Home Forums Bows and Equipment Let's build a St. Charles Quiver

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    • William Warren
      Member
        Post count: 1384

        I’ve always admired the St. Charles back quiver so once I found a good picture of an original I decided to make my own version.

        I gathered my materials that I had on hand. A scrap of 0.50 aluminum sheet, a ¼” thick by 2-1/2” slat of maple, some leather and leather thongs, a carpet scrap, and some closed cell foam.

        I started by cutting out and bending the aluminum parts

        Trim the top like this:

        And the bottom like this

        Now determine the slat length using an arrow you plan to use in the quiver

        I decorated mine by burning stripes on it and the sealing it with polyurethane

        Next:

        Adding the leather hood and finishing the aluminum carrier

        Pick out the leather you want to use. You need the heaviest you can find so it will keep its shape.

        Use a hole puncher to punch an equal number of holes

        A punch will help with alignment

        Now fit your closed cell foam

        And close things up

        I attached my aluminum with pop rivets

        I used crushed walnut hulls to darken the leathers color and Snow Seal to seal it

        Krylon to paint the carrier

        The carpet scrap holds and protects the tips of your broadheads

        Drill some holes and attach the shoulder straps

        The finished product, ready for the hunt

        Very comfortable to wear

      • David Petersen
        Member
          Post count: 2749

          You’re a clever crastsman, Duncan. Thanks for sharing in such detail. Dave

        • wTk
          Member
            Post count: 103

            Thanks! Now I’ve got a new project to look forward to.

          • Stephen Graf
            Moderator
              Post count: 2429

              Every work bench needs a little green dinosaur! Very nice quiver. Needs a squirrel tail tied to it.

            • William Warren
              Member
              Member
                Post count: 1384

                Thanks Guys.

                Steve, that dinosaur head has stopped a many a rubber blunt. Somehow I can hit the dino head but not a squirrel head?? I guess the dino has not learned to duck yet. Smile

                Duncan

              • lee
                  Post count: 50

                  That’s awesome, pardon my ignorance, but how do the arrows stay in place?

                • William Warren
                  Member
                  Member
                    Post count: 1384

                    lee wrote: That’s awesome, pardon my ignorance, but how do the arrows stay in place?

                    The nock end goes into the foam and the tip goes in the carpet. The arrow is held in place by the static tension created by the foam. The distance between the foam and the carpet is slightly shorter than your arrow.

                  • LimbLover
                      Post count: 299

                      This is awesome! I can’t wait to try this.

                    • Moreton
                        Post count: 11

                        Excellent! Thanks for that!

                      • double eagle
                        Member
                          Post count: 2

                          i think it would be great to have kids build some with plastic containers on the top and bottom and either spray paint them or cover them with wood grain contact paper. A cheap, quick and not many tools required youth project.

                        • William Warren
                          Member
                          Member
                            Post count: 1384

                            double eagle wrote:

                            i think it would be great to have kids build some with plastic containers on the top and bottom and either spray paint them or cover them with wood grain contact paper. A cheap, quick and not many tools required youth project.

                            Dbbl Eagle,

                            The Oct/Nov 1994 issue of TBM has a how to article using plastic containers and construction materials to build a St. Charles style quiver. I ordered the back issue and became interested in building one. But when I found a pic of an original, I knew nothing else would do for me. But I agree that a design could be adapted for a youth project. Good idea!

                            Duncan

                          • double eagle
                            Member
                              Post count: 2

                              i think that I’ll try using two staggerered aluminum flat pieces as the long brace. I’ll drill holes about an inch apart so I can adjust the length . It will be easy to collapse also. I see a lot of versions based on your photos. Thanks for the prototype and idea.

                            • qsmith
                                Post count: 13

                                Great project! I would like to try it but can’t find leather to buy anywhere. Any ideas where I can find some?

                              • William Warren
                                Member
                                Member
                                  Post count: 1384

                                  qsmith wrote: Great project! I would like to try it but can’t find leather to buy anywhere. Any ideas where I can find some?

                                  Here is website that sells scraps and whole hides. Probably could contact them and tell them what you want.

                                  http://www.brettunsvillage.com/leather/scrap/scraps.htm

                                • William Warren
                                  Member
                                  Member
                                    Post count: 1384

                                    double eagle wrote: i think that I’ll try using two staggerered aluminum flat pieces as the long brace. I’ll drill holes about an inch apart so I can adjust the length . It will be easy to collapse also. I see a lot of versions based on your photos. Thanks for the prototype and idea.

                                    Aluminum would be a good idea. I have also been thinking about making mine adjustable. My carbons are longer than my woodies. I sense a revised build along coming on!

                                  • jaytbuzzard
                                      Post count: 80

                                      I have an original St. Charles Quiver that was my Fathers. The cool thing is that my carbon arrows fit perfectly. I considered using it for hunting, but I use a backpack and it would be difficult to use them both. I may just have to give it a try before this season is over.

                                    • William Warren
                                      Member
                                      Member
                                        Post count: 1384

                                        JT,
                                        Is yours one that was marketed by Bear? I read the original had suede leather hood, gen 2 had smooth leather hood, and gen 3 had vinyl hoods. Whatever the material, it would be so cool if you could post a pic to see haw it compares to my home built one. I modeled mine from a pic I found on a Compton’s fundraising site. It had the suede hood and the aluminum tray with wooden slat back support.

                                        Duncan

                                      • jaytbuzzard
                                          Post count: 80

                                          Duncan, I believe mine is gen 2. The cover is smooth leather. I read that it is suppose to be Elk. As you can see, the bottom is aluminum with a wood back support. The ads that I have seen look pretty cool.

                                        • Todd Smith
                                            Post count: 167

                                            NICE! I have always wanted one of these, but have not wanted to spring for the high prices I’ve seen.

                                            Guess making one is the answer!!

                                            Thanks a bunch!! Great post!! todd

                                          • William Warren
                                            Member
                                            Member
                                              Post count: 1384

                                              JT,

                                              That is very cool! Thanks for posting those pics. I’m tickled at how close I came to the original without any measurements and only looking at a pic I found on a Compton Fundraiser page.

                                              Todd,
                                              Hope the thread helps and when you make yours please post pics!

                                              Duncan

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