All work and no play could make stovie a dull boy...

...but luckily that will never happen. Here's a few pics taken while preparing a Tipi for an iminent scout camp....

First some fortification...coffee whisky and chestnuts

Stitch old canvas tents together to cover the tipi

Then it was time to play

Bows at rest

The perfect sunset and a near perfect tiller

It doesn't always work...

Unfortunately the tip of Oak ELB 3 gave way. No obvious reason for this. Just some occult flaw in the wood. Not to worry, it's been piked and I am re-tillering to make it usable by stovie jr...

Oak ELB 3 takes shape

Have reached the point where I have a tiller that draws 65# @ 26". With final sanding and a little wood removed from the handle area I should end with 65# @ 28"

this is it drawn to 26"

Braced

ELB in the making

Spokeshaved this oak stave to its rough dimensions

Showing nice grain on the belly

American Plains Flat Bow

Here is one produced for a friend. Oak, flat bow, 70" NtoN. 1 3/4" at fades, 1/2" at nocks.

Detail of handle

Full draw

Goin' Native

With a blast of summer sun, and the call of the wild, stovie goes native and eyes his quarry...

A couple of new fletchings

A pleasant way to spend an evening, a pint and tying in a couple of new fletchings. Goose held in place with Bluebell sap and linen thread.

Close up of the finished fletch.

Mouldy gets his hands on "old crooked"

Here he is in action, Mouldy showing how it's done...


and here's some more of the gang...a select company of archers


Here's Mouldy's shot, 30ft up and well lodged

Stovie Jr's self bow

Made this for Jr. This is it on the tillering stick

and this is me trying it out


it draws 30# @ 18"