Gambel Oak (aka scrub oak) staves

[Little John]

I have often wondered about this as a bow wood as it would be about the only choice for the Anasazi people here in the southwest, but have never seen any that was long enough or straight enough. Last fall I was scouting down the Dolores river for a late season elk hunt and run across several straight oaks about 8 inches without branches. I have been wanting to go get one but the river has been huge all spring, went to check Sunday and found these candidates with out having to crossing the river. I thought oak was a white wood but these have about 5/8 inches of sapwood and then heartwood. I think I will split and then peel the bark on at least one of them and see where it wants to go from there. I have only seen a couple of post of bows from this wood and they were from small diameter trees and of indian design. I hope to get a full size hunting weight bow. Looks like the working limbs will be mostly sap wood, hope this works, if not might have to chase a ring down to heart wood. Any way I will have enough wood to experiment. Any suggestions would be welcome.

[Little John]

Oh I forgot to mention that the larger one is about 6 1/2 inches by 65 inches and the smaller ones are about 3 1/2 inches by 6 feet.

[Marin]

Do you have a copy of “Encyclopedia of North American bows and arrows” from Alley/Hamm? There’s two Anasazi bows in it which are made of scrub oak/gamble oak. I don’t think they were backed however. I have a copy myself if you would like me to send you scans of those pages.

[Little John]

That would. Be nice Marin, if not too much trouble. Maybe I would like to make an Anasazi replica.

[Pat B]

Kenneth, like many oak staves I think the the sapwood under the bark is what you want for the back of a bow. Treat it like any whitewood as far as a bow is concerned. When you peel the bark be sure to seal the back and ends.
 We've had lots of rain here so I haven't been able to get you another hickory but it shouldn't be long now. 

[Little John]

Thanks a lot Pat, No rain here. Have been down with flu like symptoms, may feel like starting in on one of the oak staves later today

[Badger]

   I have made about a dozen bows from it but all were made from very poor staves. I never got ahold of anything straight enough. But as far as the wood goes I rate it better than white oak or red oak. The staves I had were denser than most other oaks. I like the wood if I could find straight staves.

[Little John]

Thank you for the reply, would you say the staves you worked were worse than mine? I found some last fall that I think are better if my memory serves me correctly. When the river goes down enough to get to them and get one or two out maybe I can send you a stave. I worked on one of the smaller logs today, did not split but worked the belly down  to near the center, I definitely think that there is a bow in there, it seems hard for fresh cut wood. it seems to be drying quickly and after only a few minutes in our warm, dry, breezy air I can tell it is getting hard. I have not peeled the bark from the back yet but am anxious to see what is under there. I am tempted to narrow the limbs but think best to leave full width to stabilize warpage. I am storing the stave in a giant plastic bag (fire wood pellet cover) and in the shade to slow drying. No drying checks yet.

[Badger]

  None of the staves I had were really suitable to make a bow, either too short or too twisted or bent. I was just curious about the wood so worked them anyway. I think yours will make a bow.

[Marin]

Little John,
I tried PMing you with the scans of the pages from that book but your inbox is full. Not sure if I can post them here but if you want I can.

[Little John]

Thank you Marin, I will go in a d clean out my messages or you can post on this thread. I will be Intrested to see it either way. Thank you again.

[Marin]

Little John,
Attachment was too big for either PM or the thread so just PM me some other way to send it to you. I guess you can't compress pdfs without loosing a lot of necessary detail.
To anyone else who was excited aobut seeing the photos, sorry.

[Little John]

Will send you my email address, sorry for the trouble but am so anxious for the info.

[Little John]

I have made headway on the staves yesterday and today. finally got the photos in a folder so I can find and post them. I split the logs easy, some might be firewood but some is going to be pretty good. I reduced one of the 72 inch logs down to near the center except for handle section then peeled the bark and sealed with shellac. No drying checks so far so I think I am good that way, can tell it has already lost a good bit of moisture and was not really that wet to start with. The stave so far is showing more potential than I expected. now just having trouble posting pics, says the file is too large, I have my camera set to the lowest setting.

[Little John]

This post is for practice to see if I actually got the image resized and able to post. it is one of the scrub oak staves de barked and somewhat reduced on the belly,