Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Marc St Louis on November 22, 2015, 10:24:16 am

Title: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: Marc St Louis on November 22, 2015, 10:24:16 am

I bought this wood from a guy several years ago who used to make bows some 30 years ago.  He had a brother in-law that lived in Southern Ontario who had access to some Osage and offered to cut a tree for him.  Most of the wood was not very usable since the guy who cut the wood didn't know anything about making bows but there was this piece that was decent.  It was probably about 20 years old when I got it and that was 10 years ago so it was pretty well seasoned.  I was recently contacted by a guy further south of me, I had built a couple bows for him and one for his daughter but his daughter had outgrown her bow.  I had made Rob an Osage Mollegabet last year and his daughter had tried his out and liked it so he wanted me to make her one like his, a bit lighter though.  I pulled out this stave and started to work it down.  It looked very clean after taking the bark off with only a couple pin knots on one side but as I started to take the sapwood off I discovered this

(https://i.imgur.com/3O5IzLH.jpg)

And that evolved into this on the belly

(https://i.imgur.com/kKVUdVh.jpg)

Essentially what seems to have happened is some bark got trapped inside the wood and the tree kept growing covering it up with new wood. The stave had other small issues, such as a kink on the other limb.  I took most of that out with localized steam bending.  I didn't do any heat-treating to the bow.  The wood turned out to be quite good taking hardly any set at all, admittedly at 67" long for a 26" draw it is a bit overbuilt.  That does not affect how it shoots though.  Performance is excellent.  The bow is a left hand bow and pulls 47# @ 26".  The limbs are 1 1/2" wide with 9" long levers

Here's some more pics

(https://i.imgur.com/7gG7qbw.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/4Z7Yas1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/20TEE9p.jpg)

P.S.  I recently told a guy that Ontario Osage was not as good as Osage from cross border, this piece of wood made a liar out of me  :)

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: PatM on November 22, 2015, 10:27:58 am

Very nice. I'm sure if the wood is from an ideal area in Southern Ontario it would be as good as anything else.  People debate the merits of Osage from every area it grows in the US as well.

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: bowandarrow473 on November 22, 2015, 11:13:19 am

Looks great!

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: BowEd on November 22, 2015, 11:43:52 am

That one worked out good for ya or her I mean.Very nice.Another problem solved.She ought never get wore out shooting that one.

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: Marc St Louis on November 22, 2015, 12:00:03 pm

Thanks guys

I tillered it to 27" just in case she grows a bit more

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: bushboy on November 22, 2015, 12:31:13 pm

VERYNICE MARC,I'M SURE SHE WILL LOVE IT!

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on November 22, 2015, 04:37:42 pm

That's a good, solid design Marc. I like bows that are too long. 

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: wizardgoat on November 22, 2015, 05:12:41 pm

Nice lookin bow Marc!

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: JW_Halverson on November 22, 2015, 05:39:45 pm

Good wood is where you find it.  And all the good wood in the world does no good unless you know a little about what to do with it!

Hope she likes it!

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: RyanR on November 22, 2015, 05:58:26 pm

I really like how you did that grip to put the arrow more in the center.

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: Danzn Bar on November 22, 2015, 06:01:50 pm

Quote from: RyanR on November 22, 2015, 05:58:26 pm

I really like how you did that grip to put the arrow more in the center.

Yea ..I agree Ryan....Center shot bows will shoot a lot of different arrows well...........
DBar

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: Marc St Louis on November 22, 2015, 06:08:29 pm

Thanks guys.  I'm sure she will like it.  Her dad specifically asked that it be center shot

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: bradsmith2010 on November 22, 2015, 08:36:46 pm

thats  beautiful,, :)

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: loon on November 22, 2015, 08:43:27 pm

Niice, I'm sure she'll enjoy it for years to come

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on November 22, 2015, 09:50:12 pm

Very nice bow, Marc. Jawge

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: Carson (CMB) on November 23, 2015, 02:03:40 am

Quote from: Danzn Bar on November 22, 2015, 06:01:50 pm

Quote from: RyanR on November 22, 2015, 05:58:26 pm

I really like how you did that grip to put the arrow more in the center.

Yea ..I agree Ryan....Center shot bows will shoot a lot of different arrows well...........
DBar

Me three!

Nice work Marc!

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: Del the cat on November 23, 2015, 04:03:45 am

Cool. 8)
Del

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: Pappy on November 23, 2015, 05:09:38 am

Nice Osage stick Marc, I know she will love that. :)
 Pappy

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: blackhawk on November 23, 2015, 06:48:23 am

I guess it ok  ;)

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: Aaron H on November 23, 2015, 06:57:22 am

Great work Marc

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: Marc St Louis on November 23, 2015, 07:45:19 am

Thanks guys

Title: Re: Ontario Osage Bow
Post by: Blackcoyote on November 23, 2015, 01:32:41 pm

Good looking bow...hope she enjoys the heck out of it!