Sinew Backed Hackberry Bow

Finally, if the student be observant, the arrow will write for him long chapters about the people, the fishes, birds and beasts of the separate regions and their peculiar habits.

~from North American Bows, Arrows and Quivers by Otis T. Mason, 1893

Finished up my favorite bow to date- it's a sinew backed hackberry. 

Measures 62 inches nock to nock- pulls 48 pounds at 26 inches of draw.

I tillered this one to one ring on th' belly, then strung it into four inches of reflex before applying th' sinew- unstrung it sits at 2 1/2 inches of reflex- when first unbraced it falls to 1 1/2 inches, and pulls back into 2 1/2 after a couple of hours. 

String is twisted linen dyed with black walnut husks, endless loop style.

nice little design/knot on belly fade

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Here's a look at some of th' sinew, which i hackled before applying, and th' bow strung backwards just after applying th' sinew.

hackled deer leg sinew

bow strung backwards to apply sinew in reflex

And here it is at 28" of draw, i realize now that i don't have any of me shooting it, so this will have to do for a full draw shot. I'm pulling it on a spring scale to measure it.