Dare I muddy the waters. Certainly
Lets consider that not all woods are the same. Some say wood is only better with age while others say dry is dry. So lets take an exaggerated view of these two mindsets.
If wood is truly better with age: then a bow that is made from a stave thousand years old will perform much better then one made from a stave less then a year.
I dare say, I think many bowyers would be nervous to work and push a thousand year old stave to it's max. bend.
Now on the thought that dry is dry: then a bow that is made from a thousand years old stave will perform no better then a bow made from wood less then a year old.
I have a hard time thinking this would hold up as a dogmatic belief as well.
Seems logical that with like most things in the world of bows, that there is even a balance in this rule as well, To old= To brittle. To green= lacking full potential
A method that seems to work well is drop the stave on end a few inches off the concrete. You will notice a definite tone when well seasoned or dried, chose your own word. Try your own stave pile and you will hear the differences in the staves. You will even see the difference in the bounce.
Now I need to go make some popcorn!
Now really muddy the water with wood types like yew vs an oily wood like Osage and apply the same thoughts.
