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Row One: 1) My good friend, and your "Friend in archery" (his heartfelt signature line), Mike Griffith, of Mike's Archery Leathers, (MAL), of CA tradgang.com and outdoorcore.com. Here Mike is at Full Draw with his Howard Hill bow, "Just Passable". Mike makes all my archery leathers that I use daily and has done two or three special jobs for me. It is well known that I love his goods, and no mistake. He is a former Marine who is all-Marine at heart, and generous to a fault, as we all know from his Monthly MAL give-aways, and his many gifts to individual children and youth groups in archery. Check out the MAL web site, and/or drop Mike a Post Card from your, "neck of the woods," - he loves 'em for his wall. http://www.mikesarcheryleather.com/
2) through 6) "The Saga of Phil And Sam" (Father & Son from CA) Phil is "greenchicken" and an Administrator at paleoplanet.com, as well as a primitive bowyer and musician. Sam is a budding bowyer and archer. They enjoy an enviable relationship through their developed hobbies. Pic 2) is Phil's favorite archery picture of all time (a beauty). At first I thought it was him - but upon closer inspection I'm not sure but what it's Sam - just goes to show you the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.
3) Sam's first bow, a father and son effort. Bowyering and shooting (after Sam seeing "Lord of The Rings") has added greatly to Phil and Sam spending many happy and productive hours together.
4) Phil with an Ash selfbow.
5) Sam tries out a "Badger" (another paleoplanet bowyer) built bow at a shoot vendors table.
6) Phil at one of his passions - Bowfishing. Thanks for sharing your Full Draws with us, Phil and Sam.
Row Two: 1) Dale Charles and friends have appeared in these pages before and we are pleased they are back again in this row of Full Draw pics sent to me by Dale. "Dalebow" is at Full Draw, from a tree, using Doug Day's 60# Lewis Hollow recurve here.
2) This is Dale using his 58# Osage Wes Wallace longbow.
3) Ruth Charles, Dale's wife of almost 4 years, and favorite shooting partner. Dale says Ruth is proof that good things are worth waiting for in life. Ruth Full Draws her Mike Miller "Crooked Stic", a one piece longbow.
4) Another Full Draw by Ruth - Dale also says that he is blessed to have Ruth in his life. You have to love a relationship like that.
5) This is Dave, a friend proving he can do Full Draw from a tree also. Dave's Wife, Kim is in the background, and, I wouldn't swear to it, but I believe that is "Brutus Hedgeapple" there also.
6) Dave's Wife, Kim proves that she is no slouch at a nice Full Draw either. Thanks for the interesting pics, guys and gals, and letting us share in your fun.
Row Three: 1) Mike Miller, of "Crooked Stic Bows" notoriety,
with his new Yaller Wood T/D bow he built of Osage. This one he will keep for
his own, and where he normally writes "Made for" on the bottom limb,
it simply says, "Mine" 
.
60", 52# @ 26" Mike is also sporting his new MAL arm guard award from
Mike Griffin, New Knife and sheath he traded goods for with Daniel and Sylvie,
and is using a goldTip arrow from Dalebow. Thanks so much for taking this
special shot to show us all these "goodies" you are so rightfully
proud of, at Full Draw, Mike. (Beautiful bow BTW)
2)"Yew Archer", Steve Junior Moore, another of the fine young bowyers, seen on paleoplanet.com, putting the Full Draw to a unique Hickory replica bow he's working on. Eastern Wood Indian Bow, Circa 1700 replica, Algonkian Tribe of Southern Canada. It is 50# @ 28" and 68" long, counting the featured hand carved head nocks. He will probably apply a traditional finish of animal grease or wax.
3) NEW YEAR EVE/MORN 2007 Well, "Once upon a New Years Eve", some 4 or 5 years ago, a contingent of ever increasing traditional bowmen decided to join a little-known cadre of archers pursuing a tradition of launching an arrow into the New Year. Yours truly was one of those joiners. I asked for, and intend to show here, Full Draw pics of some of this year's "New Year Traditionalists" doing just that. Kicking it off with one of myself. I chose to use my "John Scifres" Osage Bow, and a self made arrow of Sitka Spruce, for this year's ceremony. At Full Draw in front of our house, with the sweet shooting 66", 40# @ 28" bow. Afterwards, I felt so good, I walked around back and shot one of the foam deer on my range, with no artificial light, at about 12 yds and scored a perfect, "kill zone shot - Happy New Year, to all!"
4) Kevin Brown ushers in the New Year at Full Draw with his Kodiak Mag and a flu-flu arrow. He says to pay no attention to the date on the pic - he did it at 2 seconds after midnight, by Dick Clark.
5) Joining in in the Merry making is Kenny Yoder, "4runr", of Ohio - these first two archers would be better "Flight Shooters" than I, for sure - look at the elevation! Kenny is shooting his first selfbow, an Osage sweet shooter, "Little Yella Bow", 43# @ 27". He also used the last remaining arrow of his first half dozen self assembled arrows. He says he will retrieve it today, date it and save it, and thanked me for bringing him into a tradition that he hopes to carry into the future with his children. Good plan, Kenny!
6) "Wapiti Chaser", Bob Brown, father of Amanda, the Turkey hunter (and basketball player) , joins us with a pic taken by his wife, welcoming 2007 in New York, with his Osage Morrison Dakota bow. I had the pleasure of assembling and decorating Amanda's Turkey Wing Bone call for her, after she got her Turkey.
Row Four: 1) Young Sky Walker, the son of "MW", Mitch Walker, threw his New Year's arrow into the night skies of Utah. Dedication like that to a "new" tradition nust be rewarded by, at the very least, attention, notice, and congratulations. Thanks, Sky and Mitch.
2) & 3) "Dalebow" and his Wife, Dale and Ruth Charles, right back from a couple rows above to chip in for our New Year celebration, with their midnight Full Draws to shoot an arrow into 2007. Thanks for the neat pics, folks, and the best to you both.
4) Another Archer Reveling in the New Year. "Mystikbow", John Campanella. John said they took a number of pics but this was the only one that came out usable after enhancement. I like it and hope we'll get info on his bow soon. Here 'tis: John says He traded one of his longbows for it with another tradganger and got it just before Christmas - and it's "a shooter". A 52" Check Mate Raven, of 58#.
5) Andrew Reniffe, "Drewsbow" on Tradgang, of New York
welcomes in the New Year with an arrow from his Saluki turk, a 50", 53# @
28". Drew says he actually pulls the Sweeeet" little bow about 29 1/2
", and that it is fast and smooth.
...
6) Andrew's Son, Adam Reniffe joined him and they shot all the family's bows. Here Adam is shooting his Sister's 60", 20# @ 28" but his own personal bow is a Bear Tigercat of 60", 35# @ 28". Thanks for "launching into the New Year with us as a Father & Son team.
Row Five: 1) Big Dave Bartholomew promised us a pic of him at Full Draw with his Schafer bow. So he killed two birds with one arrow, so to speak, and made it also a New Year Full Draw. Thank you Dave. I've asked him what is on the business end of his arrow.
Dave's answer:
"Honestly, I just took about 10 paper towels ... cut 'em length wise ... wrapped some clear tape around 'em to hold it in place. Wife lit a match ... applied it to the arrow tip. (You know us Navy divers/EOD types ... we aren't allowed to play with matches.)"
2)Jim Golden, of Mississippi Lake Longbows, ushering in the New Year with a Traditional Full Draw on one of his own beauties.
3) "Luke" V. also with a Mississippi Lake Longbow, and also of Canada, aiding and abetting Jim in the New Year's Launch. Thanks, guys and also to "Big Dog" (who couldn't stay) for getting the pics to me.
Thank you all so much for the special New Year's Launch Full Draw Pics
4) The Kleb family of South Africa joins us in our parade of Full Draws, hopefully as the leading vanguard of many more from that country.The Wife of Brian, Shoots a 50# Samick SKB designed for the Traditional Korean style of drawing to the ear, so at her draw length she pulls about 33#. She just started in July of 2006 and is already doing quite well but prefers not to submit a picture at this time. The Klebs live in Howick, Kwa-Zulu Natal, SA. This is Jason Kleb, son of Brian and his wife, and he lives in East London, Eastern Cape, SA Jason shoots a Samick SLB of 40# @ 28" and shoots with his parents as often as possible.
5) Brian Kleb at Full Draw, with a Viper Deluxe longbow of 63# @ 29". Brian also has a Norseman recurve made by South African bowyer, Derek Nourse, and perhaps we'll see a Full Draw of that bow also, in the future. That bow is 55# @ 30" and Brian used it to shoot an Impala doe from a blind at 15 meters. After the settling down from the holidays, Brian hopes to get their archery club trad folks to send in their pics, or let him do so. I'll look forward to that.
6) The Klebs Nephew, Brett Anthony, visited with them over New Year's. He lives in Christchurch, New Zeland and got really caught up in archery while with them. He was so enthused he bought a 40# second hand longbow (of unknown make). With Brett's height, Brian says he draws about 30". His Form is looking really good already too IMO. Brian hopes to bowhunt in NZ when he gets home now. If memory serves me, we had a pic from a bowyer in Christchurch earlier in these pages. Yes, "Te Waoko" (Sam - on Pg3, Row Seven) but I think he is the same Sam who is now in California - also in these pages, however he will be returning to Christchurch. Brett might want to look him up, everyone thinks a lot of him.
Row Six: 1) Elizabeth Maestle, wife of Mark, ("Brutus Hedgeapple"), still Full Drawing and still loving her Crooked Stic Bow by Mike Miller.
2) Here Mark and Elizabeth Maestle team up to create a "Silhouette, Duet Full Draw". Neat pic, huh?
3) AND ... on the other side of the Brutus/Elizabeth coin ... .
4) The Prolific Bowyer, "Ryano" With a Little Elm Bow that I have been drooling over (the pictures of) all morning. He made it from a piece of "waste" wood off the top of a stave he was working for another bow. It is an Indian Style bow of only 50" ntn, and 40# @ 26". Ryan says it is "fun & snappy" to shoot - I'll bet it is! The handle was built up with deer hide, then wrapped with Hemp cord, and finally topped with elk hide. Most of all look at the beauty and grace of the Full Draw!
5) Jon L of California, friend of Paleoplanet guys, and just plain "Jon" on there, putting the Full Draw on a very nice Bamboo backed Oak bow he finished recently. "toxophileken" said Jon brought it to a bow Rabbit hunt recently and that it really was fast. Boo is like that, for my money.
6) This is my friend Chuck Baughn, "Thunderflight". Chuck was a USMC Gy, then Warrant Officer, and now Capt . and is pretty proficient at taking critters with his trad bow, as evidenced in pics on my Gallery Pages. Chuck just left for Iraq yesterday, and in reviewing the pics on those pages I decided to post this one here also. We hunted together on the Marine Air facillity (New River) here some, near the end of '05 and though we meant to this year too, we just never seemed to get to it. Keep your head down over there, Chuck, and come back safe and sound.
Row Seven: 1) One of the very first folks I began "talking" to "Directly" when I first started hitting the Trad forums, about 5 years back, I'd guess, was "Jawge", George Tsoukalas, as he lives in my original home/birth state of NH. George, here at Full Draw with one of his many selfbows, is one of the best known, most helpful gents in Bowyering of selfbows and self arrows. He has perhaps one of the most visited instructional web sites in our sport - right up there with Mickey, "The Ferett" Lotz, Dean Torges, and other "teachers/sharers" of their knowlege and craft. AND why not, George is a Retired Teacher - bless his heart, and a fine gentleman. This bow he made from a Hickory stave and it is 66" ntn, 52# @ 26" and he calls it "Fitz" I don't want to call Fitz beautiful with his name so I will say, "What a handsome bow, Jawge." George said he would be "honored" to be on my web site (and I appreciate it) - but I feel the honor is mine.
2) Our "frequent arrow flyer miles" visitor, Ryano,
with a beautemous little Hickory Backed Osage he just finished. Ryan is killing
me with these sweet bows - especially when he hits in my stats range .
This one is 64"ntn, 45# @ 28". He put a really nice red and black
striped finish on the back, bone tip overlays and
arrow pass, and a deerskin grip, with a feather to add a little
"spice" to it. Yeah! Sugar 'n Spice (and everything nice).
3) through 6) and two more on next row. From Sweeden to paleoplanet.com comes "Axel", Axel Linderholm. Axel has gotten into making Bend Through The Handle Bows, without thinner handles. These six pics at Full Draw are bows from this past year. He likes this type of bow because, in his opinion, they are easier to build, more fun to shoot - making them more accurate as well, more beautiful, and more interesting.
Row Eight: 1) & 2) Axel with two more of his selfbows. This young Sweed makes them in the Low to Mid-Forties in weight, length at about his height, no handles, and uses tied-on nocks (no nock grooves). He uses Juniper, Elm, and Hazle. He also seems to use a pretty long arrow, and has a reasonably long draw, by the looks. I might also add this style seems to make a rather neat, streamlined looking bow also. I like the look of the drawn bows. Good work, Axel and thanks for joining us. Send more pics anytime.
3) & 4) Two views of "Ryano" with their first snow
of this year (now he can get some money-making work 
),
and yet another bow. BUT - what a bow; you can't fully appreciate this one
without reading Ryan's excited write-up on paleoplanet.com. For the basics on
both sides of
this beautiful Full Draw though: The bow is a deflexed recurved Osage selfbow
(look at that limb sweep) of 58" ntn, 52# @ 28". Ryan really dressed
it up with Timber Rattlesnakskin backing and also covering the fades in the belly, and
then a Beavertail handle grip and arrow pass. Just beautiful and he says it fits
him to a "T" and draws/shoots fantastic.
5) Keenan Howard, "24Hhunting", one of our early submitters (Page3, Row Three) from paleoplanet, had a bad heart problem recently. Thankfully a skilled Doctor Performed Open heart surgery, saving Keenan's life. The hunting bowyer wanted to honor his Doctor's skills and did so in grand style by making him this special (difficult - his write-up is something to see) bow, shown in the bowyer's Full Draw pic above. It is a sinew and Rattlesnake backed Juniper limb, replete with Zebrawood Tips, Gemsbok Horn Handle wrapped in leather, and an embedded Elk Tooth rest. It is my honor to bring you a little of this story of two very different, but equally dedicated, talents. Keenan is doing fine now, thank you, Lord. Truly an inspired bow, Keenan.
6) This is friend "Pat B", Pat Brennan, of central (more or less) NC and forums like tradgang and primitive archer. Pat is drawing a selfbow he made special for his Elk hunt this past Fall. It is a Sinew Backed Osage Static Recurve. I met Pat at two or three shoots this year and he makes primitive arrows. He presented me with the pretty, straight flying snaky arrow (Sourwood shoot - snakeskin cresting) that I showed with my snaky Osage bow earlier in these pages. A fine gentleman in every sense of the word, and yes, those whiskers go to mid-chest.
Row Nine: 1) Another of Pat B, in case you see him with his hat off. This is his latest bow. A Holmsgaard style that he made of Locust. Love the lines on his bows. Pat once gave one of his bows, that he had signed "Pat B", to a young Knapper we know, whose name just happens to be Patrick Brennan (no relation). He is a real nice young man, with good craft ethics in primitive areas, and an up and coming craftsman of note. Pat handed him the bow saying, "This must be your bow, it has your name on it already." Great folks in this pastime we call archery, a-yuh.
2. Well, some of the bowyer 's in CA get together every so often
to shoot and work on bows, other primitive gear, etc. "toxophileken"
does great pictorials on them, and I get to "lift" Full Draw pics from
them, for our pleasure here
. Starting off this time with Ken shooting what he calls his "Little Elm
Bow", a fun bow at 25 3/4" long and about 52# draw.
3) Sam, "Te Waoko" of NZ, likes to shoot the little bow also.
4) Tom, the founder of Paleoplanet, jumped up on a table to make a very close shot on a Gopher.
5) Sal took a piece of scrap Hickory, carved some nock grooves in it and tillered it for a Yumi type bow. He will probably use it as a backing for another nice piece of wood and keep the Yumi style.
6) John S., "Greensnake", shooting his Lemonwood bow.
Row Ten: 1) The guys were all having a good time but Steve decided it was too easy and broke out a Big, heavy draw Warbow he was working on. Tom tried first, with Steve looking on - front and...
2) back, but no Full Draw for a Warbow (they try to get those things back to their ears, you know?)
3) Ken tried too - and he's used to heavy draws. He said none of them really got it to Warbow Full Draw, but they all had fun trying. ("Ouch!").
4) They collectively decided the only way to do it to it was a "Group Tug" on Steve's tillering tree - left to right is Sam, Tom M., Steve, Jon, and Tom. A good time was had by all - please send flowers and sympathy cards to the Traction Ward at the Pasadena General Hospital.
5) To finish up this page I am going to slide in here next to the Pasadena Merry-Makers, with the little Holly Bow that Mike Brooks knocked out in 30 minutes and gave to me to sand and finish for starting young archers out with. I used Danish Oil and Tru-oil and drew Indian Symbols on the sweet little bow in the process. I also put a Ferett Floppy Rest on it with a leather wrapped grip.
6) This also is not true Full Draw but full for the little bow, which is about 25# @ 24"
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Once again we find ourselves movin' on - this time to Page8
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Traditional Bows Drawn, Page7 (here) |
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