willow?

[riverrat]

recently i found what i thought was a nice willow tree. it was dead and looked very straight. so i cut it down only to find it was full of worm type bugs. so its a no go for that one. however, im going to be making a eastern woodland style self/flat bow.was wondering on what others think of willow for such a bow.ive never made a willow bow.elm, hickory, ash, ect but never willow. read that Natives of the eastern U.S. sometimes used it.also was wondering if anyone ever used buck thorn? thanks Tony

[bubbles]

Dry it and use it for a bow drill set.   I've never tried to make a bow from it, but it is an extremely light wood and would probably need to be very wide and very long to make a low set, hunting weight bow.  I believe those willow bows had deflexed tips to keep them under very low strain when braced because the wood can't really much strain.  There are a bunch of sweet buckthorn bows that have been posted on the site.

[riverrat]

thanks going to check out them buckthorn bows.Tony

[WillS]

A friend of mine made an 85lb willow elb.  It can be done!

[Hrothgar]

I read awhile back that there is a preserved willow bow in some museum. The bow was from the southwest, Mojave tribe I believe. Very light wood and very moist if cut in the spring or summer.

[bowandarrow473]

It may not be a good bow wood by any standards, but make it long and wide enough and it will hold.

[mullet]

I've never tried it but heard or read somewhere it was better for arrows then bows.

[PatM]

The Willow used by the southwest tribes was likely not true willow.


 BTW  riverrat/Tony Is this the same guy from about 15 years ago?

[mikekeswick]

Willow makes great arrows. It is also the wood used for cricket bats because it can take an impact well. Strong in tension weak in compression.

[JoJoDapyro]

Willow makes great arrows. It is also the wood used for cricket bats because it can take an impact well. Strong in tension weak in compression.

So possibly a good backing?

[punch]

The Willow used by the southwest tribes was likely not true willow.


 BTW  riverrat/Tony Is this the same guy from about 15 years ago?

Not true.  In Survival Skills of Native California they specifically mention that they make bows of Black Willow with another mentioning that he prefers Arroyo Willow.  The bows are short with deflexed tips.  Also on Paleo Planet Basketmaker has made several 40lb bows of willow.  I am working on a arroyo willow bow following the methods detailed in the book.

[WillS]

Willow, 86lb at 32" draw length.

Don't knock it until you've tried it!

[son of massey]

 BTW  riverrat/Tony Is this the same guy from about 15 years ago?

Yep its him. Blast from the past eh?

[DC]

Willow, 86lb at 32" draw length.

Don't knock it until you've tried it!

That is a pretty bend, wow!

[Springbuck]

The Willow used by the southwest tribes was likely not true willow.

What do you think it was, Pat?  There are a few fragments of bows at the U of U museum, and they look like child bows.   The only others I have seen that claim to be willow are pretty long and do have the deflexed tips.