Unsung Bowyers

[arch]

I was cleaning up my room today from a fairly active hunting season--actually, couldn't get into the darn room! Anyway, while hanging the bow I've used this fall on its pegs, I admired the way it is made and the woods used. I had a bowyer from Colon, MI, that very few traditionalists have heard of, make a one-piece recurve that is wonderfully made, great looking, and shoots like a dream. The riser is made from koa wood that is native to Hawaii. This wood has a highly decorative grain but needs to be strengthened with phenolic. He used 3/16" red micarta bordered with 1/8" sand-colored micarta against the highly grained koa. On the belly and the back of the limbs, he used water-stained tonkin cane. The riser and tip overlays with the red micarata and top strips of polished koa make a great looking bow. This is again from a bowyer that hardly anyone has heard of. There are some true artists out there, and I appreciate their work.

If you get the idea that I'm bored tonight sitting here listening to it sleet outside, you're right! Time to slip an old Bear video into the machine, sip on a cup of tea, and dream a little.

God bless. Arch.