of one he made way back around 1985 or 86 for Ted Mitchell. Once again congrats on making your first bow.

Would you have a photo of it strung and at full draw?

Jeff

Alan had this very design at least 13 years ago, its beautiful now, and it was beautiful then. And i think he was building up to this for a while before that, so im sure there were similarities in the models earlier.

I have always had a great deal of respect for Alan as both an archer and bowyer. From getting to know him on a more personal basis over the past 6 months, my respect has only grown. He says what he thinks, while being a pure gentlemen at the same time.

Scuzz

[Nephew]

Awesome first bow, mate! I can see the Tolke whip similarities too. Well done indeed.

[Stickbow Hunter]

Thanks for the photos Scuzz, much appreciated. The limbs have an unusual bend to them.

Alan is a nice bloke and was (probably still is) a very good shot.

The bow I mentioned Alan made back in the mid eighties was his first attempt at making a longbow with the deflex/reflex limb design but the reflex never came out so it ended up a semi-recurve.

Jeff

[scuzz]

Thanks for the photos Scuzz, much appreciated. The limbs have an unusual bend to them.

Alan is a nice bloke and was (probably still is) a very good shot.

The bow I mentioned Alan made back in the mid eighties was his first attempt at making a longbow with the deflex/reflex limb design but the reflex never came out so it ended up a semi-recurve.

Jeff

Alan likes this type of bend. A little through the handle, a fair bit throughout the midlimb, and a straight tip. It feels great to shoot.

Alan at age 69 is still shooting as well as i am, i could imagine him being incredible in his prime. I could imagine him being a competitor in most trad events even now.

Yea he does have alot of different designs, still in his shed. Some he believes were too twitchy, some with too much hand shock, some designs that were no good. This is his idea of a well balanced bow.

Scuzz

[scuzz]

Awesome first bow, mate! I can see the Tolke whip similarities too. Well done indeed.

Oh and thanks nephew

[Stickbow Hunter]

Thanks Scuzz. Alan always supported the Australian Longbow Musters when we hosted them back in the 1980's and 90's.

Jeff