Christian Soldier, I am so sorry that you spent so long on the stave and it broke on you. I l know what that feels like to me. You are right it does look well shaped. Let me ask you what you think you could have done differently? The stave is heavily crowned, it looks short, it is really knotted and I couldn't tell you if you heated in some reflex. Jawge
The crown isn't too bad. It came from a tree about 7" across so its a little higher than I'd prefer, but nothing debilitating. It is short, not much over 5ft. I screwed up the ring chasing really bad on the lower limb (I thought I was one ring high but I was actually one ring low) so I had to pike that one side (I hadn't cut in the handle so it was okay) by about 4". No reflex in this one, I was nervous as it was and I didn't want to put any extra stress on the stave.
I think on my next one, I'll work the rings more carefully
and back it with rawhide, I'll also keep it full length probably a similar design, and then I think it'll be quite a looker and a shooter.
