Side effects,,,,

Between the Carnivore diet (Lots of extra energy, clearer thinking) and BLOO-Twuck, and maybe more thinkin’ time on my hands with longer nights,,, I find my mind RACING along “CREATE” modes.

Just the last week, the desire to build another Kayak has been on my ‘resting’ mind, as well as another ‘hobby’ from even further back: BOWS.

FYI, I spend about an hour a night on the Erg, and I spend another 30 minutes or so bending bows, throwing arrows (IF the light is good, some evenings this gets left out for lighting reasons.) There are other things I do to keep my physique tuned (and they are ALL getting easier as the fat rolls off the middle and other areas,,,) but those two have the added bonus of getting creations going.

I want to build a new Greenland style boat, but not a skin on frame. I DO want to use the skin on frame as my ‘plug’, but I want a composite boat. Thinking the old design that I used on Serena as my plug to build from. Being a plug, I can cut some corners (no need of 20+ ribs) and use cheaper materials for the frame.

But the BOW,,,, That one, that is getting wilder and wilder in my head. 54″ horse bow, Hungarian Style, Composite limbs. And to break from tradition, a center cut body and molded grip. Use Beech for the Siyahs as I like the extremely fine grain of it (and its stronger than Oak in some ways, without the weight of Oak.) Thinking 45-50# draw weight at 28″ (my usual draw length) Not super-bow weights, but legal to use for hunting in all but one of the 50 states ( I Believe Alaska requires at least 50+ and depending on WHAT you are hunting, I can understand why. Wouldn’t want to piss off a Grizz by poking it with a sharp stick and NOT drive that sharp stick DEEP inside.)( I seem to remember Fred Bear took a Kodiak with one of his recurves weighted at 70# and swore he wouldn’t try again with anything less.)

Why a Horse bow? There is something about the way they look,,, Sexy and deadly at the same time. Think Cupids Bow and you have a good idea of the shape they take when strung.

When they aren’t strung, they have this crazy forward lean that defies normal tillering concepts like those used in Long bows or American Recurves. BUT more than that, I like their “Snap”. Because the way the Siyahs shorten the actual string length on release, they have a snap that compares to that of a Compound bow. really REALLY fast arrows, Faster than with a Recurve and makes the speed from a longbow seem like a slow truck. Fast arrows shoot flatter. Fast arrows can beat the “jump” that can frustrate a hunter. (Deer will jump if they hear a bow ‘snap’, and sometimes, that jump is enough to cause a full MISS.)

But Dio, why not just buy a compound and get all the bells and whistles of ‘sights’ and fast arrows, and adjustable draw weights? BECAUSE, those things can break, and leave you walking out of the woods pissed off. Sights can get thrown out of adjustment in a slip-sliding traverse of a gulley, AND, I have always been something of a traditionalist when it comes to bows. Carrying an 8# bow??? May as well be carrying a rifle, and if I am going that route, a rifle would be prefered,,, (also, I don’t stand hunt, I stalk: an 8# bow with all the other gear I carry,,, UGH!)(most compounds use metal for the main body, that metal can numb your hands with a quickness. Wood bodied (even composite made) are ‘warm’ and won’t freeze your digits off.)

But a bow, a traditional style bow (even if using modern composites and techniques) will work, everytime, leaving the ‘well that didn’t go as expected’ to my form and and release. And there is a certain satisfaction to be had when you make that 70yd shot, straight to the ribcage, with nothing but a “stick and string”. (I make my own strings too. There are a couple of posts from way back when, when I was making bows from PVC pipe and fishing string. I really like the braided strings for the serve and the monofiliment for the wrappings. Makes for one TOUGH string, AND, as survival tool, I always make two strings for a bow: one reason being, strings can get broken, but also, I have about 15-20 yards of high test fishing line in one string, if things get really desperate.)

Will I make either? Or both? Time will tell. Right now, my finances are all tied up in paying the bills, and getting BLOO-Twuck running. Then, paying off all the debt getting BLOO-Twuck running. Once that is out of the way, will see. BUT THE MIND NEVER STOPS,,,,

Live

Learn

LAUGH

LOVE

LOAD

November 7, 2025 | Categories: Getting healthy, Just talkin', preps, random misfires, Uncategorized | 2 Comments