Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: simson on April 17, 2014, 04:53:30 am
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Anyone here with experiences with cornealian cherry (cornus mas)?
Suggestions on design?
Cornus mas is the hardest wood in Europe. It is super dense, doesn't swim in water.
So perhaps a good candidate for bowwood
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I'm currently working on a European dogwood/cornel (Cornus mas) longbow. In fact, it is nearly finished. I'll post some pictures when it's done.
I'm highly impressed by this bowwood. It is indeed incredibly dense and has a fine texture. I've read some posts over on PaleoPlanet where a few Eastern European bowyers have reported this as a very good bowwood. It's not easy to find a suitable stave, but it is said to be better than its cousin Cornus sanguinea which is easier to find. This wood feels like it has a very high elasticity. I can't back that up with hard evidence, unfortunately, but it just "want to become a bow", if you know what I mean. My piece is absolutely riddled with knots, but shows no signs of cracks or chrysals. Still needs shooting in, though. This wood doesn't grow very fast or big, and you're likely to find a small diameter stave of no more than 3" across. So combined with the high density and the highly crowned back, I would suggest a narrow longbow with slightly rounded belly. I've had good luck with drying the round stave with bark still on, and no drying cracks forming. However, the bark was difficult to remove once cured, and appears to have caused a discoloration of the first few rings directly underneath the bark. No fungus I think, but just some greyish discoloration for a few rings down. The wood is diffuse porous, has interlocked grain and has a very dull grain pattern. You can hardly even see the rings. So ring chasing is impossible.
I have one more stave of this wood left. I consider it a precious rarity.
Some good food for thought can be found here. (http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/4936/Cornus-mas-shortbow-by-Paja) And even more in this thread. (http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/6184/Unfamiliar-bow-woods?page=1)
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I'm also working on a Dogwood Longbow. I have three Cornus Mas Trees in my area from which I can get some nice staves. Mostly like DarkSoul said, long an with a small diameter, knotty and a littly bumpy. One Stave is about 5" in diameter and I will try a flatbow.
But Cornus Mas is not the hardest wood in Europe. Hornbeam is more dense and the densest is true service tree (Sorbus domestica).
Greetz
bambule
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Cornel has always been a highly regarded bow wood in Europe. Probably irrelevant which wood is the hardest. With slight variations in individual trees it's probably a tie for the top spot.
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My Cornus mas is blooming but doesn't have any wood big enough for bows.
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Uno mas? Isn't that what you say when you need another cervesa? ;D
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...and cornus mas is what you say when you need another dogwood. ;)
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No mas, por favor!
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Some of you guys are obviously too often at the OKTOBERFEST !!!
A Maß is a Maß
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mas is something complitely different! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
But thanks on all the info
I have cut down some staves 5 or 6 years ago and found them under my pile recently.
We will see what qualities that wood offers ...
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I think Druid may have made some bows from this wood.
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Is it a hard wood like the other dogwood varieties?
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Some of you guys are obviously too often at the OKTOBERFEST !!!
A Maß is a Maß
and
mas is something complitely different! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
But thanks on all the info
I have cut down some staves 5 or 6 years ago and found them under my pile recently.
We will see what qualities that wood offers ...
HA! i dont even remember half of oktoberfest lol
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Is it a hard wood like the other dogwood varieties?
It apparently really does tip the scales at 1.0 SG at times. Most hard Dogwood is around .70.
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I've been chopping on some Cornus Florida. It is definitely one of the hardest trees in the woods around here. I like working with it so far. Been getting the stave worked down with a hatchet, pleasant to work. Wood smells vaguely of flowers to me. I am hopeful for this piece of wood, I would like it to become my hunting how for deer season.
If it's at all similar to the dogwood here, I think it'll make a good bow.
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Is it a hard wood like the other dogwood varieties?
Yes, like PatM mentioned. I did some testing with the wood: growth rings are nearly unvisible, the wood is very homogen, it can be polished like horn or ivory, it has a great amount of elasticity - I will start on the first in two days.
Thanks again for all input, esp. to the beer drinkers