who knows about mohave bows

[Blacktail]

i have been reading a book from paul campbell called earth pigments..he has a section about the mohave bows and he states that the bows are made from willow...now i dont know what kind of willow and for them being so short i would think they would be sinew backed.but they dont look like they are and i think the sinew would over power the wood...does any one know what kind of willow........some say willow is not great for bows BUT i think if they used it why cant i....any ideas or info on these bows...thanks john

[Justin Snyder]

I read that also. I have heard from two different sources, and got two different answers. One who claims to make replica bows said black willow, which I tried but with not so good results. I really doubt that this is correct because black willow is native to the southeast, with Texas being the farthest west reported native range. The other source said desert willow. I find this a lot more likely because it is native to the areas where they lived. It is a much better wood than any of the willows. I have gone to a few ancient sites and found the desert willow growing in the area. BTW It is not a true willow.

[loefflerchuck]

Willow and cottonwood were used when that was all that was around. Many of these bows were deflexed and made and used while still green

[Blacktail]

this kind of interesting...i have been told that black willow was the best...but,there must be 1,000 differant kinds of willow...and i am thinking that the bows might be in a lower poundage weight...thanks john