Here's a kink..... not all bow woods are the same even within the same species.... I am still a fledgling but I've built bows from Mulberry, Hackberry, Kentucky Coffee Tree, Yew, Vine Maple, Hickory, Sassafras, Oak, ERC, Osage... I think that's all.... But the point is I made a Mullbury bow from a stave that had more potential than any of the Osage staves in the rack also a Hackberry that come in to be the fastest bow I've made but the staves were exceptional pieces for their species???
Maybe one species has better qualities in general than another but when you start with a great stave of any species and work it into the correct dimensions and tiller correctly for that species.... I've seen to many of you guys create amazing bows with just about everything under the sun.....
Found a Catalina Ironwood tree and am working on the owner for a limb.... wish me luck!!! I also got permission to cut some Bay Laural on a Buddy's place (I've been neglecting California woods)...........