Mulberry Ambush Bow

[gmc]

I got to say that Mulberry is one of the better woods that I've used. I worked this stave all week under very humid conditions and it performed quite well. I would call this wood Osages little brother. I did find that it checks something ferce and it splits well but not straight. Removing the sapwood is much like Locust and seemed to scrape pretty well. I would estimate the gravity of this wood very close to Hickory being a bit under.

I used all heartwood, most of the sapwood was checked pretty bad, dropped one ring under for the back.

Anyway, I thought about a bow that could deliver a good punch at a shorter draw if needed in thick brushy, tight conditions.

Nothing fancy. Here is some information on the bow:

Red Mulberry
57'' NTN, 1 3/8 widest, 3 inch fades with a 4 inch handle,
65 lbs. @ 28
16 oz
Linen Wrap
B-50 String
Linseed Oil Finish

A few pictures:

[Josh]

Dang that's nice. Tiller looks great on it!   Got it bookmarked for July Self BOM too. 

[youngbowyer33]

that is super! Tiller is bang on!

[Josh]

Did you use hemp or jute for your handle wrap?  I used jute twine on my last one and it turned out to look almost exactly like that.  I really like your handle.   

[gmc]

Thanks, Guys!

Josh, it's linen. The same stuff used to make bow strings, it has a 40 lb. breaking strength. I bought a big spool of the stuff and have wrapped more handles than made strings. I normally seal it with shellac.

[Pat B]

Mulberry makes a good bow wood and you have done it proud!  I love the round tiller also.

[Timo]

Super job!

[dwardo]

I bet that slaps an arrow. All of its nice.

[George Tsoukalas]

Looks great! Nicely done. Jawge

[TBod]

Very impressive! that is a powerful little bow

god job!

[profsaffel]

Nice bow my friend. Keep it up. I think you make about three bows to my one. But whatever you are doing, you are doing it right.

[Gordon]

Wow, you got a lot out of that short piece of wood!

[ken75]

gmc , really nice ,but thats what ive come to expect when i open your threads ! excellent tiller

[gmc]

Hey, thanks for all nice comments on the bow guys.

Prof, sounds like you need to pick up the pace a little  .

Gordon, yes, I am getting a lot out of that piece of wood, I tend to make them earn their keep . There was a big dip in the grain close to midpoint on the stave so I centered the dip in the handle and trimmed the ends. That's the only way that it could have worked. Actually, the handle area was set back in the stave about a 1/2 inch.

[gmc]

Thanks for the really nice comment, Ken.