Author Topic: How narrow can one go w/ osage?  (Read 2453 times)

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Offline upstatenybowyer

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How narrow can one go w/ osage?
« on: January 11, 2017, 07:33:34 pm »
So I've got this stave of osage with only enough wood to get about 1" of width and 3/4" of thickness at the handle. It's 58" long and get's wider and thicker on both limbs as you move away from the handle. Think I can still make a bendy handle bow with 45# of draw weight at 27" or would I be wasting my time?
"Even as the archer loves the arrow that flies, so too he loves the bow that remains constant in his hands."

Nigerian Proverb

Offline JonW

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Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2017, 08:10:37 pm »
If you nail the tiller early on that should not be a problem.

Offline Stick Bender

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Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2017, 08:22:20 pm »
Not all osage is created equal but the osage bendy I used for hunting this year is only 1 1/16 wide @ 66in pulling just shy of 50 lb it could have easely pulled 60 lb plus , like has been said it doesent take much osage to make a bow , if its a bendy I would go for it especialy at 45 lb. @27  that would make a nice ground blind bow just my 2 cents.
If you fear failure you will never Try !

Offline osage outlaw

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Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2017, 09:10:29 pm »
Check out this little sliver of osage.  I don't remember how wide it is but it wasn't much over an inch.  It wasn't very thick either.  It made a bow in the low 40's draw weight.  Like Stick Bender said, not all osage is stellar bow wood.  If your stave is good quality you should be able to pull it off.  I know 

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=57085.0


Gun Doc made a 1" wide osage bow but he sinew backed it.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=46182.0
I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline upstatenybowyer

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Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2017, 09:37:57 pm »
Check out this little sliver of osage.  I don't remember how wide it is but it wasn't much over an inch.  It wasn't very thick either.  It made a bow in the low 40's draw weight.  Like Stick Bender said, not all osage is stellar bow wood.  If your stave is good quality you should be able to pull it off.  I know 

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=57085.0


Gun Doc made a 1" wide osage bow but he sinew backed it.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=46182.0

Okay, now I'm a little pumped. Both of those are sweet. You guys never fail to provide a stellar example.  8)

P.S. I ordered some bowstring material last night.  ;)
"Even as the archer loves the arrow that flies, so too he loves the bow that remains constant in his hands."

Nigerian Proverb

Offline osage outlaw

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Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2017, 09:41:27 pm »
What kind did you order?
I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline upstatenybowyer

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Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2017, 09:50:39 pm »
What kind did you order?

I went with BCY D97. It said approximately 16 strands for a longbow as opposed to 24 so I went with that. Hope I ordered the right stuff
"Even as the archer loves the arrow that flies, so too he loves the bow that remains constant in his hands."

Nigerian Proverb

Offline bubby

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Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
« Reply #7 on: January 11, 2017, 10:15:42 pm »
Unless you go really heavy you wont need 16 strands 10 is plenty up to 65# anyway
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline dirthas

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Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
« Reply #8 on: January 11, 2017, 11:04:58 pm »
It should be OK, go for it and report the results!

I made a tiny osage sapwood bow that you can see in the pictures below. It delaminated in the handle a bit when my fades were too stiff, but some scraping solved that. It pulls about 40# @ 26" and is 7/8" just after the fades.

It has even handles the occasional, reckless 27 - 28" draw http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/Smileys/default/tongue.gif