I received my stave a few days ago. This is my first time putting the knife to osage. I must say this wood is a pleasure to work. Shagbark hickory is what I have the most access too so my first couple of bows and failed attempts have been with it. The rings are tight on my stave so I'm thinking this will be my first attempt at backing as well. I was able to follow a single ring throughout though, but there is one spot on the edge of the limb I went through. It must have been super thin there. I took my time and did the best I could. My stave has some snake, one decent knot and some pins. I have a little scraper work to do yet around those areas as I left them raised but could bring them down closer to those areas. I laid the bow out last night and began chopping out everything that didn't look like a bow. I also bobbed 6" off one end. The knot would have been dead center otherwise. As it sits right now we're looking at 62" tip to tip. limbs are 1 3/4" wide. Tips and constructive criticism is welcome. I have a bunch of short deer leg tendons I could back it with, otherwise I was thinking of making rawhide from the young doe hide I have in the freezer.
