Author Topic: Has anyone ever had a plum bow break?  (Read 2591 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Badger

  • Member
  • Posts: 8,124
Has anyone ever had a plum bow break?
« on: January 09, 2016, 07:48:05 pm »
     Assuming at least reasonable dimensions. I can't recall ever breaking one unless I just grossly underbuilt the bow. I like the way plum suckers grow so straight and tall and fast also. An ideal tree for bow wood farming. Most of my experience has been with ornamental purple plum but I have had equally good luck with the regular varieties as well. About a 1 1/4 round branch is plenty for 55# or so.

Offline wizardgoat

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,397
Re: Has anyone ever had a plum bow break?
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2016, 08:02:13 pm »
I have a few plum staves, but I haven't gotten into them yet. There's loads purple leaf plum planted in this city, I should really rough a few out

Offline Bryce

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 3,125
  • Pacific Ghost Longbows
Re: Has anyone ever had a plum bow break?
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2016, 11:46:10 pm »
Nope!
Clatskanie, Oregon

Offline richardzane

  • Member
  • Posts: 500
  • active Wyandot tribal member
    • richardzanesmith.wordpress.com
Re: Has anyone ever had a plum bow break?
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2016, 11:50:20 am »
have been grooming some wild plums in thickets on our land,(trimming small branches) ...we have two different varieties
but as they grow here NE Ok., its been difficult to find one straight without multiple branches
when i'm working on things my ancestors worked, singing the songs my ancestors sang, dancing the same dances, speaking the same language, only then  I feel connected to the land, THIS land, where my ancestors walked for thousands of years...

Offline Marc St Louis

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 7,877
  • Keep it flexible
    • Marc's Bows and Arrows
Re: Has anyone ever had a plum bow break?
« Reply #4 on: January 10, 2016, 01:05:04 pm »
Break...no but I did pull a splinter on one that was riddled with knots, it came from a small diameter tree with many knots that were punky
Home of heat-treating, Corbeil, On.  Canada

Marc@Ironwoodbowyer.com

Offline Badger

  • Member
  • Posts: 8,124
Re: Has anyone ever had a plum bow break?
« Reply #5 on: January 10, 2016, 02:31:24 pm »
Break...no but I did pull a splinter on one that was riddled with knots, it came from a small diameter tree with many knots that were punky


   Anytime I have tried to use standing dead wood from a plum I have had no luck. I have had trouble with it chysaling badly around knots so I try to avoid them.

Offline Bryce

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 3,125
  • Pacific Ghost Longbows
Re: Has anyone ever had a plum bow break?
« Reply #6 on: January 10, 2016, 11:28:09 pm »
The plumb bow I got actually has a check that is 1/8" wide runs through the the handle and then some probably 10" long. Shoots like a rocket.
Clatskanie, Oregon