Maximum Draw length question

[orcbow]

Hi Fellow Bowmakers...

I am working on a short osage bow for a friend, its one of my last precious staves of the stuff from the ol' family farm. The bow is short, 46 inches NTN. What should I expect the max. draw length to be? The bow will be a "no-stiff-handle" type, is that a C shape or a D?

Thanks-
Adam

[Del the cat]

Oh! Me sir, me sir! I know this....pull it back until it breaks, and it's an inch less than that!
But seriously, if you take the working length of the longest limb, that should be safe (or half the bow length with the 'no stiff handle')
My 50" Ash Cherry bow smashed just short of 25" but was shooting fine at 24", I'd expect a 1" safety margin as a minimum.
I've just measured that bow, the working length of the longest limb was 22". The Ash back failed in tension, there was a bad spot in the glue up too.
I've not used Osage, so I could be talking out of my nether regions.
Hope that helps.
Del

[Pappy]

 you should be able to get 22 or 23,need to watch the string angle for sure,be sure the string won't slip off the nock.I usually flip the tips a little on one that short to help prevent that. If it is good Osage it should take that.     
   Pappy

[orcbow]

Okay Thanks Del and Pappy..you are in agreement. 22 inches would be fine. I'll watch the string angle too.

[Diligence]

@Del - "pull it back until it breaks, and it's an inch less than that!"--- that made me laugh out loud. Twice!