Black locust?

[duke3192]

I've worked both, but had more satisfaction with the honey locust, they ended up at about 2" and tapering to 1/2" at tip, came in at 50-60 lbs draw weight at 66" ntn, limbs ended up thinner tan a lot of osage that I've worked. The honey locust that I had came from Texas.

[Jim Davis]

At least you know what you are working with now. The numbers in the strength data are not as good as black locust. Some who think they have made bows of one or the other may have been misinformed.

At any rate, we make bows of what comes our way, right?

Jim

[Bullitt]

Black locust is great!

Now as far as what you have, 3"dia. is a young tree or sapling.
The bark of a young tree is not like the same as the pics Jim posted.

Young b.l. does have small thorns, similar to rose bushes.
Unlike, thorn clusters of honey locust!

Go for it!

[lebhuntfish]

Thanks Bullitt, this stuff definitely has the thorn clusters! Patrick

[wizardgoat]

I don't mean to jack this thread. Can black locust be sped dry like a white wood, or should I treat it like Osage or yew. My BL rough outs seem like they'll never stop losing weight, I live in a wet climate though

[huisme]

Goat, I made most of my bows in and will go going back to Washington, and I would t try to get my locust dry in less than a month but you certainly don't need to wait a year. One of my last bows in Washington went from tree to molle in two months and still shoots great.

[Springbuck]

The one I'm going to cut looks like the bottom picture Jim. Patrick

In that case treat it just like good quality white wood.

[lebhuntfish]

Thanks springbuck! Patrick