selfbows

[FlyFishBC]

does any body here hunt with selfbows? type of wood? the process of making one, any success stories?

[Lil Bow Pete]

I have built two ash selfbows. I plan to hunt with one this season. I killed a deer with a home made hickory bow last season. It is backed with fibre glass cloth and epoxy, so it doesn't count as a selfbow. For info on making one google selfbows. That's what I did. Got all the info I needed. Expect a few failures before you get it right. Be warned. Building bows is very addictive.

[randyhood]

Yep, I still shoot the 3rd and best selfbow I have made. It is also backed with fiberglass and epoxy, but I think it still counts :). Like Pete says, Google it, and expect a few failures. I would recommend buying a bow stave off eBay, rather than doing a board bow. I have broken and/or cracked 3 board bows, and not a single stave bow. Ask me anything, and I'll try to answer.

[FlyFishBC]

have you ever tried cutting your own stave?

[randyhood]

Yes, I cut a birch stave a few years ago. Haven't turned it into a bow yet though. Main problem with that is you have to find a good hardwood tree, which can be hard to find. I don't think birch will make a great bow.

[ratherbefishin]

My father made yew bows,and they turned out pretty well,as I recall,he split the stave then joined it with a finger joint to each side was the same.

[Lil Bow Pete]

Got a whitetail with an ash selfbow a couple of weeks ago. It can be done. The building the bow is the hard part but it sure is fun. The dead deer won't know the differance between a selfbow and a thousand dollar wheely cabled arrow launcher.

[M@B]

Best books on the subject that I have read are "the traditional bowyers bible" volumes 1 through 4 and billits to bows. Chapters can order them in for you. if you really want to build a good self bow these books are as handy as a draw knife.

[J_T]

There are lots of selfbow bowyers & shooters out there. Most that I know who frequented this site, were bullied off eventually. It's a different head space and a different attitude. It generally isn't well received on here.