Yew Is!
Ok, so we all agree that Plumb is the only real bow wood
. But I decided to try out some of this second string stuff called Yew.
Cut this small tree on the most beautiful river on Earth (sorry Oregonians its in California). About 600 ft elevation. 40 RPI. The stave dried for two years, and in the drying process the stave developed a lot of deflex; around 4 inches. Having read and appreciated the work by Manny and Keenan with deflexed staves, and because its rare for me to get Yew, I decided to give it a go. As an experiment I decided not to try and create a RD bow, but simply to add some modest recurve in the tips and and tiller as is. I am now decidedly convinced that a deflexed stave (when the deflex is due to natural drying or growth, not set) is not only worth it, but may be advantageous. Steve Gardner sometimes talks about "hard deflex." This bow, though highly deflexed has very high early draw weight, shoots smooth and seems very fast relative to my other bows. Also it took very modest set, less than an inch.
I originally tillered it out to 80# at 30 inches. At some point my wife walks by and the following converstaiton occurs
Wife: "Honey, why would you make a bow you can't shoot"
Me:"What do you mean can't shoot" (as I draw back the bow, arms quivering, face turning red, for a wildy innacurate shot.
Wife: "never mind"
And so, after she left, I tillered it down to just over 60# at 30 inches and about 57# at 28 inches which is much more manageable for me. I wouldn't hesitate to take this bow hog hunting,
Anyway here she is, 57# at 28" (tillered out to 60+ @30") 60 tip to tip, 58" NTN. The bow is just over 1 3/8 at fades, tapers to just under 1/2 inch at tips. Overlays are rosewood. I counted pin knots and 9 of them go the whole way through the limb. Oh, full draw probably not till tmrw evening. Sorry.
GAbe
Full draw to come.
Gabe
