Ozbow

Here's a quick few photo's for Colin showing the splitting of an osage stave. As you'll notice Im splitting 'against' the growth rings so to speak and regardless of this it still splits like a dream.
When you split it 'with' the rings it splits just as nicely Axe .... just take your time when pushing the knife down the stave

Thanks for that mate!!

I will be splitting with the rings when I do mine down the track.

Splitting is great when it works, but it can be a good way to wreck a good bow stave. For those that don't have experience I recommend plenty of practice with a non bow quality timber(not osage).

My Osage split all over the place. It was twisted and bent. I am in the final stages of my first osage bow after steaming and straightening. I'm heading up the in laws in a couple of weeks to grab some more. Hopefully they will be straighter.