Black Locust rawhide backed with purple heart knocks

Black locust bow backed with deer rawhide and purple heart knocks ready for some tillering and string. I used hide glue to back the bow with rawhide from this years deer, forgive me for using titebond for the string knocks.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• long bow
• selfbow
• traditional
• black locust
• rawhide
• hide glue
• purple heart
• bow
• native
• mohawk
• iroquoise

[flintkeeper]

papaninjasm you probably just have not been accepted, its normal for for you to feel that way because your new and normal for them to act that way toward a outsider. prove your self a human being and you will be accepted by them.

[flintkeeper]

I do soak the rawhide in water before gluing it to the wood. thanks NicholasKelley

[flintkeeper]

kenny I wanted to use hide glue like the way everything was glued in the old days but I wanted to do some laminated bows so I bought the titebond glue and wanted to try it. Guess im a high tech native lol

[flintkeeper]

Thanks Tatanka for the advice on the backing, I havent had any problems with lifting but I will keep my eye on it. The bow is 68" and im hoping to get at least 50# out of it.

[papaninjasam]

@flintkeeper Thanks for the reply. I feel I have been accepted by the younger generations my age but it's just a few of the older ones that seem a little tense. Most of our people I have come across are amazing. Their outlook on life is just breathtaking. I hope to grow closer to the ways of our grandfathers and eventually become self reliant and use the land as a way to live and not the machines.

[papaninjasam]

Your full Native right? I have a question please don't take offense. Are half Natives sometimes looked down on by elder full Natives? My mother is full Cherokee and my father is Dutch-Irish. Up until I moved out of my parents house I haven't really been around to many Natives other than my family. I recently started hanging with my people and some of the elder are bitter towards me. I hold no hatred though there must be a reason for everything!!!

[NicholasKelley111]

do you soak the rawhide before glueing it on?

[TatankaOhitika1]

I see you like longer bow ! We come from two different weapon types since I don't have an anchor point on my 38 inch sinew backed horsebows . Hey if you don't mind keeping a check on any set or string follow your bows takes . Iv'e been trying to figure out if rawhide really helps reduce set in a bow . Just let me know if that rawhide backing reduces set after youv'e done some tillering and shooting . Iv'e never backed woods like Locust with rawhide and it would be neat to know .

- Aaron

[TatankaOhitika1]

And also , do you stain your rawhide backings ? I use handmade Black Walnut stain to darken the backing , than seal with beeswax or rendered deer fat . I just think the Deer would see the white backing stand out against the darkish landscape , when your up and close I like dark bows .