well, gee whiz. thanks for all the compliments. Milo, I don't know what to say to that. I enjoy a real compliment as much as anyone, but I only wish the pleasure it brings me wasn't overpowered by the discomfort it causes me. you overestimate me, my friend.
FS, that's a lot of questions. since I don't have much of a real job, I have time to answer them, lol. making my own bows was something I wanted to do for a long time before I actually did it. the incident that pushed me over the edge is a whole other story, but I've been making wood bows since 1995 and using them for hunting exclusively since 1997. I'm more proud of that fat little Delaware county button buck I took with a hickory backed osage bow of my own construction during gun season on bowhunting only public ground in 97 than even my first deer. I don't have the words to describe what that meant to me, but it changed my life.
I got started mostly on my own with some advice on what to read. made my first bow from a piece of hickory slab wood with nothing more than a spoke shave, a cheap 4 in 1 rasp and a well sharpened paint scraper. well, after launching one arrow from that godawful thing, I was hooked, quite certain that I could make a better one, which I eventually did a year or so later, and went hunting with it. dang, that seems like a very long time ago now. I did manage to ingratiate myself to one of the best bowyers on the planet, and he certainly helped me up my game. taught me the value and importance of craftsmanship. taught me how to use hand tools for woodworking. taught me how to run a squirrel dog, too. and about a million other things that have nothing to do with making a bow. everyone should be so fortunate.
I've rather lost count of how many bows I've made, but between selfbows and BBO's it's well over 200, probably closer to 300. for a while, I was making 20 bows a year, but I've slowed down a bit here of lately. I do sell a few, but don't go out of my way to do so. I trade a few away for guns and hunting opportunities and stuff like that. I donate a few to worthy causes for raffles and such. I give away a few to friends and family. I have couple laying around here, too. :smile:
I'm no fletcher, but I do assemble my own wood arrows. haven't hunted with anything but wood arrows since 1987.
FS, that's a lot of questions. since I don't have much of a real job, I have time to answer them, lol. making my own bows was something I wanted to do for a long time before I actually did it. the incident that pushed me over the edge is a whole other story, but I've been making wood bows since 1995 and using them for hunting exclusively since 1997. I'm more proud of that fat little Delaware county button buck I took with a hickory backed osage bow of my own construction during gun season on bowhunting only public ground in 97 than even my first deer. I don't have the words to describe what that meant to me, but it changed my life.
I got started mostly on my own with some advice on what to read. made my first bow from a piece of hickory slab wood with nothing more than a spoke shave, a cheap 4 in 1 rasp and a well sharpened paint scraper. well, after launching one arrow from that godawful thing, I was hooked, quite certain that I could make a better one, which I eventually did a year or so later, and went hunting with it. dang, that seems like a very long time ago now. I did manage to ingratiate myself to one of the best bowyers on the planet, and he certainly helped me up my game. taught me the value and importance of craftsmanship. taught me how to use hand tools for woodworking. taught me how to run a squirrel dog, too. and about a million other things that have nothing to do with making a bow. everyone should be so fortunate.
I've rather lost count of how many bows I've made, but between selfbows and BBO's it's well over 200, probably closer to 300. for a while, I was making 20 bows a year, but I've slowed down a bit here of lately. I do sell a few, but don't go out of my way to do so. I trade a few away for guns and hunting opportunities and stuff like that. I donate a few to worthy causes for raffles and such. I give away a few to friends and family. I have couple laying around here, too. :smile:
I'm no fletcher, but I do assemble my own wood arrows. haven't hunted with anything but wood arrows since 1987.
