Ozbow

Made a few all wood bows to date but this is my first Osage self bow and stave didn't do me any favours! Lots of knots and bumps to test one's patience. Been playing around with several more staves since in various stages of development.Happy with the outcome.It finished at 50# @ 28'' and is 66 ntn. Brace height is a little low due to using a shop working string at the moment.This stave and a sister one came from one side of tree with a natural reflex along its length . I feel this plus the 2'' I steamed into stave gave me a snappy little bow that puts an arrow out there.I am chasing a ring on a stave from opposite side of tree [ deflexed] now which will give me some comparison. I feel the fibres on the reflexed side will have a memory of the natural curve, and seems to be borne out in practice. It has a natural reflex of about an inch at rest which becomes about a 1/2'' of string follow after a days shooting.

Looks great Bob; I love bows with a bit of character. It would have been a bit of fun working on that stave. By the way I think you have got your deflexes and reflexes mixed up.

Jeff

thanks Jeff. I edited it , sometimes I think I'm dyslexic!!

Great looking bow

thanks Jindy just waiting on bottle True oil to finish it .

nice looking bow bob.gazza.

Nothing better then challenging yourself Bob, it has real character that bow, I long for the day of making a self bow out of Osage that shoots strait.

Cheers Wayno

Thanks Gazza and Wayno!. All my staves out of a log are all very knotty and I have had to make one stave out of two which I will splice once I steam each straight. Osage really loves steam and almost turns into a wet noodle when it comes out of steamer.still got two more staves which may be full length like this one.They are certainly a challenge especially as the rings narrow considerably toward one end on each, barely 1/16'' thick.Takes a lot of care not to violate a ring and around all the knots is a nightmare.

A great looking self bow Bob. It would be the pinnacle of achievement to make such a bow and an arrow with a stone point to harvest some game. It seems you have most of that goal achieved already.

Cheers... Rod

thanks Rod. guess I will have to settle for 50% as I doubt I will get much hunting in unfortunately. Like to think I will but health issues and financial constraints might interfere.

Nice Bob!

Gives me something to aspire to when I eventually get round to starting on my pile of staves

thanks chief, looking forward to getting another done before too long, but got a couple glass bows to do first.