Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive on December 20, 2007, 10:43:37 pm

Title: fruit staves
Post by: Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive on December 20, 2007, 10:43:37 pm
why dont we see many bows made from many common fruit trees, ofcourse we hear of the cherries, and persimmon and now recently i have heard of the southern community bow guava.

what about apple, pear, peach, appricot, citrus, etc.....
anyone ever try any of these, i am curious  to what fruit trees people have used.  pictures would be nice aswell.   i'll even start it with my persimmon bow

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Title: Re: fruit staves
Post by: mullet on December 20, 2007, 11:00:23 pm
     Kowachobee and I cut down some persimmon and wild orange last year.Bobs got them drying.He's made bows out of citrus.
Title: Re: fruit staves
Post by: Pat B on December 20, 2007, 11:04:39 pm
I have used black cherry and persimmon but no others. I do have an split apple log in my wood pile and have cut crab apple but it all had barber poling grain. I have always read that most fruit and nut trees will make good bows.     Nice simmon bow there. What are the specs?   Pat
Title: Re: fruit staves
Post by: jmjones38 on December 20, 2007, 11:11:02 pm
I've got a peach tree that needs to be pruned way back this year-was thinking of trying a stave from that.

At work my maintenance men took out a couple of ornamental flowering cherries that were in process of dying-it's been drying awhile and I was thinking about shaving one down and checking it out. Anyone tried that?

I wish that something could be made of our greatest pest around here-wild privet hedge...it takes over everywhere.

Mark


Title: Re: fruit staves
Post by: Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive on December 20, 2007, 11:17:45 pm
pat, this persimmmon bow was up a couple weeks ago in its own thread, i pull it back to the top so you can see all the pictures and dimensions.

Its under "New Persimmon bow pictures"  - Ryan
Title: Re: fruit staves
Post by: Pat B on December 20, 2007, 11:24:19 pm
Thanks Ryan. I'll check it out there.   
  Mark, I have made arrows with privet. You can't peel the bark until it is dry but it is tough stuff and makes good heavy arrows. I have thought of trying some for a bow also.    Pat
Title: Re: fruit staves
Post by: Ryano on December 21, 2007, 12:46:18 am
Ive been toying around with some apple, but haven't got a working bow out of it yet. I had one tillered to brace and it was turning out great.( No set ) when all of a sudden bang she snapped in half on me. I attribute that one to a bad spot in the grain on the back though.(there was a black dot a couple rings down were it broke.) I believe Dave from pa (snedeker) made a nice crab apple bow not long ago.
Title: Re: fruit staves
Post by: Gordon on December 21, 2007, 03:19:43 am
Here is a bow I made for a buddy of mine. The wood is plum and it's one of the best bows I ever made. I get envious everytime Dave pulls it out. Plum is some mighty fine bow wood.

(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Jewel/djewel09.jpg)

(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Jewel/djewel14.jpg)
Title: Re: fruit staves
Post by: DanaM on December 21, 2007, 05:01:49 am
Here's a link to a sweet crabapple bow snedeker built.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,3737.0.html

And this link toGordon's incredible Serviceberry bow.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,3278.0.html
Title: Re: fruit staves
Post by: Hillbilly on December 21, 2007, 09:12:55 am
 JD Duff also posted a really nice crabapple bow a year or so ago, and I believe it was maybe Medicinewheel who made a bamboo-backed plum bow? I have lots of wild plum and crabapple around here, but I haven't found a straight enough one to make a bow yet-like Pat said, the grain is usally spiraled like a peppermint stick. I've got a 'simmon log right now that I need to split.
Title: Re: fruit staves
Post by: Easternarcher on December 21, 2007, 12:17:17 pm
ACTUALLY, OVER THE HOLIDAYS, I PLAN ON CUTTING SOME APPLE STAVES OFF THE HOMESTEAD TO SEASON TIL SPRING...THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO!
Title: Re: fruit staves
Post by: medicinewheel on December 21, 2007, 01:18:25 pm
my first bow on PA was bamboo backed PRUNE (not PLUM as it says in the thread)
really nice bow with very good cast!

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,1548.msg17300.html

this bow won BOM right away (...and i'm still very proud of that)

everybody have a nice winter solstice tomorrow!

frank


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