Was out diging through a huge pile of trashy staves old bows I'd given up on etc a while back. I keep it for who knows what mosty knife handles. I came across and osage bow 66"s with swisted limbs tips. I cut the stwists off and had a nice 56" BOW 3/4's the way done at the time I started I did'nt make bows this short. So it's been out in the weather over 15 years. It had one bad check that wasn't on the edge but close. At the poundage I ws making it it would likely make it.
I have'nt backed a bow in a while (years) I had some ROO rawhide but I did'nt want to use it on it. I already had a home for it. Boy down the road, I ve been bass fishing each evening in some farm ponds and I looked a my worm rod with fire line on it. When the dull light bulb flicker. Boom one 56"40#@26 bow backed with fire line. I'd never thought of this before. I know the backing will never fail. That stuff is tuff.