Osage Paddle bow?

[bigcountry]

I have been looking for yew heartwood, about 52-55" for a pacific bendy handle bow.  But all I have is Osage.  Wonder if osage would make a good pacific bow?

[Joec123able]

Why wouldn't it ? Lol

[Pat B]

Osage should work fine. Have you thought of ERC or other junipers? Are you planning to sinew back it?

[bigcountry]

I have tons of back sinew.  Been saving it from every deer I have killed last 4 years for this. 

[bigcountry]

Osage should work fine. Have you thought of ERC or other junipers? Are you planning to sinew back it?

I have never used ERC before.  I just have a bunch of Osage laying around where one side is out of wack, but if I cut it to 55", it would be nice and straight.  I thought maybe Osage would ended up being too thin (not sure) for a 22-24" draw bow.

[Hrothgar]

Just wondering if you're bent on making a paddle bow or just using the osage. 55" with sinew backing would make a fine bow. As I recall from Jim Hamm's book on native American archery, there was an osage pyramid bow made by an Osage tribesman which was over 2' wide at the fades; that might be another option.

[adb]

A short wide paddle bow would not excel with osage IMHO. I think it would work better with a lighter more elastic wood like yew or ERC. Osage really shines in a bit longer and narrower recurve, and more with sinew backing.

[bigcountry]

Just wondering if you're bent on making a paddle bow or just using the osage. 55" with sinew backing would make a fine bow. As I recall from Jim Hamm's book on native American archery, there was an osage pyramid bow made by an Osage tribesman which was over 2' wide at the fades; that might be another option.

I really want to make a decent replica hupa bow.  I don't hunt with short bows, and when I do hunt, I like to be at my full draw.

I just think these pacific bows are cool looking. 

[ohma2]

dont mean to hyjack your thread.heres a osage 2"wide 55" long 47# @27" sinew backed.wasnt meant to be replica, wanted to be able to full draw it.

[JonW]

A 55" pyramid style, narrowed and bendy handle makes a cool bow IMO.

[PatM]

  I thought maybe Osage would ended up being too thin (not sure) for a 22-24" draw bow.

 What do you mean by this?

[Eric Garza]

I've got a pair of eastern red cedar staves, and might be convinced to trade one of them for your osage if you've got your heart set on a short paddle bow. ERC is very light, elastic wood and would work nicely in a paddle bow design, better than osage I think. Let me know if this is something you're interested in doing.

[bigcountry]

Cool little bow you got there omha.

Pat, I just figured Osage is not meant to be real wide and thin.  But I don't know.

[bigcountry]

I've got a pair of eastern red cedar staves, and might be convinced to trade one of them for your osage if you've got your heart set on a short paddle bow. ERC is very light, elastic wood and would work nicely in a paddle bow design, better than osage I think. Let me know if this is something you're interested in doing.

Maybe Eric.  Where you located?  ERC seems to scare me.  Seems I see lots of breaks on here.  But thats the game I guess.

[ohma2]

Im not dissputing the idea of cedar but I assure you short wide and thin osage peforms.