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Crossbows - Everything about Building, Modding, and Using your Crossbow Gear

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3 posters

    Elk bone top bow, pistol bow

    Lightly
    Lightly
    Master Crossbowyer
    Master Crossbowyer


    Posts : 199
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    Location : Austin, Tx

    Elk bone top bow, pistol bow Empty Elk bone top bow, pistol bow

    Post by Lightly Fri Aug 12, 2011 9:28 am

    I looked about the forum, and did not see that I posted pics of Kimberly's bow, if I did, forgive the reposting!

    There are so many photos, that I will just post a link to the Flickr site.
    Kimberly wanted a Finnish bow, with a bone top, and an inlay to show her arms.

    My Aunt had given me some Elk leg bones, so, I used these for the top. They are not the cream/off white of the cow bones we usually use, and seem a bit more translucent, but I thought they were interesting, and beautiful. She also wanted a very dark bow, so I actually stained the walnut stock with a dark walnut stain. I didn't like it at first, but, it has grown on me.
    I also found the elk bone to be a bit more 'crumbly' than the cow bone, so, some of the lines were not as sharp as I would have liked... live and learn....
    The bone inlets are packed up and ready to be sent to Osprey at Darkwood Armory to be carved, but, they are likely still at Pennsic, and will be too busy for another week or so to get to them.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/swifthoundbows/5918735007/in/set-72157627029879553



    I also just started re working on a pistol bow that I was making for a client nearly two years ago, and he decided not to get it. It hung in the shop here for months, and I finally decided it was time to finish it.

    From the tip of the stock to the lock, it is exactly the same as a Finnish bow, I simply added the handles. These bows are loosely based on the Chinese Pistol bows from the 1100's, with some refinements. Those bows were quite square, and not .... well, beautiful. And much larger.
    It will have an aluminum prod, maybe (or maybe not...) a stirrup. And, it will be for sale! Just saying....

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/swifthoundbows/sets/72157627413417190/



    Enjoy, and as always, comments, constructive criticism welcome!

    Best;

    Lightly


    Last edited by Ivo on Fri Aug 12, 2011 4:46 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Embed)
    Master Bran Padraig
    Master Bran Padraig
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    Elk bone top bow, pistol bow Empty Re: Elk bone top bow, pistol bow

    Post by Master Bran Padraig Fri Aug 12, 2011 1:53 pm

    I really like the bone work... Great job!

    I was looking at your pictures and I realized we met at Pensic 2009, small world. Excellent A&S display, BTW. Love the brass work.
    Lightly
    Lightly
    Master Crossbowyer
    Master Crossbowyer


    Posts : 199
    Join date : 2010-01-12
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    Elk bone top bow, pistol bow Empty Re: Elk bone top bow, pistol bow

    Post by Lightly Fri Aug 12, 2011 2:42 pm

    Master Bran;

    I believe you are mistaking me for the man who did that marvelous brasswork... I saw the bows there that year as well, at the A&S dispaly, and I believe that he owns two of our bows, one made by myself, and another made by Geezer. He proved invaluable to me, as he is a champion shooter, and gave me many tips in my early career that helped improve my bowyer skills a great deal. We were able to go shooting together a couple times that year, which also improved my skills, as he pointed out various things.

    You will find that I am much shorter, and more female than he! I am frustrated to not remember his name of the top of my head.
    It was he who commissioned the pistol bow, but then, needed to change his mind as some extra expenses came up for him.

    Thank you for the kind compliment, I do enjoy doing the bone work...


    Best!

    Lightly.
    Master Bran Padraig
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    Posts : 27
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    Elk bone top bow, pistol bow Empty Re: Elk bone top bow, pistol bow

    Post by Master Bran Padraig Fri Aug 12, 2011 4:10 pm

    No, I met you at your tent selling crossbows (I already knew you are a female). I remember asking you a number of questions about how you make your crossbows. I just never put 2 and 2 together until I saw your Pensic photos from 2009. That's the only Pensic I have been to so far.

    I saw the pictures of the A&S display on your Pensic 2009 photo list and just thought it was your work too. But it's still very nice brass work.

    Sorry for my mix up.
    Basilisk120
    Basilisk120
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    Post by Basilisk120 Fri Aug 12, 2011 7:11 pm

    Wow, more great work Lightly, Those are both sweet looking bows.

    Couple of questions. How did you get the bone to be a flat surface? And shaping the bone, that was all done with hand files? Wow/
    Lightly
    Lightly
    Master Crossbowyer
    Master Crossbowyer


    Posts : 199
    Join date : 2010-01-12
    Age : 64
    Location : Austin, Tx

    Elk bone top bow, pistol bow Empty Re: Elk bone top bow, pistol bow

    Post by Lightly Fri Aug 12, 2011 8:39 pm

    Master Bran;

    Apologies for not remembering that I met you! I admit to being a bit overwhelmed... Not by the event, per se, but by the number of folks I met there. It seems like 90% of them wander thru Darkwood Armory at one point or another...I plan to attend Pennsic next year, it was simply not financially feasible the last two years.

    Ironic, considering that going there does bring us custom... and keeps us in folks awareness.
    And I DO love hanging around Darkwood myself! They are very kind to me, and generous...

    I was impressed by the brass work, and many other works at the A&S, and took quite a few photos.

    Basilisk;

    I used the disk sander to get the top as flat as possible. I deliberately did NOT shape the bow until AFTER the bone was placed, in order to have flat surfaces so as to be able to sand it correctly. I then used a hand sander, and orbital sander to smooth that down. But, ALL the sides and shaping of the bone top are done completely by files! Round and flat. It takes really a long time! We really don't charge enough for bone tops, heh!

    And, then, after progressively finer files, I complete it by hand sanding, to get all the file marks out, then, very fine sand paper, on the sides and top, and lastly, steel wool to give it that sheen.

    And wow, is that stuff stinky to sand. Drives poor Geezer right out of the shop!

    And IVO! Thanks again for the photos! I could not really figure out how to do a bunch of them at once, and there were so many...
    I will have to try again.

    Best!

    Lightly

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