Chek-Mate Traditional Bows

Chek-Mate Traditional Bows by Pete Ward
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The Idea of a Bow-Blank from Chek-Mate is new, and this is also a new design from Marc, the Owner and Bowyer of Chek-Mate bows. The new “Beaver Creek” D/R longbow was conceived at the longbow Safari a couple years ago in Alberta when several of us were sitting in camp, discussing what was good, bad and evil in the bow designs of today and yesterday. Its origin came from a prototype Marc had built several years before that we all thought had great potential.

Three years later Marc became the owner of Chek-Mate and the Beaver Creek was born. This blank is the first ever from Chek-Mate and one of the first bows to come off the new form. The Beaver Creek is a winner, and sure to become one of the top selling Chek-Mate bows.

Last week I looked at and shot the first prototype, a 58″ 57# model that was finished by Marc. It shoots very nice. This was after I had completed this Blank, so I was also able to compare my work to Marc’s. His experience was apparent; however I am completely satisfied with my results.

This is the first time I have worked with a bow blank. In fact this is the first time I have worked with a Glass bow as far as the building process is concerned. I have to say I was apprehensive when we discussed this project, and I was even more apprehensive when Marc sent me the blank to complete.

I have made a few self and Board bows so I do have limited experience in shaping a grip and tillering a wood bow. I soon discovered that completing the blank was not all that different.

The blank I received is a light weight blank that is one of the first bows of this new design, “Beaver creek”, from Chek-Mate.

It arrived in the bare basic glue up form, nothing other than band sawing the limb profile was done to it. All of the riser and tip overlays were glued on in square form.

The riser wood is figured purple heart, with grey action wood and figured purple heart and phenolic overlays. The tip overlays are the same with an added phenolic reinforcing on both sides. The limbs have beautiful yew veneers on both sides.

Because the bow was a light weight, I decided to make it a left hand for my granddaughter. It will be her first full size custom bow. This was my motivation to do a good job.

I had planned to do this as a build along, but got carried away and was in too deep when I realized I was not taking photos as I went. The build took shape quicker than I expected.

Tools used.

belt sander, band saw, Nicholson #49 and #50 rasps, ferriers rasp, round file for nocks, flat smooth files, sanding blocks, strips of emery cloth, #0000 steel wool, brown “Scotch Brite” pads.

Finish is a rattle can of “Krylon” clear satin acrylic enamel.

The first thing to do was finding the center of the grip and lay out the grip and shelf. A cloth measuring tape is easy for this.

The next step was to lightly sand the limb edges to remove the glass splinters from it being cut on the band saw.

Next was to use the belt sander and start the fading of the overlays into the limbs. This went very fast with a 36-grit belt. Next I made a trip to the band saw and cut out the shelf/ sight window.

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