Question for osage gurus

[Tuomo]

I have got my first osage logs. They are from Hungary, the only place in Europe where osage grows. Logs are quite straight, no knots or other clear defects. They were half logs and everything seemed to be fine. Then, I splitted one half log and found something "interesting", see photos.

There are a lot of dark spots. Really don't know what they are. Bark is intact, as is sapwood too, so there is no clear reason for dark areas. Those can be seen well from side photos.

So, the question is, that is that kind osage selfbowwood, backedbowwood or firewood? Thanks!

[osage outlaw]

Osage can have streaks of dark colors running through it.  They make great looking bows. 

[JNystrom]

Nice! Thanks osage outlaw! I happen to have osage from the same patch... 

I found this: "It is a very hard wood, ranging in color from a very pale yellow to chocolate brown. Sometimes it comes in a light yellow prettily mottled with dark brown spots. Since the wood takes an exceptionally fine polish, such a piece results in a bow of unusual beauty. "
http://www.tradgang.com/rob/ta/eoa/p35.html

[Stick Bender]

Im no osage guru but made a few bows out of it Im not seeing any issues from your pic but with osage you really dont know what you have until you chassed your target ring down those rings are so thick you shouldnt have any Issue but dont know how long ago the tree was cut osage can really hang on to moisture I prefer not to work with it tell its atleast 1 1/2 years dry and been inside 50% rh or less for a couple of months ruffed down !

[Aaron H]

Actually it looks like you scored big!   That's some beautiful osage and should work great.  I believe that the streaks we sometimes see in osage has to do with the minerals the tree is soaking up from the ground as it is growing.

[BowEd]

Ditto on what's said.That's some beautiful wood to make bows out of.

[Stringman]

Actually it looks like you scored big!   That's some beautiful osage and should work great.  I believe that the streaks we sometimes see in osage has to do with the minerals the tree is soaking up from the ground as it is growing.

.and impossible to predict. In '15 I cut a couple trees that were almost side by side and one had this peaches and cream effect, the other did not. It does make a pretty bow if it holds together.

[mullet]

I love it when I split into a piece and find the reddish streaks running through it.

[Tuomo]

Thanks! Hopefully this is good piece of wood, seems that it should be. I will see it in a few months...

[George Tsoukalas]

Yes, I like those reddish stars too. Jawge

[sleek]

I am working a piece of red streak right now. I was very excited to open it up and see that! Its rare and beautiful.  You are very fortunate.

[xin]

Red streaked Osage has always produced the best bows for me, not to mention that they
 are also the prettiest, in my opinion.

[Selfbowman]

If it is dense and I bet it is. Most reddish Osage from red river area in Tx is like that . And more dense it seems. Makes good bows. I tend to agree with the roots soaking up minerals from the earth. Arvin

[DC]

Is there any other wood that has that waxy, resinous feel that Osage does? If there is, does it make a good bow?

[Selfbowman]

One of the closest I have found was persimmon. But I still prefer Osage. Arvin