impossible bow

[benjamin]

I felt inspired by all the talk on short bows so I grabed a 44'' by 1 1/2'' piece of hickory and finnished it at 30 lbs at 20''. No recurves, no backing. Since it was a test bow anyway, I pulled it further and finnished it at 40 lbs at my usual draw of 25''!!! It only took 2'' of set and the tiller is bad; it bends way too much at mid limb (I rushed it into existance). Did I mention it's unbacked? Can any other wood besides hickory do this? Have any of you experts made other bows like this or is it a sign that I should take up hunting from a blind?

[Pappy]

Thats a lot even for Hickory ,but it is some tough wood.I never made one that short.
I would worry about the string pulling off without the tips turned up at least a little.
Lets see some pictures.I bet they would look awesome bent that much.
    Pappy

[Hillbilly]

Hickory and osage, maybe elm are probably about the only woods that will take that kind of strain. A lot of the NA selfbows were in that length range, but I don't know how far they were drawing them.

[Justin Snyder]

Ipe

[1/2primitive]

I've made a 43.5" Osage selfbow pulling 50lb@24", and it's got miniature recurves in the ends. I shot a hog with it, too.
   Sean

[Coo-wah-chobee]

 Snakewood.......bob

[ozark caveman]

Dogwood will take that abuse. Look at this short bow in this link. It's dogwood!

[Hillbilly]

Justin, I've got to try some ipe. Eddie brought me a piece when we went hog hunting awhile back, but I didn't realize he brought it for me until I had already run off and left it there.  OC, you're right- that dogwood is sure tough wood. Dogwood and persimmon are the only woods I've found that will stand up to the abuse of being used as flintknapping billets. I've used dogwood for wooden wedges and beat on them with sledgehammers. Bob, is the Fl snakewood the same stuff that they used to make English longbows from?

[Coo-wah-chobee]

 Steve..........no. Florida snake wood is American snakewood. There is a European variety that is "considered" the standard. We call one here "Javelin" tree er bush ! hmm....wonder why ? I have used some of the european variety, as a matter of fact imo the american variety is superior. Rich Saffold makes violin bows from the wood which reminds me I promised him I would send him a coupla pieces some when I harvested some more. There was a piece under the ole'" Mystery wood " thread I posted. Havent made a bow from this piece yet..........bob

[Mike_A]

As I recall Manny did some amazine tests with guava, both backed and unbacked. Corect me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like it's about time to put all of our favorite woods to the test.   Anyone else willing to take on a couple experiments?    Mike