Show off your self-made bows

[courtgreene]

Before my kids were born I was somewhat of a decent amateur bowyer. Then, no time.
Eventually, with multiple moves and little use, the two I’d hung onto broke so I decided to try to build a new one in the little five to fifteen minute spans of time I could get here and there. The first two attempts were terrible because in the eleven years since I last did this wood has gotten really weak at home improvement stores. In the tillering process, the things broke.
I bit the bullet and got a hickory stave and we were off to the races.
The goal was a bow that met nc hunting requirements so I worked carefully for just about a year to be at a full draw weight of at least fifty pounds. (It’s 54.3 at whatever my draw length is, but 73.2 on the tree.)
I ended up with a pretty good shooter, which is a plus, and consists of bamboo backed hickory with a wormy maple and hickory grip/shelf. There’s also a deer fur rest and strike plate.
I’ve got it routinely hitting the 3d deer target at twenty yards and cannot wait for bow season. If you’ve done something similar I’d like to see what you’ve got.

 

[.38 Special]

I am envious of folks who can manage this sort of stuff. I tried several, and broke all of them - and each took a piece of my soul with them.

So let's just say that I'm proud to support custom bowyers and leave it at that.

 

[Armored farmer]

Wow.
That's incredible!
My friends and i formed an informal recurve league of sorts many years ago. One of our friends had made his bow. It wasn't nearly as attractive as yours.
It will be extremely satisfying to tag a deer with your own bow.
Congrats, well done, and best wishes for your fall hunt.

 

[courtgreene]

Wow.
That's incredible!
My friends and i formed an informal recurve league of sorts many years ago. One of our friends had made his bow. It wasn't nearly as attractive as yours.
It will be extremely satisfying to tag a deer with your own bow.
Congrats, well done, and best wishes for your fall hunt.

Thanks. Hopefully I can close on one.

 

[WestKentucky]

Self made is such a huge point of pride and accomplishment. It’s a big part of why I reload, and repair old beater guns, and make fishing flies, and have bought the stuff to make a fishing rod (still have to find the right pieces for the handle and cut the river cane). I can say with authority that the fish caught with my flies taste better. The deer killed with my gun and my ammo is more satisfying, and the enjoyment from start to finish is great. I can’t even begin to think of the accomplishment a homemade bow, home made arrows, and a hand carved tip would be. Of course the string would have to be hand made as well, and feathers from a turkey or pheasant you killed… I suddenly want to build a bow.

 

[jeffsmith13]

I’ve made board bows , self bows , laminated bows , etc .

 

[Mk-211]

You can also make a bow and arrows out of PVC. Plenty of youtube videos out there.

Some are simple, some are very creative. Same with some of the crossbows made from PVC.

 

[.38 Special]

Self made is such a huge point of pride and accomplishment. It’s a big part of why I reload, and repair old beater guns, and make fishing flies, and have bought the stuff to make a fishing rod (still have to find the right pieces for the handle and cut the river cane). I can say with authority that the fish caught with my flies taste better. The deer killed with my gun and my ammo is more satisfying, and the enjoyment from start to finish is great. I can’t even begin to think of the accomplishment a homemade bow, home made arrows, and a hand carved tip would be. Of course the string would have to be hand made as well, and feathers from a turkey or pheasant you killed… I suddenly want to build a bow.

I build my own fly rods (and flies, and bowstrings, and cedar arrows, and...) but building a bow is apparently another level up. My hat is off to folks who can do it!

 

[courtgreene]

I build my own fly rods (and flies, and bowstrings, and cedar arrows, and...) but building a bow is apparently another level up. My hat is off to folks who can do it!

I’d love to build a fly rod, but even though I’m surrounded by excellent trout streams I know I wouldn’t go enough to justify it. I absolutely love fly fishing, yet I only get out one or two days a year.

 

[JeffG]

A maple longbow I made. It's a board bow, maple with a hickory back, Eastern diamondback rattlesnake on the back.

 

[Hookeye]

I haven't made a bow yet.
My idea was to do a hot box and lam some limbs for the old Blackwidow HF and HS risers.
Then I thought it might be more wise to CAD a new skeleton riser for current production Blackwidow limbs.
Do something like the HF1225 riser, but with rear bolt limbs and a replaceable grip.

Like the HS grip better than the HF, but being metal they both kinda suck in cold weather.
At least w a machined riser, one could have different wrist wood/plastic grips.

Graduated local U years ago, but figured I could pay to use the CAD lab or even have a student help me design one.
But Im too lazy these days.

 

[Hookeye]

Nice guy I knew made a bow (laminated take down recurve) and took a deer, very cool.
I have a hard enough time dealing w my modern purchased equipment.

Had tuning issue that had me frustrated, but figured it out.
Different quiver on the bow caused it.

 

[Hookeye]

Built by some dudes in Missouri
Had my first one built in '87, this a '22 and last one (4th build over the years).

 

[jeffsmith13]

I also have an old pse compound riser with the limbs machined for ILF limbs .

 

[jeffsmith13]

 

[courtgreene]

I decided to make a matching quiver. I don’t know if it counts but here it is.

 

[Vonderek]

I copied my big brother Lance in everything he did. He was into archery so I wanted to get into archery so he made this homemade bow for me. Years later I won a few trophies with his bow which he is using behind me in the Polaroid and I still have it. It is a prized possession as he was killed in 1972 at age 21 while at the U.S. Naval Academy. However, I wish I still had the crude, homemade bow that he made for me.

 

[Hookeye]

Put some Samick Discovery R1 medium 40# on my Satori 17 riser. Scale says 42.5# w bolts bottomed.

Could not get 400s to fly right, 200gr tip, 100gr insert and still too stiff.

Those w 125gr tip fly good on my 47# Widow.

So i picked up a couple 500s for test and at same length as my reg, 100gr insert and 175gr tip theyre bareshafting fine.

Now the question, since these are GT XT, the label matches the 340s used on my compound.

So....i gotta come up w a diff fletch color to reduce chances of screwing up LOL

 

[Hookeye]

Have barely shot the 40# limbs and find it very comfy, even w health issues. 52# is just a bit much without constant practice.

Being a cheapskate has its problems.

I now know what I want, Uukha mediums at 40.

So may end up getting rid of my other limbs.
Heck I still have my 47# rig and it aint going anywhere.

Well maybe back in the box for my grandson down the road.

 

[courtgreene]

Have barely shot the 40# limbs and find it very comfy, even w health issues. 52# is just a bit much without constant practice.

Being a cheapskate has its problems.

I now know what I want, Uukha mediums at 40.

So may end up getting rid of my other limbs.
Heck I still have my 47# rig and it aint going anywhere.

Well maybe back in the box for my grandson down the road.

But the practice is the fun part. If it’s not raining I try to shoot in the yard every day. 8-12 shots but not seeking perfection, just letting them fly. And letting off steam usually before work.
I know everyone’s setup, schedule, and other life situations are different, but that’s why I like bows, you don’t have to drive to a range or worry about waking people up with noise early in the morning.

 

[jeffsmith13]

Practice creates muscle memory, same draw , same anchor, etc. it becomes smooth and consistent creating accuracy. I totally agree on the statement about letting a couple fly to release whatever you need to be free from. Toxophilia Therapy

 

[Hookeye]

"Muscle memory" assumes the frame and muscles feel like they did before.

Rheumatoid arthritis says there isnt much memory.

Adds a challenge to the bent stick and string LOL

 

[Hookeye]

Shooting after work is tough. Mentally and physically.

But getting good there meant weekend tournaments were easy

 

[jeffsmith13]

I feel for you, the stick and string can be challenging enough. That’s probably part of the attraction.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Practice creates muscle memory, same draw , same anchor, etc. it becomes smooth and consistent creating accuracy. I totally agree on the statement about letting a couple fly to release whatever you need to be free from. Toxophilia Therapy

Zen Archery is a "thing"...