Rocky Mountain Juniper?

[Utmostcone]

Just wondering if Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) is any good for making bows. I have a fairly big one in my yard that we're cutting down soon and I want to know if its worth saving some for bows. I know its closely related to ERC. It also has lots of branches and that means knots i guess :/

[Joec123able]

Yea it works well when sinew backed but can make self bows to. I had a crappy play around juniper bow blow up on me and cut my chin open felt like I got punched really hard in the face lol

[Utmostcone]

Owch that must'ev sucked! I think i can get 3-4 bows out of this one as for backing, i dont have any sinew nor any way to get it so i think i'll just make self bows out of it

[mwosborn]

I am guessing it would.  The knots in the erc I have worked are a bugger.  I would suggest backing it with something when you do make them.  Just as well save some of the wood if it is coming out of your own yard!  Good luck.

[M-P]

Howdy,  Until my mother in law had to leave the ranch  ( age related health issues), I cut a lot of "cedar"  The ranch was in Cherry Co. NE, and as near as I can tell the Cedar there is a mix of ERC, Rocky Mtn Juniper and hybrids.  The bottom line is that I think it's great stuff.   The trees I was cutting provided much denser wood than store bought ERC lumber.  Getting a truly straight-grained stave was possible and the wood is easy to work.   I made ELB style self bows, sinew backed bows and one hickory backed bow. 
If you can find some straight-grained wood, I would definitely set it aside for bow making.   Juniper has a reputation for blowing-up from tension failures so you need to make sure you have a pristine back &/ or back the stave.   

Ron