Lumpy Knotty Osage Question????

[SLIMBOB]

OK...Chased a ring on this knotty Osage stave today.  Covered with knots, and small diameter so a pretty high crown.  Not sure what I want to do with it.  It is 70 inches long so plenty of room to work.  Question for you guys, what would you do?  Narrow and long to account for the high crown, or wide to accommodate the knots?  It's pretty straight from tip to tip, pretty dense thin rings.  This is my plan "b" for the trade if I can coax a safe shooter out of it.  Any and all ideas appreciated:)

[turtle]

I think i would go with a fairly wide back and a slightly rounded belly anf thrn just treat the knots the same as you would on any other osage bow.

[Pat B]

I wouldn't go wider than 1 1/2" and work around the knots. The high crown shouldn't be a problem but the knots and limbd could if you are not careful.  By the way, those are pretty nice looking rings. Not thin at all.

[SLIMBOB]

Thanks Pat.  Yeah the rings are my kinda rings, tiny bit of early growth.  I'm thinkin' like you, keep it fairly narrow.  Love this piece of wood and just want to approach it from the right angle.

[MWirwicki]

My vote is to stay on the narrower side, like PatB said.  I love small diameter osage. 

[blackhawk]

I would also go with some type of longer bend in the handle bow as well with all those knots to distribute the stresses out more.